Eugene V. Debs Home facts for kids
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Eugene V. Debs House
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Southwest view
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 Location in Vigo County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 451 N. 8th St., Terre Haute, Indiana |
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| Built | 1890 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000008 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 13, 1966 |
The Eugene V. Debs House is located on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. This historic house was once the home of Eugene V. Debs, a famous American labor leader. He worked to improve conditions for workers. The house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Today, the Eugene V. Debs Foundation, an educational group, takes care of the museum.
About Eugene V. Debs
Eugene V. Debs and his wife, Kate, built their two-story house in 1890. This was five years after they got married. Some people thought the house was too fancy for a leader who supported working-class people. However, Kate had received money from a wealthy aunt. This allowed them to furnish their home nicely.
Many famous people visited Debs at his home. These visitors included his friends James Whitcomb Riley, a poet, and Carl Sandburg, a writer. One room in the house is still called the Riley bedroom today. When Debs passed away in 1926, a special service was held at his house. About 5,000 people came to honor him.
Inside the Historic House
The Eugene V. Debs House is now a museum. You can see many original items from when the Debs family lived there. Some special features include a beautiful blue porcelain tile fireplace. This fireplace was brought all the way from Italy. The house also has fancy mahogany furniture in the dining room and parlor. You can also see their complete set of Haviland china dishes.
The museum displays many items that belonged to Debs. These items tell the story of his life. Part of his personal library is also in the house. More of his books are kept at the Indiana State University library nearby. One room in the house has special murals. These paintings show important moments from Debs' life.
History of the House
After Eugene Debs died, the house had several different owners. For a while, it was even used as a Theta Chi fraternity house from 1948 to 1961. It was also rented out as apartments for a short time.
In 1962, the Eugene V. Debs Foundation bought the house. They still own and care for it today. The house was recognized as an official Indiana historic site in 1965. This was done by the Indiana General Assembly. In 1966, it became a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States. The National Park Service helps to make sure the house is preserved. In 2004, the house was repaired enough that it was no longer considered "threatened."
Images for kids
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Southwest view of the Eugene V. Debs House.
