Blandwood Mansion and Gardens facts for kids
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Blandwood
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A. J. Davis designed Tuscan Villa
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| Location | 447 W. Washington St., Greensboro, NC |
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| Built | 1795, additions 1822 and 1844 |
| Architect | Alexander Jackson Davis |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000455 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | June 7, 1988 |
Blandwood Mansion is a special old house in Greensboro, North Carolina. It's now a historic house museum where you can learn about the past. The house was first built in 1795. It was once the home of John Motley Morehead, who was the governor of North Carolina for two terms (from 1841 to 1844).
Governor Morehead made big changes to the house, giving it the look it has today. Blandwood is thought to be the oldest example of the Italian Villa style of architecture in the United States. Because of its unique design, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1988. An architect named Alexander Jackson Davis designed the changes, adding a central tower that became a popular style for American homes. People in Greensboro saved the house from being torn down in 1964. It opened as a museum in 1976 and is still open for visitors today.
Contents
History of Blandwood Mansion
Early Days and First Owners
Blandwood started as a two-story farmhouse with four rooms in 1795. It was likely named after its first owner, Charles Bland. He and his wife farmed about 100 acres of land until 1800. Then, the property was sold to Joseph Thornburg.
In 1822, a businessman named Henry Humphreys bought the property. He had started the first steam-powered cotton mill in North Carolina.
Governor Morehead's Home
Governor Morehead lived in Blandwood from 1827 until he passed away in 1866. He bought the house from Henry Humphreys, who was his wife's stepfather. As a leader, Governor Morehead welcomed many important people to his home. These visitors included social activist Dorothea Dix and the famous architect Alexander Jackson Davis.
During the American Civil War, Blandwood was used by different generals. Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard stayed there. After the Confederacy fell, Union Generals Jacob Dolson Cox and John Schofield used the house as their temporary base. North Carolina Governor Zebulon Baird Vance officially surrendered to the Union generals in Blandwood's main parlor on May 2, 1865.
Architectural Changes and Design
Blandwood had two main additions that changed its look. The first addition in 1822 made the farmhouse bigger, adding two more rooms. These new rooms matched the original Federal architecture style of the house.
The second and much larger addition happened in 1844. This part was designed by New York City architect Alexander Jackson Davis. This addition more than doubled the size of the house. It was built in the "Tuscan Villa" style. This makes Blandwood the oldest standing example of Tuscan Villa (a type of Italianate architecture) in the United States. The building work was done by William and Joseph Conrad. A landscape architect named Andrew Jackson Downing even used a picture of Blandwood in his books to show how a house should be landscaped.
Later Owners and Preservation Efforts
After Governor Morehead passed away, his youngest son Eugene lived in the house until 1874. Then, Eugene's sister Emma and her husband Julius Gray moved in with their six children. Julius Gray was a well-known businessman and helped start the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.
The Morehead family members who lived in Blandwood left the house in 1900. In 1907, Colonel and Mrs. William H. Osborne bought Blandwood. They used it as a treatment center. During this time, some of the original buildings on the property were removed. The treatment center closed in 1961.
Around that time, people started to understand how important 19th-century architecture and the work of Alexander Jackson Davis were. Efforts to save Blandwood began. Preservation Greensboro Incorporated was formed in 1966 and took over the efforts to protect the house.
People Who Were Enslaved at Blandwood
The Morehead family did not run Blandwood as a large farm for growing crops. The house was close to the town of Greensborough, so they could buy supplies from nearby stores. Records suggest that a small number of enslaved people lived at Blandwood. They helped with the daily tasks of running a large and wealthy home.
There is not much information about the enslaved people who lived at Blandwood, including their names or ages. Researchers are still looking at old records and doing archaeological digs to learn more about this time. Governor John Motley Morehead had a complex relationship with slavery. He supported some early efforts to help freed people, but he also served the Confederacy.
Why Blandwood is Important
Experts in architecture say Blandwood is a very important building in Greensboro. It shows the "spirit of improvement" in North Carolina before the Civil War.
Blandwood is the oldest building in Greensboro that is still on its original foundation, built in 1795. It was once in the countryside, but the city grew up around it. Its biggest importance to the nation is that it's the earliest known Tuscan Villa in the United States, built in 1844. Architect Alexander Jackson Davis designed it to look like villas from Tuscany in Italy, even though he never went there. He used features like wide overhanging roofs, low rooflines, casement windows, and brick covered in stucco. The tall tower on the front is a key feature.
Davis also cleverly reused the existing kitchen building. He made it bigger and built a similar building on the other side of the house. This created connected wings with arched walkways. Blandwood is also a rare example of grand architecture from before the Civil War in the western Piedmont area. This region usually had smaller farms and fewer enslaved people.
Preservation Greensboro Incorporated bought the building from Guilford College in 1966. They planned to turn it into a museum. The group started a big project to restore the house. This included studying the paint, digging for old artifacts, planning how to furnish it, rebuilding other structures, and restoring the gardens. Many items that originally belonged in the house were given back by members of the Morehead family in the 1960s and 1970s. Blandwood was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1988.
Visiting Blandwood Today
Preservation Greensboro Incorporated still owns Blandwood and its surrounding 4-acre grounds. The property includes an octagonal Carriage House. This building was restored in 1970 and is now used for special events. The gardens around the house are also beautiful.
Blandwood is open for tours throughout the year. It also hosts many different events. These include musical performances, weddings, historical gatherings, parties, picnics, and school activities.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in North Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Guilford County, North Carolina
Images for kids
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An old drawing of Blandwood, showing its unique design.
