Captain Edward V. Rickenbacker House facts for kids
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Captain Edward V. Rickenbacker House
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Rickenbacker House in 2016
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| Location | 1334 East Livington Avenue, Columbus, Ohio |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | William Rickenbacker |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001426 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
The Edward V. Rickenbacker House is a special historic home located in Columbus, Ohio. It was built in 1895 and was the childhood home of a famous American hero, Eddie Rickenbacker (1890–1973).
Eddie Rickenbacker was an amazing person. During his life, he became a top flying ace in World War I, earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery, was a skilled race car driver, and helped create modern air travel. Because of his importance, this house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
What Does the Rickenbacker House Look Like?
The Edward V. Rickenbacker House is on East Livingston Avenue in Columbus. It's a 1½-story house, meaning it has one main floor and a half-story upstairs. The house is made of wood and possibly brick, covered with shingles. It has a sloped roof with a small window area sticking out, called a shed dormer.
You can still see the initials "E.V.R." (for Edward V. Rickenbacker) carved into the concrete base of the cellar entrance. Inside, the house has three rooms on the first floor and two rooms in the attic. There's also a small shed on the property that was there when the Rickenbacker family lived here.
Building the Family Home
Eddie Rickenbacker's father, William, started building the house between 1893 and 1895. The first part had two rooms downstairs and two rooms in the attic. Around 1900, William and young Eddie Rickenbacker added more to the house, building an extension over a cellar.
Eddie grew up in this house. Even when he became famous during World War I, this was still considered his home. After his father passed away, Eddie paid off the house's mortgage. The house stayed in the Rickenbacker family until about 1960, with Eddie's sister Mary living there for many years.
Efforts to Preserve the House
In 1998, the city of Columbus bought the Rickenbacker House. At that time, the house was not in good shape. The city wanted to fix it up and turn it into a museum. The goal was to honor Eddie Rickenbacker and help improve the area around the house.
By 2009, some repairs had been made, but the museum project faced challenges. Later, a non-profit organization took over the effort to restore and preserve this important piece of history. They continue to work on making sure Eddie Rickenbacker's childhood home is cared for and remembered.
