Ace of Clubs House facts for kids
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Exterior of the Ace of Clubs House
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | 420 Pine St., Texarkana, Texas |
| Type | Historic house museum |
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Draughn-Moore House
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1883 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002007 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 29, 1976 |
The Ace of Clubs House is a very special historic house in Texarkana, Texas. It's also known as the Draughon–Moore House. This house is famous because it's shaped just like a club from a deck of playing cards! Today, it's a historic house museum where you can learn about its past.
Contents
A House Shaped Like a Card
The Ace of Clubs House was built in 1885. It has a unique design that looks like the "club" symbol on a playing card. Imagine three octagon-shaped parts. They all connect to a central octagon-shaped stair hall. There's also a fourth rectangular part. This special design gives the house 22 sides! It's a two-story house with a tall tower, about 20 feet high. Inside, you'll find a cool spiral staircase. The house was built in the Italianate Victorian style.
The Story Behind the Shape
Local stories say the house got its unique shape from a game of poker. The original owner was James Draughon. He was a veteran and an early mayor of Texarkana. The story goes that he won $10,000 in a poker game. He won with an ace of clubs card! So, he decided to build his house in that special shape.
Who Lived Here?
Three families have lived in the Ace of Clubs House over the years.
- James Draughon built the house and lived there first.
- In 1887, William Lowndes Whitaker, Sr., bought the house. He lived there until 1894.
- Then, an attorney named Henry Moore, Sr., bought it.
- Later, in 1920, Henry Moore, Jr., and his wife, Olivia Smith, moved in.
- After Henry Moore, Jr., passed away in 1942, Olivia stayed in the house. She lived there until she passed away in 1985.
- In her will, Olivia left the house to the Texarkana Museum System.
From Home to Museum
The house was fixed up in 1987. It opened as a museum in 1988. Each room in the museum shows a different time period. You can see how the house looked from the 1880s to the 1940s.
What Happens at the House Today?
The Ace of Clubs House is a busy place!
- It hosts business meetings and club gatherings.
- People have lawn parties there.
- It's a popular spot for portrait photography.
- Many receptions and weddings take place at the house.
- In 2016, the Texarkana Museums System showed classic movies on the lawn. This event was called Moonlight & Movies.
- The house also celebrates a special Victorian Christmas.
The Ace of Clubs House has even been on TV! It was featured on the HGTV show Christmas Castles. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site. It's also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
Gallery
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Staircase inside the Ace of Clubs House
See also
