Elihu Benjamin Washburne House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Elihu Benjamin Washburne House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 908 3rd St., Galena, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1844 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000708 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1973 |
The Elihu Benjamin Washburne House is a special old home in Galena, Illinois. It is also known as the Washburne-Sheehan House. This house was built in 1844 and 1845. It is a one-and-a-half-story house built in the Greek Revival style.
The house belonged to Elihu Benjamin Washburne. He was a well-known lawyer from Galena. Washburne was important during the American Civil War. He served in the U.S. Congress. Later, he worked for President Ulysses S. Grant. He was the Secretary of State and the U.S. Minister to France. The Washburne House became a U.S. National Register of Historic Places site in 1973.
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History of the Washburne House
Elihu Washburne came from a family that was active in politics. They helped start the Republican Party. Elihu moved to Galena in 1840 to work as a lawyer. He became very successful there.
Building the Washburne Home
Washburne himself helped plan and build his house. In 1859, the house was made bigger. This happened while he was serving in Congress. Elihu and his wife, Adele Gratiot Washburne, lived there until 1882. Then, they moved to Chicago. Elihu Washburne passed away in Chicago in 1887. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Galena.
Later Owners of the House
After the Washburnes moved, the Sheehan family bought the house. They owned it until 1968. Then, the State of Illinois bought the house.
Architecture of the House
The Elihu B. Washburne House is a great example of late Greek Revival style. This style looks like ancient Greek temples. The house has a two-story porch. This porch has four large columns. These columns are fluted, meaning they have grooves. They are also in the Doric order style.
Visiting the Historic Site
Today, the Elihu B. Washburne House is a special place. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency takes care of it. It is open for people to visit. It is known as an Illinois State Historic Site.
What You Can See on a Tour
You can take a guided tour of the house. You will see the first floor and two bedrooms upstairs. The tours teach about Elihu Washburne. They also talk about his friendships with Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. The rooms are decorated to show what life was like in the mid-1800s. They show how a successful family in the Midwest lived.
Why the House is Important
The Washburne House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on July 5, 1973. It is important for its architecture. It is also important because of its connection to Elihu Washburne. The house is part of the larger Galena Historic District. This district was named in 1969. It has over 1,000 historic buildings.
