Harlan–Lincoln House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Harlan–Lincoln House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 101 W. Broad St. Mount Pleasant, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000726 |
| Added to NRHP | May 25, 1973 |
The Harlan–Lincoln House is a special old building in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. It's located on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan College. Today, this house is a museum. It holds many interesting items that belonged to two important families: the family of Senator James Harlan and the family of President Abraham Lincoln. These two families are connected to the house's history.
Contents
History of the Harlan–Lincoln House
Building a Home for James Harlan
The Harlan–Lincoln House was built in 1854. It was originally the home of James Harlan. He was a very important person at Iowa Wesleyan College. Harlan served as the college's president twice. His first time was from 1853 to 1855. He returned later, from 1869 to 1870. During his time as president, the school's name changed. It went from Mt. Pleasant Collegiate Institute to Iowa Wesleyan University.
Harlan's Public Service
Even after leaving his role as college president, James Harlan kept his home in this house. He became a U.S. senator for Iowa. Later, he served as the United States Secretary of the Interior. This was during the time of President Andrew Johnson. Senator Harlan returned to live in the house in 1876. He stayed there until he passed away in 1899.
The Lincoln Family Connection
After James Harlan's death, the house went to his daughter, Mary Harlan Lincoln. She had married Robert Todd Lincoln. Robert was the son of President Abraham Lincoln. This is how the house became connected to the Lincoln family. In 1907, Mary Harlan Lincoln gave the house to Iowa Wesleyan.
The House's Many Uses
Over the years, the Harlan–Lincoln House has had many different purposes. It served as the college president's home. It was also used as an administrative building for the college. At one point, the art department was located there. In 1973, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
The Harlan–Lincoln House Museum
Today, the Harlan–Lincoln House is a museum. It displays many items from both the Harlan and Lincoln families. These items help tell the story of their lives.
Special Items on Display
The museum has some very unique artifacts. You can see Mary Todd Lincoln’s mourning veil. There is also a small piece of fabric. People believe it's from the coat President Lincoln wore when he was assassinated. The collection also includes a desk that Senator Harlan used. Plus, there's a rock collection that belonged to Abraham Lincoln II. These items help visitors learn about these famous families.
