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 really cool historic house museum in Texarkana, Texas. It's also known as the Draughon–Moore House. What makes it special is its unique shape. It looks like the "club" symbol from a deck of playing cards!
The house has three octagon-shaped sections and one rectangular section. These all connect to a central octagon-shaped stair hall. This design gives the house 22 sides in total. It was built in 1885 as a home. It features an Italianate Victorian style. The two-story house also has a 20-foot tower and a spiral staircase.
Contents
The Story Behind the Shape
People in Texarkana have a fun story about why the house is shaped like a club. They say the first owner, James Draughon, won $10,000 in a game of poker. He won with an ace of clubs! James Draughon was a lumberman and an early mayor of Texarkana.
Who Lived Here?
Only three families have lived in this unique house.
- James Draughon built the house in 1885.
- In 1887, William Lowndes Whitaker, Sr., bought the house. He lived there until 1894.
- Then, an attorney named Henry Moore, Sr., purchased it.
- Henry Moore, Jr., and his wife, Olivia Smith, moved in during 1920.
- After Henry Moore, Jr., passed away in 1942, Olivia stayed in the house. She lived there until her own death in 1985.
From Home to Museum
When Olivia Smith Moore passed away, she left the house to the Texarkana Museum System in her will. The house was carefully fixed up in 1987. It opened as a museum in 1988. Each room was restored to look like a different time period. These periods range from the 1880s to the 1940s. This lets visitors see how life changed over the years.
What Happens at the House Today?
The Ace of Clubs House is a busy place! It hosts many different events.
- Business and club meetings
- Lawn parties
- Portrait photography sessions
- Receptions and weddings
In 2016, the house's lawn was used for the Texarkana Museums System's Moonlight & Movies series. This event showed classic films outdoors. The house also celebrates a Victorian Christmas each year.
Famous Features
The Ace of Clubs House has even been on TV! It was featured on the HGTV show Christmas Castles. It is also recognized as an important historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
Gallery
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Staircase inside the Ace of Clubs House
See also
