Liberty Hall (Frankfort, Kentucky) facts for kids
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Liberty Hall
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Liberty Hall, 2018
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 218 Wilkinson St., Frankfort, Kentucky |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1796 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000344 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 11, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
Liberty Hall is a historic house in Frankfort, Kentucky. It is now a museum where you can learn about the past. A famous American leader named John Brown built this house between 1796 and 1800. Because of its beautiful design and its connection to John Brown, it was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1971. This means it's a very special place in American history.
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What Does Liberty Hall Look Like?
Liberty Hall is located west of downtown Frankfort. It sits at the corner of Wilkinson and West Main Streets. From the house, you can see the Kentucky River.
The main part of the house is made of brick and has two stories. It is about 60 feet long and 46 feet wide. There is also a two-story section at the back. This part is about 24 feet by 43 feet.
The History of Liberty Hall
How Liberty Hall Began
The story of Liberty Hall starts in 1786. A general named James Wilkinson bought a lot of land in what is now downtown Frankfort. Wilkinson planned out the town. He named streets after friends, famous people, and himself. Some of these original streets, like Wilkinson and Main, are still around Liberty Hall today.
Wilkinson later sold the land where Liberty Hall now stands. In 1796, Senator John Brown bought four acres of this land.
Building a New Home
John Brown started building his home soon after buying the land. He was often away for government work in Philadelphia. Philadelphia was the capital of the United States at that time. We don't know who the architect of Liberty Hall was. John Brown might have helped design it himself.
This house was one of the first brick homes in Frankfort. The bricks were made right there from clay dug from the cellar. The house was mostly finished by 1800. The glass windows were added a few years later in 1804. Other buildings were also built on the property. These included a kitchen, laundry, smokehouse, and stables. There were also quarters for enslaved people.
Two Houses, One Family
In 1835, John Brown divided his property. He wanted his sons to have equal inheritances. His older son, Mason, received Liberty Hall. For his younger son, Orlando, John Brown hired Gideon Shryock. Shryock designed the Kentucky State Capitol.
Orlando Brown's new house was built in the Greek Revival style. A local builder named Harrison Blanton constructed it. The whole project cost $5,000.
Becoming a Museum
In 1934, Mary Mason Scott passed away. She was John Brown's great-granddaughter and the last person to live in Liberty Hall. She left the house to her brother, John Matthew Scott. He then sold Liberty Hall to a group of people who wanted to save the historic building. They formed a group called Liberty Hall, Inc. They opened the house as a museum in 1937.
The Orlando Brown House was lived in until 1955. Anne Hord Brown, Orlando Brown's last family member, left that house to a group called the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Kentucky. This group opened the Orlando Brown House as a museum in 1955.
Important People Who Lived Here
John Brown was born in 1757 and passed away in 1837. He was a lawyer and a very important leader in the United States. He helped create the State of Kentucky. Before Kentucky became a state, he represented Virginia in Congress. While in Congress, he helped pass the law that made Kentucky a state. After that, he was elected as a U.S. Senator for Kentucky. He served in that role until 1805.
Many other important people have lived at Liberty Hall. These include:
- Two other U.S. Senators
- One person who ran for Vice-President
- One Governor of Missouri
- One Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
- One Ambassador to France
- One U.S. District Attorney
- Three U.S. Army colonels
- Two doctors
- One newspaper editor
Liberty Hall is also the family home of Margaret Wise Brown. She was a famous author of children's books.
Liberty Hall was officially named a U.S. National Historic Landmark on November 11, 1971.
Visiting Liberty Hall Today
Today, Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House next door are both museums. You can take tours of Liberty Hall from mid-March to mid-November. Tours are available Monday through Saturday. The site also has many special events and programs throughout the year. The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Kentucky owns and runs Liberty Hall Historic Site.
See also
