Boal Mansion facts for kids
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Boal Mansion
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The mansion in 2013
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | U.S. Route 322 and Pennsylvania Route 45 in Boalsburg, Harris Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 38 acres (15 ha) |
| Built | 1809-1820 |
| Built by | David Boal; Theodore Davis Boal |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts, Georgian |
| Restored | 1952 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002361 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Expanded | 1898-1905 |
| Designated NRHP | December 1978, 4 |
The Boal Mansion is a really old house located in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. It's a historic place that tells the story of the Boal family. The first part of the house was a simple stone cabin built way back in 1809.
Over the years, the house grew bigger. It was expanded several times, becoming the large stone mansion you see today. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
Discovering Boal Mansion's History
The Boal Mansion started as a small, one-and-a-half-story stone house. This original cabin later became the kitchen area of the much larger mansion. It was a simple home for the pioneer family who lived there.
How the Mansion Grew Over Time
The house was first expanded into a two-story stone building. It was built in a style called Georgian, which was popular for grand homes. This part of the house was about 30 by 50 feet in size.
Later, between 1898 and 1905, Theodore Davis Boal made the house even bigger. He added new parts in a style called Beaux-Arts. This made the front of the house much wider, changing it from three sections to five.
Amazing Collections at the Mansion
Today, the Boal Mansion is a museum. It holds many unique and interesting items collected by eight generations of the Boal family. You can see things like the desk that belonged to Christopher Columbus!
There's also a tiny piece of hair from Napoleon and two small pieces believed to be from the true cross of Jesus. The museum also displays old carriages, tools, and weapons used by the family over hundreds of years.
Exploring the Boal Estate Grounds
Besides the main mansion, there are other cool buildings on the property. These include an old chapel, a carriage house, and a barn. Each building has its own story and history.
The Historic Columbus Chapel
One of the most special places is the 16th-century Columbus Chapel. This chapel was actually brought over from Spain in 1909! It's a unique piece of history right here in Pennsylvania.
Other Buildings on the Property
You can also find an 1898 carriage house, which was used to store carriages. There's also a silo and the Boal Barn. The barn used to be a summer theater where plays were performed. Other buildings include a stone smokehouse and two outdoor fireplaces.
Nittany Theatre at the Barn
The Barn on the Boal Mansion property was once a lively theater. It was known as the Nittany Theatre. During the summer, it hosted many plays and musicals.
Professional actors and local talent would perform about six shows each summer. Sometimes, playwrights from Penn State would even have their new plays shown there for the first time.
Gallery
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The 1898 carriage house
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The 1909 Christopher Columbus chapel
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The barn
