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 special historic house located at 218 Wilkinson Street in Frankfort, Kentucky. It was built a long time ago, between 1796 and 1800, by an important American leader named John Brown. Because of its connection to John Brown and its beautiful old-fashioned design (called Federal-style architecture), it was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1971. Today, you can visit Liberty Hall and learn about its past!
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About Liberty Hall
Liberty Hall is a large, two-story house made of brick. It has five main sections and is located west of downtown Frankfort. The house sits on a hill, looking out over the Kentucky River. There's also a smaller, two-story part at the back of the house.
Its Story Through Time
The land where Liberty Hall stands has a long history, going back to 1786. That's when General James Wilkinson bought a lot of the land that is now downtown Frankfort. He planned out the town and named the streets after his friends and famous places. Some of these original streets, like Wilkinson and Main, are still around Liberty Hall today.
In 1796, a man named Andrew Holmes sold four acres of this land to Senator John Brown. Soon after buying the land, John Brown started building his home. He was often away for government work in Philadelphia, which was the capital of the United States back then. We don't know for sure who designed Liberty Hall, but John Brown might have helped with the plans himself.
Liberty Hall was one of the first brick homes in Frankfort. The bricks were made right there, from clay dug out of the house's cellar! The house was mostly finished by 1800, but the windows weren't added until 1804. Besides the main house, there were other important buildings on the property. These included a kitchen, a laundry room, a smokehouse, a place for carriages, and living areas for enslaved people who worked there.
In 1835, John Brown divided his property between his two sons. His older son, Mason, inherited Liberty Hall. For his younger son, Orlando, John Brown hired a famous architect named Gideon Shryock. Gideon Shryock also designed the Kentucky State Capitol. Orlando Brown's new house was built in the Greek Revival style and cost about $5,000.
Liberty Hall stayed in the Brown family for many years. In 1934, Mary Mason Scott, who was John Brown's great-granddaughter and the last family member to live in Liberty Hall, passed away. She left the house to her brother, who then sold it to a group of people who wanted to save it. This group formed a non-profit organization called Liberty Hall, Inc. They opened the house as a museum in 1937, so everyone could visit and learn about its history.
The Orlando Brown House was lived in by the family 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. They also opened the Orlando Brown House as a museum in 1955.
Important People Who Lived Here
John Brown (1757–1837) was a very important person in American history. He was a lawyer and a statesman who helped create the State of Kentucky. Before Kentucky became a state, he represented Virginia in the Continental Congress and the U.S. Congress. While in Congress, he helped pass the law that made Kentucky a state. After that, he was chosen to be a U.S. Senator for Kentucky and served until 1805.
Many other interesting people have lived at Liberty Hall over the years! This house has been home to:
- Two other U.S. Senators
- One Vice-Presidential candidate
- One Governor of Missouri
- One Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (a government office that works with Native American tribes)
- One Ambassador to France
- One U.S. District Attorney
- Three U.S. Army colonels
- Two doctors
- One newspaper editor
It's also the family home of Margaret Wise Brown, a famous author who wrote many popular children's books.
Liberty Hall was officially recognized as a U.S. National Historic Landmark on November 11, 1971.
Visiting Today
Today, Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House next door are both open as historic house museums. You can take tours of Liberty Hall from mid-March to mid-November, Monday through Saturday. The site also has special events and programs throughout the year that are fun for families. The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Kentucky owns and takes care of Liberty Hall Historic Site.
See also
