Burckhardt House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Burckhardt House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Burckhardt House, seen from the south
Location	1236 Washington St., Lincoln, Nebraska
Area	Less than one acre
Built	1903
Architectural style	Prairie Box
NRHP reference No.	99000746
Added to NRHP	June 25, 1999

The Burckhardt House is a special home built in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1903. It's a one-and-a-half-story house designed in the Prairie Box style. This house is important because of its unique architecture. It was also the home of Reverend Oliver J. Burckhardt and Anna Jones Burckhardt, who were very influential leaders in their community. The Burckhardt House is officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

What Makes the Burckhardt House Special?

The Burckhardt House stands out in Lincoln because of its unique Prairie Box/American Foursquare style. This design is simple and rectangular. The house has a cross gabled roof with decorative eaves. It also features a shed roofed dormer window on one side.

Outside Features of the House

A large porch covers the entire front of the house. It has neoclassical wooden columns and a wooden railing. This is where the main entrance is located. The house also has a small balcony on the east side. Its windows are double-hung with decorative dividers called muntins.

In 1939, the Burckhardts added asphalt faux-brick siding to the outside. Even though it wasn't original, this siding is now part of the house's history.

Meet the Burckhardts: Community Leaders

Reverend Oliver J. Burckhardt was born in Howard County, Missouri in 1868. He became an important leader for the African American community in Lincoln. Rev. Burckhardt graduated from Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City, Missouri. This college was started by African American Civil War veterans. He moved to Lincoln in 1890. In 1898, he married Anna Jones, who was born in Iowa in 1868.

Oliver Burckhardt's Impact

The Burckhardts became very influential leaders in Lincoln. Oliver served as a minister and missionary for the African Methodist Church. He helped over two hundred African Americans settle in the Brownlee area between 1910 and 1912. He also helped establish St. James church in that town.

Rev. Burckhardt was key in starting the Lincoln branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1918. He encouraged important local people to join the NAACP. Burckhardt, along with J.E. Jeltz and William Woods, successfully stopped a film called The Birth of a Nation from being shown in Lincoln. They argued that the film was designed to create negative feelings against Black people.

Burckhardt also helped form the Christian Alliance and the Lincoln Urban League in 1932. Local government officials often asked him for advice on issues affecting the African American community. He worked as an Associate Chaplain at the State Penitentiary for twenty years. After his wife passed away in 1945, he moved to Omaha. He became a pastor there until his death in 1951.

Anna Burckhardt: A Talented Artist

Anna Burckhardt was an amazing self-taught artist. It was very difficult for an African American woman to achieve national recognition in her time. Anna was famous for her oil paintings and china paintings. She even won a bronze medal for her china painting at an exhibition in Virginia in 1907.

Anna was well-loved in Lincoln. For over 40 years, she gave private art lessons to children of all races. She was also one of the few commissioned artists of color. She created art for the People's City Mission, a local homeless shelter. The State of Nebraska even hired her to restore paintings in the Nebraska State Capitol.

Gallery

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  Burckhardt House seen from the south.

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  Burckhardt House seen from the southwest.

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  Burckhardt House seen from the southeast.