Bowers Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bowers Mansion
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Bowers Mansion, 1940
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| Location | Washoe City, Nevada |
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| Built | 1863 |
| Architect | J. Neely Johnson |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001143 |
| Added to NRHP | January 31, 1976 |
The Bowers Mansion is a grand house located between Reno and Carson City, Nevada. It was built in 1863 by Lemuel "Sandy" Bowers and his wife, Eilley Orrum Bowers. This mansion is a great example of the fancy homes built by the new millionaires during the Comstock Lode mining boom in Nevada.
Contents
History of Bowers Mansion
How the Bowers Family Became Rich
The land where the mansion stands was first bought in 1856 by Eilley and her second husband, Alex Cowan. They later returned to Utah with other Mormon settlers. Eilley then got a divorce and moved to Gold Hill. There, she ran a boarding house and did laundry for miners.
Some miners could not pay Eilley with cash. Instead, they gave her pieces of their mining claims. This is how Eilley got her own mining claim. Later, this claim, along with one belonging to her third husband, Sandy, became the source of their huge fortune.
Building a Dream Home
The mansion was Eilley's dream come true. She wanted a home that showed off their wealth and earned them respect. The house was designed by J. Neely Johnson, a builder and former governor of California. It mixed two building styles: Georgian Revival and Italianate.
Eilley based the design on elegant buildings she remembered from her home country, Scotland. The Bowers even hired stonecutters from Scotland to help build their new home. It cost an amazing $300,000 to build, which was a huge amount of money in the 1860s.
From 1861 to 1863, Eilley and Sandy traveled through Europe. They bought lots of furniture, statuary, paintings, and other decorations for their mansion. Sadly, in 1874, their only living child, a daughter named Persia, passed away at the age of 12.
Life After Sandy Bowers
After Sandy Bowers died in 1868, Eilley faced tough financial times. To earn money, she rented out rooms in the mansion. She also hosted parties and picnics on the mansion grounds. The mansion even held a ball for the women's suffrage movement. It was also the location of the yearly Miner's Ball. The years 1873 to 1875 were when the mansion was most popular.
However, these efforts were not enough to cover Eilley's debts. She eventually lost her home to foreclosure in 1876. The mansion was left empty for a while. In 1903, Henry Riter bought it and turned it into a resort.
Bowers Mansion Today
The building is now owned and managed by the Washoe County Parks Department. About 500 families from Nevada have donated old furniture from the mansion's time period. These items are now displayed inside.
The park combines the historic site with fun things to do. There is a swimming pool fed by a natural spring, picnic areas, and a playground. You can take tours of the mansion during the summer and autumn months.
Bowers Mansion Hot Springs
The natural hot spring waters at Bowers Mansion are 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.7 degrees Celsius). They are cooled down to 83 degrees Fahrenheit (28.3 degrees Celsius) for the swimming pool.
See also
In Spanish: Bowers Mansion para niños
