George W. Norris House facts for kids
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George W. Norris House
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George Norris House, seen from the southeast. At lower left is a seated statue of Norris.
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 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Location | 706 Norris Ave., McCook, Nebraska |
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| Built | 1899 |
| NRHP reference No. | 67000006 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1967 |
| Designated NHL | May 28, 1967 |
The Senator George William Norris House is a special old house in McCook, Nebraska. It's now a historic house museum, which means it's kept just as it was when an important person lived there. This house was bought in 1899 by George W. Norris (1862–1944). He was a very important politician from Nebraska.
George Norris helped create big programs like the New Deal in the 1930s. He also strongly supported the Rural Electrification Act. This law helped bring electricity to many farms and small towns across the country. His wife gave the house to the Nebraska State Historical Society in 1968. Before that, in 1967, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place of great historical importance to the United States.
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What Does the Norris House Look Like?
The Norris House is located north of downtown McCook. You can find it on the west side of Norris Avenue, right across from Norris Park. This park is a small public space.
The house itself is two and a half stories tall. It's made of wood, but the outside is covered with stucco. It has a gabled roof, which means the roof has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. The house is mostly rectangular. It has smaller sections that stick out on the sides, also with gabled roofs. On the south side, there's a sunroom with a gabled roof, perfect for enjoying the sun.
The ends of the gables are also covered in stucco. They have cool decorative wooden pieces called "Stick style" elements. The main front door is in a round-arch opening. Inside the house, you'll find furniture and items that belonged to the Norris family. It's like stepping back in time to see how they lived!
Who Was George Norris and Why Was He Important?
George Norris bought this house in 1899 when he was just starting his political career. He became a very influential leader.
Norris's Time in Congress
He served five terms in the United States House of Representatives. After that, he served five terms as a United States senator. That's a long time helping to make laws for the country!
Supporting Progressive Ideas
Norris was known for supporting progressive ideas. He was a Republican, but he believed in policies that helped ordinary people. He wanted to make sure everyone had a fair chance.
Bringing Electricity to Rural Areas
One of his most famous achievements was supporting the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). This program built dams and power plants to bring electricity and jobs to a large area. One of the first dams built by the TVA was even named Norris Dam after him!
He was also a huge supporter of the Rural Electrification Act. Before this law, many farms and small towns didn't have electricity. George Norris worked hard to change that. Thanks to his efforts, electricity became available to millions of Americans, making their lives much easier.
Norris's Legacy
George Norris passed away in 1944. His wife later gave their home to the state historical society in 1968. This way, people can visit and learn about his important work and the impact he had on the country.
See also
