Henry Howard (architect) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Howard
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| Born | February 8, 1818 Cork, Ireland
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| Died | November 25, 1884 (aged 66) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Miss Richards |
| Children | 11 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America (1861–1865) |
| Service/ |
 Confederate States Navy |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
Henry Howard (1818–1884) was a famous architect from Ireland who moved to America. He designed over 280 buildings in Louisiana. Many of these were large plantation homes built before the American Civil War. After the war, he also designed many townhouses in New Orleans.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to America
Henry Howard was born in Cork, Ireland, on February 8, 1818. He learned about architecture from his father. His father also had an architectural office, which is where Henry got his start.
In 1836, when he was 18, Henry moved to the United States. He first lived in New York City. Within a year, he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, to join his brother.
Starting His Architecture Career
When Henry first arrived in New Orleans, he worked as a builder and carpenter. He specialized in building stairs for homes. He worked for other architects like James H. Dakin and Henry Molhausen.
A few years later, he helped finish the famous Pontalba Buildings. Another architect, James Gallier, had started these buildings.
Designing Grand Plantation Homes
By 1848, Henry Howard began designing his own buildings. One of his first big projects was the Madewood Plantation House. This beautiful home is located near Napoleonville.
He went on to design several other very large plantation homes. These included Nottoway (finished in 1859). Nottoway is the biggest plantation house that is still standing in the Southern United States.
Other famous plantation homes he designed were:
- Belle Alliance
- Indian Camp Plantation (1859)
- Belmont Plantation in St. James Parish
- Edgewood (1859) in Natchez, Mississippi
Designing Townhouses
Henry Howard also designed many townhouses. These were often found in cities like New Orleans. Some of his notable townhouse designs include:
- The Samuel W. Logan House
- The Robert H. Short House
- The Goldsmith-Godchaux House (1859)
The Goldsmith-Godchaux House is special because of its painted insides. It has more fresco wall decorations and stenciling than almost any other home from the mid-1800s in the South.
For some of his projects, Howard worked with another architect named Albert Diettel. They worked together on Edgewood and possibly Indian Camp Plantation.
During and After the Civil War
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Henry Howard joined the Confederate States Navy. He worked at the Confederate Naval Iron Works in Columbus, Georgia.
After the war ended, Howard continued his work as an architect. Over his career, he designed more than 280 buildings. Some of his designs were even mistakenly thought to be by James Gallier.
Other Notable Works
Here are a few more buildings designed by Henry Howard:
- Belle Grove Plantation, in Iberville Parish, Louisiana
- Carrollton Courthouse, in New Orleans
- White Hall Plantation House, in Pointe Coupee Parish
Personal Life and Death
Henry Howard married a woman named Miss Richards from New York. They had a large family with 11 children.
He passed away on November 25, 1884, in New Orleans. He died from paralysis.
