Castle Museum (Saginaw, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Castle Station
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The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History
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| Location | 500 Federal Ave., Saginaw, Michigan |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | William M. Aiken, Carl Macomber |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000652 |
| Added to NRHP | January 13, 1972 |
The Castle Museum, also known as the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, is a really cool old building in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. It used to be called Castle Station or the Saginaw Post Office. Today, it's a museum where you can learn all about the history of Saginaw County. This historic building is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
The Castle Museum's Story
The Castle Museum was built in 1898. It was designed by William Martin Aiken, who was a top architect for the United States government. He designed it to be a United States Post Office. The building was made to look like a European castle. This was a way to remember the first European settlers in the Saginaw Valley, who were French fur traders. The design also includes fancy details from Italian and Gothic art styles.
Saving the Castle Building
In the 1930s, the Castle Post Office became too small. Saginaw was growing, and the post office couldn't handle all the mail. There were plans to tear down the building and build a new one in its place. But people in Saginaw loved the building! They protested and sent a petition with 1,000 signatures to Washington, D.C. They called it "one of the best and most attractive buildings in Michigan." Because of their efforts, the plan to tear it down was stopped in 1933.
However, in 1935, the idea of demolishing it came up again. More protests followed! Finally, a compromise was reached. Instead of tearing it down, the building would be greatly updated. A local architect named Carl Macomber led this project. He added new sections to both ends of the building. He used the same type of stone as the original building. He also removed one of the three towers and added a large room for sorting mail.
The remodeling was finished in 1937. The head of the Post Office at the time, James A. Farley, even called the building a "memorial to President Roosevelt."
Preserving History for the Future
In the 1970s, a new post office was built. Once again, the old Castle Building was almost torn down. But citizens and local leaders stepped in to save it. They worked to get the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This important step helped make sure the building and the local history it represents would be protected for many years to come.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Castle Museum has many interesting things on display. You can see a 1914 Saginaw cyclecar, which is a type of small car. There's also an exhibit about archaeology, showing old artifacts found in the area. Another exhibit teaches you about the history of lumbering in Saginaw. The museum often changes its displays, but almost everything you see has a connection to Saginaw's past.
Gallery
