Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Cincinnati, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stowe, Harriet Beecher, House
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| Location | Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Built | 1832 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000497 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1970 |
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is a special historic home in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was once the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe. She was a very important writer who worked to end slavery. Her famous book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, was published in 1852.
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A New Home in Cincinnati
Harriet Beecher Stowe's father, Rev. Lyman Beecher, got a job at Lane Theological Seminary. This school was in the Walnut Hills area of Cincinnati. It was founded in 1830. Rev. Beecher was a Congregationalist minister. He had big dreams of moving west. He wanted to share his Christian beliefs there. In 1830, he wrote to his daughter Catharine. He said he thought about moving to Cincinnati. He called it "the London of the West." He believed that if they could help the West, everything would be safe.
The Journey West
In September 1832, Harriet Beecher was 21 years old. She was not yet married to Mr. Stowe. She moved with her family from Litchfield, Connecticut, to Ohio. Her family included her father, stepmother, and aunt Esther. Her siblings Catharine and George also came. Her half-siblings Isabella, Thomas, and James joined them too. The family had not all lived together before. They met in New York to start their trip.
They traveled through other cities to raise money for the seminary. The journey was long and hard. Isabella later remembered the trip. She said they chartered a big, old stagecoach. It had four large horses. They traveled to Wheeling, Virginia. They spent more than a week crossing the Alleghenies. This was before railroads existed. They enjoyed every minute of the trip. They sang hymns to pass the time. The journey usually took two days. But it took them eight days.
Cincinnati's Role in History
Cincinnati was a very active place for the abolitionist movement. This movement worked to end slavery. Cincinnati was also one of the fastest-growing cities. Its population grew from 10,000 in 1820 to 25,000 in 1830. By 1850, it was the sixth-largest city in the United States. Many German and Irish immigrants moved there. Harriet's older sister, Catharine, started a school there. It was called the Western Female Institute.
Harriet's Inspiration for Writing
Harriet Beecher started her writing career in Cincinnati. She published her book The Mayflower in 1834. It was a collection of stories. While living in Cincinnati, Harriet visited Maysville, Kentucky, in 1833. There, she saw a slave auction. This experience deeply upset her. It was one of many things that inspired her. These experiences led her to write Uncle Tom's Cabin years later.
Harriet lived in this house at different times. She lived there from 1833 until 1836. In 1836, she married professor Calvin Ellis Stowe. Her first two children were twins, Eliza and Harriet. They were born in the house in 1836. Harriet's brother, Henry Ward Beecher, also lived in the house. He was an important leader in the women's suffrage movement. This movement worked for women's right to vote. He was also a popular Protestant minister.
About the House
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is about 5,000 square feet. It was finished in 1833. The house was built specifically for the president of the Lane Seminary. The seminary provided the house to the Beecher family. Harriet and most of her brothers and sisters lived there. There were 11 Beecher children who grew up.
Visiting the Museum Today
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati is owned by the Ohio Historical Society. It is in the Walnut Hills neighborhood. You can find it at 2950 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206. Volunteers from the Friends of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House run it.
The house is open to the public. It is located in a small park. It works as a historical and cultural site. It teaches about Harriet Beecher Stowe and her family. It also focuses on the Lane Seminary and abolitionists. The site shares stories about the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape. The museum also teaches about African-American history.
See also
