Lowell Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Founder of the Lowell Museum, Moses Kimball
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The Lowell Museum was a popular place for art and entertainment in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was started by Moses Kimball in 1840.
History of the Lowell Museum
The Lowell Museum was located on the top floors of a building on Merrimack Street. This building was owned by Fisher Ames Hildreth, who was Lowell's U.S. Postmaster (the person in charge of the local post office). N. F. Gates managed the museum's theater.
Tragic Accident and Fire
On May 26, 1853, a sad accident happened during a performance. An actor named Wheeler was accidentally injured and passed away in front of the audience.
In the mid-1850s, a local artist named Alfred Ordway was asked to paint portraits of all the presidents for the museum. He finished these paintings in late 1855. Sadly, all of them were lost in a big fire.
According to a newspaper article from January 31, 1856, the Lowell Museum was destroyed by fire. This caused a big financial loss of $15,000, though some of it was covered by insurance. The fire also destroyed several stores below the museum. These included a dry goods store, a bookstore, a clothing store, and a law library next door. The "Boston Nationals," a group performing in the museum's theater, lost all their costumes and belongings in the fire.
Exciting Shows and Exhibits
The Lowell Museum hosted many interesting and fun shows.
- April 1843: Mr. Harrington of Boston performed. He was a famous Ventriloquist (someone who can make their voice seem to come from another person or object) and a magician. Advertisements promised "Laughable, Comical, Mysterious, Magical, Wonderful, Astonishing Experiments." Tickets cost 25 cents for two people, and shows started at 8 PM.
- May 1843: A special show called "The Conflagration of Moscow" was staged. This was a sound and light show that used cannon fire and military music. It showed the burning of the city of Moscow by Napoleon in 1812.
- July 1843: Kip Darling performed at the museum.
- December 1848: Miss Eliza Eberle, a dancer, gave her first performance at the Lowell Museum.
- 1850-1851: Mr. John Howe often played music at the Lowell Museum.
