Harris-Kearney House facts for kids
Col. John Harris House
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| Established | 1963 |
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| Location | 4000 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
The Harris-Kearney House is a very old and important house in Kansas City, Missouri. It was built in 1855 and is the oldest brick house in the city! It's located in the Westport area.
This beautiful house was built in a style called Greek Revival. It was first owned by Col. John "Jack" Harris and his wife, Henrietta. Back then, people called it the Mansion House. In 1922, the house was moved to its current spot at 4000 Baltimore Avenue.
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The Harris Family and Their Hotel
Before building the Mansion House, the Harris family owned a business called the Catfish House. This was a small hotel and saloon. It was located where Westport Road and Pennsylvania Street are today. In 1848, the Catfish House burned down.
With help from friends and locals, the family rebuilt the hotel. It became a three-story brick building. They renamed it The Harris House Hotel. This new hotel was very important for the Westport area. It offered food and a place to stay for many travelers. These included explorers, trappers, and pioneers. They were traveling west on famous routes like the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon Trails.
During the Battle of Westport in 1864, the hotel played a special role. It became the main office for the Union Army. General Curtis was in charge there. The Harris House Hotel was taken down in 1922.
The Harris family lived in the Mansion House from 1855 until 1881.
The Kearney Family Moves In
The Kearney family moved into the Mansion House in 1870. They were related to the Harris family. Col. Charles Kearney was Col. Harris's son-in-law. His wife, Josephine (Harris) Kearney, was the daughter of John and Henrietta Harris.
The Kearney family made some changes to the house. They added more rooms to the back. This was to make space for their large family. They had three daughters, one adopted daughter, and one son. The Kearney family lived in the house until 1898.
In 1898, a famous person bought the property. This was William Rockhill Nelson, who started The Kansas City Star newspaper. He gave the house as a wedding gift to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Johnston. Mr. Johnston was an editor for The KC Star.
Saving the Historic House
In 1921, a businessman named Elmer Williams bought the Mansion House. He wanted to tear it down to build a new hotel. But a group of ladies wanted to save the historic house. They were part of a group that later became the Daughters of Old Westport.
In 1922, these ladies bought the house for $1,000. They also raised another $5,000. This money was used to move the house to its current location. During the move, a part of the house called the side portico was removed. It was never put back.
On December 31, 1922, the house opened as a history museum. But it didn't make enough money and had to close. In 1940, the house was sold again. It was used as offices for doctors and dentists, but this also didn't work out.
In 1970, a government agency took over the house. Then, on October 18, 1972, the Harris-Kearney House was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
The Westport Historical Society bought the house in 1976. They worked hard to raise money. They restored the house to look like it did in 1855. In 1985, the Harris-Kearney House Museum opened to the public. It is now run by a non-profit organization.
The House Today
The Westport Historical Society has done a lot to care for the house. After buying it in 1976, they restored the outside of the house. They made it look like it did before the Civil War. In 1979, they received a grant to help with more renovations.
The inside of the house has also been restored. It is filled with furniture and items from the time period. Many of these items were given by the families of Harris and Kearney.
Today, the museum is open for tours. You can visit to learn about its history. It also hosts private tours, weddings, meetings, and other special events.
