Allen Steinheim Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Allen Steinheim Museum
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Alfred University's Steinheim Building, August 2007
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Alfred University Campus, Alfred, New York |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1876-1880 |
| Architect | Allen, Jonathan |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001163 |
| Added to NRHP | June 04, 1973 |
The Allen Steinheim Museum is a special historic building. It is located on the campus of Alfred University in Alfred, New York. This unique stone building was once a museum.
It was built between 1876 and 1880. The building looks a bit like a castle, with parts that stick up like battlements. It was made to hold many interesting items. These items included rocks, fossils, and other cool things. They belonged to Jonathan Allen, who was the second president of Alfred University. Professor Ida Kenyon started the building. She wanted a home that looked like the castles from her home country of Germany.
Contents
What Makes the Steinheim Special?
A Building Made of Rocks and Wood
The Steinheim Museum is truly one-of-a-kind. Its walls are made from over 8,000 different rock samples. Imagine a building where every stone tells a story! The inside framework is also special. It uses 700 samples of wood from both local and faraway places.
A Historic College Museum
In the 1930s, this building was very important. It was known as the second oldest college museum in the United States. It held a huge collection of "curiosities." These included rare shells, stuffed birds, and animals. There were also Native American tools and old farming equipment. The museum even displayed early American pottery and beautiful glass art.
Changes Over Time
The building stopped being a museum in the early 1950s. After that, it was used as classrooms. For a while, it fell into disrepair, meaning it became old and worn out.
A New Purpose for the "Stone House"
In 1995, the Steinheim building got a big makeover. It was renovated and then rededicated in 1997. The word "Steinheim" means "stone house" in German. Today, it houses the Robert R. McComsey Career Development Center. This center helps students plan their future careers.
The Missing Collection
In 2008, an artist named Lenka Clayton created some projects. She wanted to bring attention to the museum's missing collection. The original items from the museum were no longer there.
Art Projects About What Was Lost
One project was called "7,000 Stones." For this, she collected a pile of stones. Each stone was numbered, like it was part of a museum collection. Then, they were discarded. Another project was "Found Instructions 1." She found an old list of the disappearing collection. She used this list to create a modern art display. Her project "Amnesty for the Museum" asked people to return any missing items. She wanted to photograph them in their current homes.
National Recognition
The Allen Steinheim Museum is an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it is recognized for its special history and architecture.
