Irvine-McDowell Park facts for kids

Irvine-McDowell Park is a fun 20-acre city park located in Richmond, Kentucky. It's a great place for families and friends to spend time outdoors. The park offers many activities, from playgrounds to sports fields. It also has a special history, as it's built on the grounds of a historic home called Irvinton House.

Irvine-McDowell Park: A Great Place to Play

Irvine-McDowell Park has lots of cool things to do! You can find a big playground where kids can climb, swing, and slide. There are also picnic shelters, perfect for enjoying a snack or lunch with your family. If you like sports, the park has tennis courts and an outdoor basketball court where you can shoot hoops.

The park is also home to four softball and baseball fields. These fields are great for local teams to practice and play games. A famous baseball field, Earle Combs Field, used to be located here too.

The Story of Irvinton House

Irvine-McDowell Park is located at 345 Lancaster Avenue in Richmond. The park grounds surround a very old and important house called Irvinton House. This two-story brick house was built way back in the 1820s. It was first built for a doctor named Anthony Wayne Rollins.

From Home to Hospital

In 1829, a man named David Irvine bought Irvinton House. Later, in 1849, he gave the property to his daughter, Elizabeth Shelby Irvine, when she married her cousin, William McClanahan Irvine.

When Elizabeth Irvine passed away in 1920, she left the house and everything inside it to the Kentucky Medical Society. She wanted it to become a hospital. This hospital was meant to honor Dr. Ephraim McDowell, who was a very famous pioneer surgeon. He was known for doing important surgeries a long time ago.

For many years, Irvinton House served as a special hospital. It was one of only four hospitals in the United States that treated a serious eye infection called trachoma.

Becoming a Park and Museum

The hospital at Irvinton House closed in 1950. After that, the house and its land were given to the city of Richmond. This became Richmond's very first official recreation center. The park was then named Irvine-McDowell Park. This name honors both the Irvine family, who owned the land, and Dr. McDowell, the famous surgeon.

Today, Irvinton House is still a busy place! It houses the Richmond Tourism and Main Street Department Welcome Center. This is where visitors can learn about fun things to do in Richmond. The Irvinton House Museum is also located inside the historic home. It serves as a local history center, teaching everyone about the past of Richmond.