John Wornall House Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Wornall House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Kansas City, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Built | 1858 |
| Architect | Asa Beebe Cross |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000109 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1969 |
The John Wornall House Museum is a historic house in Kansas City, Missouri. It's like a time capsule! This museum shows what daily life was like for a well-off family before the American Civil War. You can find it at 6115 Wornall Road in the Brookside area of Kansas City.
Contents
History of the Wornall House
The Wornall House was built in 1858 by a man named John B. Wornall. It was designed in the Greek Revival style, which means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. The bricks used to build the house were even made right there on the Wornall family's property!
Building the House
This house is special because it's one of only four homes left in the Kansas City area from the time of the Civil War. It stands as an important reminder of that period.
.png)
John Wornall's father, Richard Wornall, used to own a business trading mules and horses in Shelbyville, Kentucky. His business ran into some money problems. In 1843, Richard Wornall sold his land, some enslaved people, and most of his animals to pay off his debts.
Moving to Missouri
With the money he had left, Richard Wornall, his wife Judith, and their two sons, George Thomas and John Bristow, moved to Westport, Missouri. When they arrived in October 1843, Richard Wornall bought a large farm. This farm was about 500 acres, which is like 500 football fields!
The land stretched across what is now part of Kansas City. It went from present-day 59th Street to 67th Street, and between State Line and Main Street. Enslaved people worked on this farm, helping the family grow crops and manage the property.
A Family Home
Later, Richard and Judith's second son, John B. Wornall, inherited the farm. He then built the beautiful house we see today for his second wife, Eliza S. Johnson Wornall.
The Civil War and the House
During the American Civil War, the Wornall family's home became a temporary hospital. After the big Battle of Westport, both Union (North) and Confederate (South) soldiers who were hurt were cared for inside the house. It played a small but important role in the war's history.
