Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Culbertson Mansion
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The Mansion
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 914 E. Main St., New Albany, Indiana |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000019 |
| Added to NRHP | June 28, 1974 |
The Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site is a really cool old house in New Albany, Indiana. It sits right by the Ohio River. This amazing mansion used to belong to William Culbertson. He was once the richest person in all of Indiana!
The mansion was built a long time ago, starting in 1867. It cost a lot of money back then, about $120,000. That would be millions of dollars today! The house was finished in November 1869. It has 25 rooms and is huge, covering about 20,000 square feet. A local architect named James T. Banes designed it in a style called Second Empire.
Inside this three-story house, you'll find many fancy details. There are ceilings and walls that were painted by hand. Some ceilings even have beautiful fresco paintings. The staircase looks like rosewood, and the floors are hand-painted too. You can also see fancy wallpaper, marble fireplaces, and sparkling crystal chandeliers. Even the original tin roof came all the way from Scotland!
When you visit, you can learn about the Culbertson family. You'll also see how the mansion has been carefully restored. The tour takes you through formal parlors, dining rooms, bedrooms, the kitchen, and the laundry room. Long ago, a railroad track ran behind the house, and a streetcar could take people from the mansion to downtown New Albany.
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History of the Mansion
Who Owned the Mansion?
After William Culbertson passed away, he left the mansion to his third wife. In 1899, she sold the house and everything inside it at an auction. Another New Albany resident, John McDonald, bought it for $7,100.
Later, after John McDonald died, his daughter, Mrs. Helen Croxall, gave the mansion to the American Legion. The American Legion made many changes to the house. They wanted to make it a good place for their meetings.
Saving the Mansion
Over the years, the mansion had several different owners. In the 1960s, there was a risk that the mansion might be torn down. Someone wanted to build a gas station there instead! But a local group, Historic New Albany, stepped in. They bought the mansion from the American Legion in 1964 for $24,000.
Because of their efforts, the Culbertson Mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This list helps protect important historical buildings. In 1976, it became part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.
Bringing the Mansion Back to Life
In 1980, the state of Indiana started working on the outside of the mansion. After that, a group called the Friends of the Culbertson Mansion began restoring the inside. Their goal is to make the mansion look just like it did in 1869. They want to keep its historical look, but they do add important modern things like electricity and bathrooms.
The Culbertson Mansion is open for tours from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Money to help with the restoration comes from the Friends of Culbertson Mansion, Inc., which is a non-profit group, and from the mansion's staff.
Haunted House Fun
A fun tradition started at the mansion in 1985: a haunted house! For the first two years, the mansion itself was used for the haunted house. About 10 people helped out, and they raised $500.
Since 1987, the old Carriage House next to the mansion has been used for the haunted house. Today, it takes about 100 volunteers to make the haunted house a spooky success! The Friends of Culbertson Mansion group helps run the haunted house. They also have an herb sale every May to raise more money for the mansion.
Gallery
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Carriage barn
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Back entrance to the Mansion
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Culbertson Mansion
See also
