Grant Foreman House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grant Foreman House
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Grant-Foreman House
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1419 West Okmulgee Ave., Muskogee, Oklahoma |
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| NRHP reference No. | 73001565 |
| Added to NRHP | September 19, 1973 |
The Thomas-Foreman Historic Home, also known as the Grant Foreman House, is a special house in Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States. It was built by a judge named John R. Thomas on a big piece of open land. Later, the house was named after Judge Thomas's son-in-law, Grant Foreman. This naming was done by the Muskogee Historical Society and the National Register of Historic Places.
Grant Foreman and his wife, Carolyn Thomas Foreman, were both famous historians. They wrote many books and articles about the history of Oklahoma. Today, you can see many of their personal items inside the house. These include their books, photos, important papers, and beautiful Native American artworks.
Contents
The Story of the House
Finding the Perfect Spot
When Judge Thomas moved to Muskogee in 1897, he became a new judge. He wanted to build a home but had trouble finding the right land. He and his daughter, Carolyn, stayed in a hotel called the Adams House. They waited until Judge Thomas could get his new house ready.
He spoke with Pleasant Porter, who was the main leader of the Creek Nation at that time. Mr. Porter agreed to sell Judge Thomas a large piece of land. It was 300 feet by 300 feet and was just outside the city. The Thomas family moved into their new home in 1898.
Planting Trees and Memories
When Judge Thomas first bought the land, there was only one small log cabin nearby. The area was mostly just grass, with no other plants or trees. The judge decided to plant 350 trees himself. These trees grew to provide fruit and shade for the property.
Today, only one of these original trees is still standing. It is a large red oak tree located in the northwest corner of the property. In 1905, Carolyn and Grant collected many acorns while on their honeymoon in California. These acorns were also planted and have grown into trees that are still there today.
Three Rivers Museum
Who Runs the House Now?
The Grant-Foreman House is managed by the Three Rivers Museum. This museum was started in Muskogee in 1989. It was the idea of a local historian named Dorothy Ball. She was the head of the Muskogee Historic Preservation Commission at the time.
A New Home for the Museum
The main building for the Three Rivers Museum was once an old Midland Valley Railroad Depot. This building was empty for a while. In 1998, the museum got money from the government to buy it.
Taking Care of History
The Oklahoma Historical Society owned the Grant Foreman House. However, they had some problems with keeping it open and maintained. So, in 2002, the Three Rivers Museum made an agreement with them. The museum voted to take over running the Grant Foreman House. They also made sure to do any needed repairs and updates to the historic home.
