John Trumbull Birthplace facts for kids
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John Trumbull Birthplace
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Town Common, Lebanon, Connecticut |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1735 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Part of | Lebanon Green Historic District (ID79002666) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000883 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 21, 1965 |
| Designated CP | June 4, 1979 |
The John Trumbull Birthplace, also known as the Governor Jonathan Trumbull House, is a special old house in Lebanon, Connecticut. It's now a historic house museum, which means it's a place you can visit to learn about history.
This house was built in 1735 by Joseph Trumbull. He built it as a wedding gift for his son, Jonathan Trumbull (1710-1785). Jonathan Trumbull became the Governor of Connecticut. During the American Revolutionary War, this house was a very important place for planning battles and strategies.
It's also the place where John Trumbull (1756-1843) was born. John Trumbull grew up to be a famous artist. He is known for painting pictures of the Revolutionary War and its important people. Because of its history, the house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
Contents
What the House Looks Like
This house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides and wooden siding. There's a big chimney in the middle. The front door is in the center. It has fancy columns on each side and a small window above it.
Two sections extend from the back of the house. These connect to a smaller cottage. This cottage is used by the person who takes care of the house. Inside, the first floor has a living room, a dining room, and a bedroom. The kitchen is in one of the back sections.
Upstairs, besides more bedrooms, there's a secret room. Governor Trumbull used this hidden room as his office. The house today shows many items that belonged to the Trumbull family. It also has other things from that time period.
The House's Exciting History
Joseph Trumbull built this house in 1735. He built it for his son Jonathan when Jonathan married Faith Robinson. Jonathan Trumbull was elected governor of the Connecticut Colony in 1769. He then became the first governor of the independent state of Connecticut in 1776. He was a very important person in Lebanon. He was also a successful businessman and managed his work from this house.
A Center for the Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War (1775–83), many important meetings happened here. They also met in the War Office next door. The War Office was once connected to the house by a secret passage. This house became a major center for getting supplies and planning for the northern states.
French Army soldiers were even stationed on the Lebanon Green during the winter of 1780-81. These troops later joined the Comte de Rochambeau's army. They marched through in 1781 on their way to the Siege of Yorktown. This was a very important battle that helped America win the war.
John Trumbull: The Artist
Jonathan's son, John Trumbull, was born in this house on June 6, 1756. He helped George Washington during the war. Later, he became a famous artist. In the 1800s, the U.S. Congress asked him to paint four large historical paintings. These paintings are now in the United States Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C. He also painted many portraits of the war's military leaders.
Preserving the House
In 1830, the house was moved a few hundred feet to where it stands today. The Connecticut chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution bought the house in 1934. Since then, they have kept it as a historic house museum. You can visit the house on weekends from May through October.
The house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
