John Marshall House facts for kids
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John Marshall House
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John Marshall House
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 9th and Marshall Sts., Richmond, Virginia |
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| Built | 1790 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000916 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
The John Marshall House is a special historic house museum in Richmond, Virginia. It was the home of John Marshall, a very important person in early American history. He was the Chief Justice of the United States, which means he was the head judge of the country's highest court. He was also a Founding Father, helping to create the United States.
John Marshall was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1801 by President John Adams. He served as Chief Justice for the rest of his life. During his time, he made big decisions like Marbury v. Madison (1803) and McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). These decisions helped shape how the U.S. government works.
Marshall lived in this house with his wife, Mary Willis Ambler Marshall (who was called Polly by her family), and their six children. He lived there from when it was built in 1790 until he passed away in 1835. Today, you can visit the house and learn about his life!
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Building the Marshall Home
John Marshall started buying the land for his house in 1786. He finished paying for it by November of that year. While their new house was being built, the Marshalls lived in a small wooden house nearby.
People sometimes say the Marshalls moved into their new home in 1788, or sometimes in January 1791. When John Marshall built his house, Richmond was growing fast. Many new homes were being built. The John Marshall House was one of the first homes in a new area. This area later became known as the Court End of Richmond.
Early Records of the House
The first insurance record for the house is from 1796. It shows that John Marshall owned the whole property. This included the main house, a wooden law office, a wooden kitchen, and a laundry building. These buildings were on lot 786. There was also a stable at the far corner of the property. In 1796, all the buildings were worth about $5500.
John Marshall kept good records of his money. He wrote down the names of everyone who worked on his home. Workers like Mr. Sydnor, Keeling and Smith, and W. Goode helped build it. The last payment for the main house was in November 1790. The total cost of the house was about 1211 pounds. Even after the main house was done, they were still building fences and other small buildings in 1791.
By 1810, the John Marshall House had grown bigger. A new wing and three porches were added. These additions were not on the earlier insurance record.
What the House Looks Like
The John Marshall House is made of brick and is built in the Federal style. People have described its outside as "simple" and "unpretentious." This means it looks nice but not overly fancy.
Inside, you can see beautiful hand-carved wood. This type of woodwork was common in houses from the 1700s. The parlor and library rooms have wooden panels on one wall. They also have small cupboards next to the fireplace. Most rooms on the main floor have a special wooden trim called a dado along the bottom of the walls.
The dining room does not have the same wood panels. But it has a "particularly beautiful" cornice (a decorative molding at the top of the walls) and fancy fireplace mantles. One writer, Mary Wingfield Scott, said the rooms are "bright and well proportioned." She also thought the stairway was "particularly charming."
Saving the House
After John Marshall passed away, his daughter Mary owned the house. She rented it out to several people over the years. Later, his granddaughters, Misses Anne and Emily Harvie, owned the house. By then, the property had become much smaller.
In 1907, the granddaughters sold the house to the City of Richmond. The city planned to tear down the house to build a high school. But women's groups worked together to save the historic John Marshall House.
In 1911, the house was given to Preservation Virginia. This group used to be called the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. They have taken care of the house as a historic house museum ever since.
The house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960. This means it is a very important historic place in the United States. In 2005, the City of Richmond officially gave the house to Preservation Virginia. This was to celebrate John Marshall's 250th birthday.
Since then, the house has been carefully restored. It got a new roof and was repainted to its original colors. Other parts of the house were also updated. The John Marshall House is open for tours during certain times of the year. You can also visit by making an appointment or for special events.
See also
