John Bowne House facts for kids
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John Bowne House
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John Bowne House in 2018
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 Location in New York City
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
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| Built | ca. 1661 |
| Architectural style | Anglo-Dutch Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000974 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 13, 1977 |
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The John Bowne House is a very old house in Flushing, Queens, New York City. It is famous because it played a big part in making sure people in the United States could practice any religion they wanted. This important idea is called religious tolerance.
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The John Bowne House: A Place for Freedom
A Home Built Long Ago
The John Bowne House was built around 1661. It was the home of John Bowne, a member of the Quaker faith. In 1662, a Quaker meeting was held there. At that time, the area was called New Netherland and was controlled by the Dutch. The leader, Peter Stuyvesant, did not like Quakers. He had John Bowne arrested for holding the meeting.
Standing Up for What's Right
John Bowne did not give up. He appealed his arrest to the Dutch West India Company, which was in charge of the colony. Bowne won his appeal! This was a huge victory. It set a rule that people in the colony could have religious freedom. This event helped create the idea of freedom of religion, speech, and assembly. These freedoms are now very important parts of the U.S. Constitution.
Fighting for Everyone's Freedom
Many of John Bowne's family members continued his fight for fairness. They worked against slavery. For example, John's great-grandson, Robert Bowne, helped start the Manumission Society of New York in 1784. This group worked to end slavery. Later, some people living in the house, like Mary Bowne Parsons' son William B. Parsons, helped enslaved people escape to freedom. They were part of the Underground Railroad before the American Civil War.
A Special Kind of House
The John Bowne House is a wood-frame house built in an Anglo-Dutch Colonial style. It has a unique shape called a saltbox. This means it has a steeply sloped roof with three windows sticking out, called dormers. The house was changed a few times over the years. Many generations of the Bowne family lived there until 1945.
From Home to Museum
In 1945, the Bowne family gave the house to the Bowne Historical Society. The house then became a museum in 1947. Today, you can visit it to learn about its history. Experts have also studied the ground around the house to learn more about its past. The house is recognized as a special historical place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a New York City designated landmark.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in New York
- Flushing Remonstrance
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Queens
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Queens
