Liberty Hyde Bailey Birthplace facts for kids
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Liberty Hyde Bailey Birthplace
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 903 Bailey Ave., South Haven, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000892 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 18, 1983 |
The Liberty Hyde Bailey Birthplace is a special farmhouse in South Haven, Michigan. It's now called the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum. This house is important because it's where a famous plant expert, Liberty Hyde Bailey, was born and grew up. It became a Michigan State Historic Site in 1963 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
A Home for a Future Scientist
The Bailey family built this farmhouse between 1853 and 1858. It was part of a large 80-acre farm. In 1858, Liberty Hyde Bailey was born right here. He lived in this house for 19 years. During this time, he learned a lot about local wild animals and plants.
In 1878, Liberty Hyde Bailey went to Michigan Agricultural College. This school is now known as Michigan State University. He became a very famous horticulturist and botanist. A horticulturist studies how to grow plants, and a botanist studies plants in general. He also helped start the American Society for Horticultural Science.
From Farmhouse to Museum
In 1918, a man named Frank E. Warner bought the Bailey farm. He lived there until he passed away in 1926. Later, in 1937, the land where the house stands was given to the city of South Haven. The city decided to use it as a special place to remember Dr. Bailey. This is how it became the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum.
What the House Looks Like
The Liberty Hyde Bailey Birthplace is a 1-1/2 story house. This means it has one full floor and a smaller half-floor upstairs. It was built in the Greek Revival style. This style often looks like ancient Greek temples.
The outside of the house is covered with clapboard, which are long, thin wooden boards. It sits on a foundation made of fieldstone, which are natural stones found in fields. A smaller section was added to the back of the house later on.
Inside, the walls and ceilings are smooth plaster. The first floor has rooms for sitting, dining, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a storage room. Upstairs, on the second floor, you'll find three more bedrooms and a small library.
