Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Heman Gibbs Farmstead
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The Heman Gibbs farmhouse in 2005
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2097 Larpenteur Avenue, Falcon Heights, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Website | http://www.rchs.com/gibbs-farm/ |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001009 |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1975 |
The Gibbs Farm is a cool museum in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, United States. It used to be the farm of Heman Gibbs and Jane DeBow. They first built their home here in 1854. The farmhouse you see today includes their small, original cabin.
This museum teaches visitors about life in Minnesota during the 1800s. You can learn about the pioneers who settled here. You also learn about the Dakota people who lived in southern Minnesota long before Europeans arrived.
In 1974, the farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special historical site! The original farmhouse and barn are part of this important listing. Other buildings at the museum were added later.
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Explore the Gibbs Farm Museum
The Gibbs Farm is an open-air museum. This means you can walk around outside and see different historical buildings. You'll find the original farmhouse and barn. There's also a schoolhouse.
The museum has some cool replica buildings too. You can see a sod house, a bark lodge, and a tipi. These replicas show how the Dakota people lived. They even have replica furniture, clothing, and tools from the Dakota culture.
Inside the Farmhouse
The objects inside the farmhouse are from the mid-1800s. They are part of the Ramsey County Historical Society's collection. You'll see items that belonged to the Gibbs family during your tour.
Some interesting things to look for include a family hair wreath. There's also original wallpaper. You might even spot a hidden murphy bed! Many other original artifacts are on display.
Outdoor Adventures at the Farm
The museum grounds are like a trip back in time. You can see a natural Minnesota prairie. This is how the land would have looked in the 1800s.
There's also a special Dakota medicine teaching garden, called the turtle garden. You can explore a Dakota vegetable garden. There's also a pioneer vegetable garden. Don't forget to check out the heritage apple orchard and the farm animals!
The Story of Jane Gibbs
The museum shares the amazing story of Jane Gibbs. Her maiden name was DeBow. When she was about six or seven years old, she went to live with the Stevens family in 1833. This was near Batavia, New York. The Stevens family were missionaries. They had lost their oldest daughter and took Jane in.
The Stevens family brought Jane west with them. They were sent by a missionary group to teach Christianity to the Dakota people. These Dakota people lived near Lake Calhoun, Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet in what is now Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jane's Journey and Friendships
Jane arrived at Fort Snelling in May 1835. She was almost nine years old. The mission was built near Lake Harriet. Jane went to school there with Dakota children. She learned to speak their language.
Jane became very close with the Dakota people. They gave her a special name: "Zitkadan Usawin." This means "Little Crow that was Caught."
Jane moved with the Stevens family, who treated her like their adopted daughter. They eventually moved to Illinois. Jane later left them after Mrs. Stevens passed away.
Starting a New Life
Jane met Heman Gibbs in 1848 and they got married. They returned to Minnesota in 1849. They bought the land that is now the Gibbs Museum.
Soon after buying the land, Jane and Heman found an old Indian trail. It ran right through their property! They soon realized that some of the same Dakota people Jane had grown up with used this trail. They traveled north each year for their wild ricing, hunting, and fishing grounds. This was in the area of present-day Forest Lake, Minnesota.
Every year, the Dakota band would stop at the Gibbs farm. They would visit Jane and her family for up to three weeks. Then, they would continue their journey.
The Sod House: A Pioneer Home
After buying their land in 1849, Jane and Heman Gibbs built a small home. It was a one-room, dug-out sod house. They lived here for five years while they farmed the land.
The house was 10 feet by 12 feet. It was built with logs and had a sod roof. This design was smart! It kept the house warm in winter and cool in summer.
The original sod house was next to the farmhouse. It was found during an excavation in 1995. Today, a replica stands in the prairie. It was built based on what was learned from the original site.
The Gibbs Farmhouse: Growing with the Family
In 1854, Jane and Heman built a one-room farmhouse. It was just a few yards from their sod house. This one-room house was home for 13 years. It sheltered their five children: Ida (adopted), Abbie, William, Frank, and Lillie.
In 1867, the house got much bigger! It was enlarged to fit the growing family's needs. The one-room house became an eight-room farmhouse. It was as large and modern as any house in the area. The expanded house had a parlor, six bedrooms, and a room for hired men. It also had a summer kitchen.
The Schoolhouse: Learning in the Past
Heman Gibbs was an educated man. He believed that education was important for his own children and for others in the area. In 1871, he sold land across the street for a schoolhouse. While it was being built, classes were held in the Gibbs farmhouse! The Gibbs family even let the teacher stay in their home.
The schoolhouse you see at the museum today is not the original one Heman helped build. This schoolhouse was built around the same time near Milan, Minnesota. It shows what a typical pioneer one-room schoolhouse looked like.
The Ramsey County Historical Society bought this schoolhouse in 1966 for $100. It had to travel about 140 miles (225 km) to the Gibbs Museum. The move happened between 9 AM and 3 PM, carefully avoiding major highways!
