Isaac Bell House facts for kids
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Isaac Bell House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Front view of the house, 2018
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | 70 Perry Street, Newport, RI |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1881-1883 |
| Architect | McKim, Mead and White |
| Architectural style | Shingle style |
| Part of | Bellevue Avenue Historic District (ID72000023) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000022 (original) 97001276 (NHL) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 13, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | September 25, 1997 |
| Designated NHLDCP | December 8, 1972 |
The Isaac Bell House is a historic house in Newport, Rhode Island. You can find it at 70 Perry Street, right near Bellevue Avenue. This amazing building is also known as Edna Villa. It's one of the best examples of a unique building style called Shingle Style architecture in the United States.
The house was designed by a famous architecture firm called McKim, Mead, and White. It was built during a time known as the Gilded Age. Back then, Newport was a very popular summer spot for some of America's richest families.
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The Story of the Isaac Bell House
The house was built for Isaac Bell Jr.. He was a very successful businessman who dealt with cotton and made smart investments. His brother-in-law was James Gordon Bennett Jr., who published a big newspaper called the New York Herald.
Isaac Bell Jr. hired the New York architecture firm of McKim, Mead, and White to design his summer home. This firm included Charles Follen McKim, William R. Mead, and Stanford White. They were well-known for designing the Newport Casino in Newport. They also designed the Boston Public Library and even the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City. The Isaac Bell House was built between 1881 and 1883.
About the Shingle Style
The Shingle Style of architecture was first used by Henry Hobson Richardson. He designed the William Watts Sherman House, which is also in Newport. This style of Victorian architecture became quite popular in the late 1800s. It uses a lot of wooden shingles on the outside of the building.
The Isaac Bell House is a perfect example of this style. It has unpainted wood shingles and simple details around its windows and trim. It also features many porches. The house mixes ideas from the English Arts and Crafts movement with old American designs. It even has an open floor plan inspired by Japanese homes and porch columns that look like bamboo!
Inside the house, you'll find special fireplaces called inglenooks. The walls are covered with natural rattan, and there's beautiful wood paneling. The floors are made of narrow wooden strips.
The House Today
Over the years, the Isaac Bell House was used for different things. At one point, it was divided into apartments. It even served as a nursing home.
In 1994, the Preservation Society of Newport County bought the house. They worked hard to restore it to its original beauty and won awards for their efforts. Today, the Isaac Bell House is a museum. You can visit it to learn about its history and see its unique architecture.
The Isaac Bell House was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1997. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Rhode Island
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Newport County, Rhode Island
Images for kids
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Isaac Bell House around 1890
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Front East view of the house
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First Floor plan
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Second Floor plan
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Isaac Bell House in 2008
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