Kelton House Museum and Garden facts for kids
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| Location | 586 East Town Street, Columbus, Ohio |
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| Type | Historic house museum |
| Public transit access |  Add→ 11 CoGo |
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Fernandez Cortez Kelton House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Built | 1852 |
| Part of | East Town Street Historic District (ID76001425) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 8, 1979 |
The Kelton House Museum and Garden is a special old house in Columbus, Ohio. It was built in 1852. Today, it is a museum. The house shows what daily life was like in Columbus during the 1800s. It also teaches visitors about the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom.
A Home with a Secret Past
Fernando Cortez Kelton was a successful merchant in Columbus. He sold dry goods. He and his wife, Sophia Langdon Stone Kelton, built the Kelton House in 1852. The Keltons were strong abolitionists. This means they were against slavery. They used their home as a safe stop on the Underground Railroad. They helped people seeking freedom.
Fernando Kelton was very respected for his work. He was even chosen to be a pallbearer for Abraham Lincoln's funeral. This happened when Lincoln's body passed through Columbus.
The Kelton Family's Role in History
The Keltons' oldest son, Oscar, joined the army in 1862. He fought against slavery in the American Civil War. Oscar became a first lieutenant. Sadly, he was killed in the Battle of Brice's Crossroads in 1864. In that same year, the Keltons welcomed Martha Hartway into their home. She was a young runaway from Virginia. Martha was raised as part of the family. She later married Thomas Lawrence in 1874. Thomas was a carpenter, and some of his work can still be seen in the Kelton House today.
The house later passed to the Keltons' son, Frank Kelton. He married Isabella Morrow Coit. Isabella was a suffragist. This means she supported women's right to vote. She was also one of the first women to attend The Ohio State University. Her mother, Elizabeth Greer Coit, was a local leader for women's rights.
Frank later traded houses with his brother Edwin. This was to better fit their families' different sizes.
The Last Kelton Resident
Edwin's daughter, Grace Bird Kelton, was the last family member to own the house. She lived there until she passed away in 1975. Grace was one of the first people in the country to work as an interior decorator. She studied at famous design schools. Her work was well-known. She even helped with the redecoration of the White House in the 1960s. This was during Jacqueline Kennedy's time there.
After Grace's death, the house was given to the Columbus Foundation. They lease it to the Junior League of Columbus. This group restored the house. They made it look like it did between 1852 and 1900. Today, the house is a museum and an event space. About 80 to 90 percent of the furniture you see there belonged to the Kelton family.
