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 in Michigan
Location in the United States
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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 is a super cool historic building in Saginaw, Michigan, USA. It used to be called Castle Station or the Saginaw Post Office. Today, it's home to the Historical Society of Saginaw County and is officially known as the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it's so important!
Contents
History of the Castle Museum
Building a Unique Post Office
The Castle Museum was designed by William Martin Aiken. He was the main architect for the US Treasury at the time. The building was finished in 1898. It was built as a United States Post Office. The idea was to show off the local culture and history.
Aiken got his ideas from European castles, called chateaus. This design honored the first European settlers in the Saginaw Valley. These were French fur traders and trappers. He also added fancy details from the Italian Renaissance and Gothic styles.
Saving the Castle Building
In the 1930s, the Castle Building almost disappeared. The post office was too small for all the mail in Saginaw. There were plans to tear it down and build a new one. But people in Saginaw loved the building.
About 1,000 residents signed a petition. They sent it to Washington, D.C. They said the building was "one of the best and most attractive buildings in Michigan." Because of their protests, the plan to tear it down was stopped in 1933.
Remodeling and Expansion
However, in February 1935, the decision to demolish it came back. More protests followed. Finally, a compromise was reached on February 17, 1935. The building would be greatly updated instead.
Local architect Carl Macomber led the remodeling. He made the building bigger by adding new sections on both ends. He used the same type of limestone as the original building. He also removed one of the three towers. A large room for sorting mail was added at the back, near Hoyt Library.
The construction was finished in 1937. The Postmaster General, 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 in Saginaw. Once again, the Castle Building was almost torn down. But local citizens and the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners stepped in. They worked to get the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This helped make sure the building and its history would be saved.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Castle Museum has many cool things to explore. Some items are always on display. These include a 1914 Saginaw cyclecar, which is a small, light car. There's also an exhibit about archaeology. This shows how people lived long ago. You can also learn about the history of lumbering in the area.
The museum often changes its displays. Almost everything you see has a connection to Saginaw's past.
Images for kids
