Abram W. Pike House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Abram W. Pike House
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | 230 Fulton Street East, Grand Rapids, Michigan  United States |
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| Built | 1844 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000276 |
| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1970 |
The Pike House is a very old and important building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Built in 1844, it is one of the oldest homes still standing in Michigan. This historic house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a special part of American history. It gets its name from its first owner, Abram W. Pike.
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Discover the Historic Pike House
The Pike House is over 170 years old! It stands as a reminder of early Michigan history. This building has seen many changes over the years. It started as a family home and later became an art museum.
Who Was Abram W. Pike?
Abram W. Pike was a fur trader who moved to Michigan in 1827. He worked for a company called the Port Sheldon Land Company. This company hoped to build a big city called Port Sheldon on Lake Michigan.
The Grand Ottawa House Hotel
The Port Sheldon Land Company built a large hotel called the Ottawa House Hotel. It was a very impressive building. However, the plan for a big city didn't work out. The hotel was only open for five years.
When Abram Pike moved to Grand Rapids in 1844, he brought a special part of the Ottawa House Hotel with him. He took four huge pillars from the hotel. These pillars were so big that oxen had to drag them all the way to Grand Rapids! Pike then attached these pillars to the front of his new home. You can still see them today at 230 E. Fulton Street.
The House's Changing Roles
The Pike House was a family home for many years, until 1922. After that, it took on a new role.
From Home to Art Gallery
In 1922, the Pike House became the Grand Rapids Art Gallery. This gallery later grew into the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The museum stayed in the Pike House until 1978.
Years later, in 2014, workers were fixing up the building. They found an old sign painted on the entryway. It said "Grand Rapids Art Museum" in big, bold letters! It was a cool discovery from the house's past.
The Pike House Today
In 2014, a law firm bought the Pike House. This firm, Keller & Almassian, PLC, still uses the building today. The Pike House continues to be an important landmark in Grand Rapids.
