Butler-McCook Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Butler-McCook Homestead
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Butler-McCook Homestead, rear view
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 396 Main St., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1782 |
| Architect | Weidenman, Jacob |
| Website | Butler-McCook House & Garden |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000907 |
| Added to NRHP | March 11, 1971 |
The Butler-McCook Homestead is a special old house in Hartford, Connecticut. It's like a time capsule! Built way back in 1782, it's one of the oldest houses still standing in the city. Today, it's a museum called the Butler-McCook House & Garden. It helps us learn about how people lived long ago. This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Connecticut Landmarks takes care of it now.
Contents
What is the Butler-McCook Homestead?
The Butler-McCook Homestead is located in Hartford, Connecticut. You can find it on the east side of Main Street. It's a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has a classic look with a sloped roof and chimneys.
The House's Design
The front of the house has five windows across. The main door is in the middle. It has a small porch with round columns. The roof has three windows sticking out, called dormers. The back of the house has an old kitchen on the first floor. The second floor was added later, in the 1800s.
The Gardens and Land
The house sits on about two acres of land. Part of this land has beautiful formal gardens. These gardens were designed by Jacob Weidenman. He also helped design Hartford's famous Bushnell Park. There's also a small building attached to the right side of the house. It was added in the late 1800s.
A Look Inside: History of the House
The main part of the house was built in 1782. It was built for Dr. Daniel Butler. He was a doctor and used a room in the house for his patients.
Who Lived Here?
Another important person who lived in the house was Rev. John James McCook. He was a professor at Trinity College in Connecticut. He was also a church leader at St. John's Episcopal Church. His son, Dr. John Butler McCook, was also a doctor. In 1897, he added the small building on the right side of the house to be his office.
Two Centuries of Family History
The Butler and McCook families lived in this house for about 200 years! Because of this, the house is full of their family items. You can see furniture and decorations from the Colonial times all the way through the Victorian era. It's like stepping back in time to see how one family lived for many generations.
Learning About Hartford
Today, the house also has the Main Street History Center. This center has exhibits that teach visitors about the history of Hartford. It's a great place to learn about the city's past.
Other Historic Places to Explore
Connecticut Landmarks takes care of many other historic house museums. These are old houses that have been turned into museums. They help us learn about history. Some of these include:
- Amasa Day House in Moodus
- Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden in Bethlehem
- Buttolph–Williams House in Wethersfield
- Hempsted Houses in New London
- Isham-Terry House in Hartford
- Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry
- Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden in Suffield
