Greenwell Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Greenwell Store
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Built circa 1870
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Location | Hawaii Belt Road, Kealakekua, Hawaii |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001017 |
| Added to NRHP | May 22, 1978 |
The Greenwell Store is a really old building in Hawaii. Today, it's a cool museum where you can learn about the past. The Kona Historical Society takes care of it. This historic store helps us understand what life was like long ago in Hawaii.
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A Look Back: The Greenwell Store's Story
The Greenwell Store has a long and interesting history. It was built way back in 1870. This makes it a very important landmark in Hawaii.
Who Built the Greenwell Store?
The store was built by a man named Henry Nicholas Greenwell. He was an English merchant who first came to Hawaii in 1850. After a trip back to England, he returned and married Elizabeth Caroline Hall. They decided to build a strong stone house to use as a store.
The Store's Design
The building is a simple rectangle. It's about 25 feet wide and 55 feet long. It has a basement, a main floor, and an attic. The walls are very thick, about 24 inches! They are made of strong stones held together with mortar.
A Hub for the Community
Henry Greenwell also worked as the Postmaster. This meant he was in charge of the mail for the area. Because of this, the town that grew around the store became known as Kealakekua, Hawaii. Even today, the main road, called the Hawaii Belt Road, runs right past the old store.
Becoming a Museum
Years later, in 1976, some of Henry Greenwell's family helped start the Kona Historical Society. This group wanted to save and share Hawaii's history. On May 22, 1978, the Greenwell Store was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii. This is a list of important historical sites in the United States.
The Kona Historical Society worked hard to fix up the old store. They made it look just like it did around 1875. Then, they opened it as a museum. It's a great place to visit and imagine what it was like to shop there over a hundred years ago! The store was also added to Hawaii's own list of historic places in 1991.
More History Nearby
The Kona Historical Society also offers tours at another nearby Greenwell family property. It's called the Kona Coffee Living History Farm. There, you can learn all about how coffee was grown and processed in the past.
