Eugene Field House (St. Louis) facts for kids
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Field House
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Eugene Field House
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 Location in St. Louis
Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 634 South Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri |
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| Built | 1845 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002137 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1975 |
| Designated NHL | March 29, 2007 |
The Eugene Field House is a special historic house museum in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built way back in 1845. This house was once the home of Roswell Field, who was a lawyer. He was important because he helped Dred Scott in a very famous court case called Dred Scott v. Sandford.
Roswell Field's son, Eugene Field, grew up in this house. Eugene became a well-known writer, especially famous for his children's stories. Today, the house is a National Historic Landmark and is known as the Field House Museum. It used to be called The Eugene Field House & St. Louis Toy Museum.
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What the Field House Looks Like
The Field House is located just south of Downtown St. Louis. You can find it at the corner of South Broadway and Cerre Street. It's a three-story building made of brick. It has a special kind of roof called a side gable roof.
The front of the house has three sections, and the main door is on the left side. The windows have stone sills and tops, which gives the building a classic look.
A Look at the House's History
This house was built in 1845. It was part of a group of similar buildings called Walsh's Row. Most of these other buildings were torn down in the 1900s.
In 1936, the Field House was almost torn down too. But thankfully, it was saved! It was given to the St. Louis Board of Education. People who cared about history helped raise money to fix it up.
Later that same year, it opened as a museum dedicated to Eugene Field. Over the years, different groups have taken care of the museum. In 2007, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This was because of Roswell Field's important work as a lawyer for Dred Scott.
The Dred Scott Case Connection
Roswell Field's legal efforts were a big step for Dred Scott. They helped set the stage for Scott's final appeal to the United States Supreme Court. However, in 1857, the Supreme Court decided against Dred Scott. The Chief Justice at the time, Roger B. Taney, made a ruling that said African Americans could not be United States citizens. This decision was a very sad and important moment in American history.
Mark Twain and the Plaque
In 1902, a special plaque was put on the house. The famous author Mark Twain helped with this. He announced that Eugene Field was born there.
However, Eugene Field's brother, Roswell, said that Eugene was actually born somewhere else. Mark Twain didn't let that stop him! He told Roswell, "Officially and for the purposes of the future, your brother was born here." So, even though it's not quite right, the plaque is still there today. It says: "Here was born Eugene Field, the Poet, 1850–1895".
Images for kids
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Eugene Field House
