Beauregard-Keyes House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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BK Historic House and Gardens
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 Location in Louisiana
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| Location | 1113 Chartres St., New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Built | 1826 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000853 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1975 |
The Beauregard-Keyes House is a special old home located at 1113 Chartres Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Today, it is a museum called the BK Historic House and Gardens. The museum teaches visitors about the many different people who lived in or were connected to the house over the years. These include wealthy French families from before the American Civil War, people who worked there, Italian immigrant families who moved in later, and a famous American author named Frances Parkinson Keyes.
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History of the Beauregard-Keyes House
The land where the house stands was once owned by Ursuline nuns. They sold parts of their land in 1825. The house itself was designed by François Correjolles and built by James Lambert in 1826. It was made for an auctioneer named Joseph LeCarpentier. The design mixed local Creole style with grand Greek Revival features, like a fancy front. It had a central hallway, which was common in American homes, and separate buildings in the back. In 1833, John A. Merle, who was the Consul of Switzerland, bought the house. His wife, Anais Philippon, added the beautiful garden next to it.
General Beauregard's Time
By 1865, a local grocer named Dominique Lanata bought the house. He rented it out to different people until 1904. The first people to rent the house were the Beauregards. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was a general during the American Civil War. He married his second wife, Caroline Deslonde, in 1860. They spent a short time on their honeymoon in this house. Sadly, Mrs. Beauregard passed away in 1864.
After the American Civil War ended, General Beauregard returned to the house at 1113 Chartres Street. He lived there from 1866 to 1868. Later, he moved to another home with his son and older sister.
In 1925, a new owner wanted to tear down the house to build factories. But a group of local women formed the Beauregard Memorial Association. They worked hard to save the historic home. Even though they couldn't save the garden at that time, they managed to protect the house itself.
Frances Parkinson Keyes and Her Stories
A well-known American author named Frances Parkinson Keyes later bought the house at 1113 Chartres Street. She made it her home. While living there, Keyes wrote many books. One of her novels, Madame Castel's Lodger, was even set in the house. This book featured General Beauregard as a character. It explored the challenges he faced after the Civil War and his decision not to pledge loyalty to the Union.
Keyes also wrote another book called The Chess Players. This story was based on the famous chess champion Paul Morphy. Interestingly, Paul Morphy was the grandson of the house's first owner, Joseph LeCarpentier.
The House Today
Frances Parkinson Keyes started working to restore the house as early as 1945. She hired an architect named Richard Koch to help. She also worked with a local group called the Garden Study Club. Together, they replanted the garden to look like it did between the 1830s and 1860s. They also rebuilt the brick wall around it. In 1958, the Orleans Parish Landmarks Commission placed a bronze plaque on the house. This plaque tells visitors about the home's long history.
Today, the Beauregard-Keyes House has been restored to its beautiful Victorian style. Inside, you can see items that belonged to General Beauregard's family. You can also visit Frances Parkinson Keyes's studio and see her amazing collections of dolls and rare porcelain veilleuses (which are special teapots). Keyes wrote several articles about her doll collection for magazines and books. There's even a film called "The Story of the Dixie Doll" that talks about Keyes's life, her books, and her dolls. The house is open for tours, so you can visit and learn all about it!
The house is also home to the Nous Foundation. This group works to promote the French and Creole-speaking cultures of Louisiana.
You might have even seen the house on TV! In the AMC series Interview With The Vampire, some scenes were filmed inside the house. It was completely changed to look like the "Fair Play Saloon/Azalea Hall" for the show.
Images for kids
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The Beauregard-Keyes House today
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The house in the early 1900s
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A plaque on the house
See also
