Daniel R. Bigelow House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Daniel R. Bigelow House
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| Location | 918 Glass Ave. NE Olympia, Washington |
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| Built | 1850s |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002562 |
| Added to NRHP | August 7, 1979 |
The Bigelow House, also known as the Bigelow House Museum, is a really old and special house in Olympia, Washington. It's located at 918 Glass Avenue Northeast. This historic house was built by Daniel Bigelow in the 1850s. It has a unique design called Carpenter Gothic style. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 because of its importance.
Contents
Discovering the Bigelow House History
Who Were the Bigelows?
Daniel Bigelow was a smart lawyer who graduated from Harvard Law School. He traveled all the way to Olympia in 1851. He came after a long journey on the famous Oregon Trail. Daniel claimed a large piece of land, about 160 acres, just east of the new town. He first built a small two-room cabin there. This cabin was near a natural spring and overlooked Budd Inlet.
In 1854, Daniel married Ann Elizabeth White. She was one of the first school teachers in the area. Together, they built the main house you see today by 1860. They raised eight children in this home.
Important Visitors and Causes
The Bigelows were very active in their community. They cared about many important causes. These included the temperance movement, which worked to reduce alcohol use. They also supported women's suffrage, which was the fight for women's right to vote. Public education was another cause they strongly believed in.
Many famous people visited the Bigelow home over the years. These visitors included Patkanim, a leader of the Snoqualmie Tribe. The famous suffragette Susan B. Anthony also stopped by. Even George Pickett, a general from the American Civil War, visited when he was stationed nearby. The Bigelows also welcomed some of the "Mercer Girls" in 1866. These were young women who traveled to Washington for new opportunities.
Daniel and Ann Elizabeth lived in their beloved house for their entire lives. Daniel passed away in 1905, and Ann Elizabeth in 1926.
Saving the Historic Home
The Bigelow House stayed in the family for a long time. In 1994, Daniel S. Bigelow, a grandson, and Mary Ann Campbell Bigelow helped save it. They formed a group called the Bigelow House Preservation Association (BHPA). Their goal was to protect the house from being torn down by developers.
The BHPA worked hard to restore the house. They made it look like it did during the early days of the territory. In 1995, it officially opened as the Bigelow House Museum. The Bigelow family was still allowed to live in the house for the rest of their lives.
Since 2005, the Bigelow House Museum has been fully open to everyone. You can see original furniture, photos, and documents from the pioneer era. It is one of the oldest and most complete pioneer homes in Washington. The house is also a central part of the Bigelow Neighborhood. Many homes in this area were built by the Bigelow and White families. In 2013, the BHPA joined with the Olympia Historical Society. They are now known as the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum.
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