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 fun place in Lowell, Massachusetts, started by Moses Kimball in 1840. It was a mix of an art gallery and a theater where people could enjoy different shows.
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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 Postmaster. N. F. Gates managed the theater part of the museum.
Key Events at the Museum
On May 26, 1853, during a show, an actor named Wheeler was accidentally hurt by a bayonet. He died right away in front of the audience.
In the mid-1850s, a local artist named Alfred Ordway was asked to paint pictures of all the presidents. These paintings were meant to decorate the museum. He finished them in late 1855.
The Great Fire of 1856
Sadly, the Lowell Museum was destroyed by a big fire on January 31, 1856. The fire caused about $15,000 in damage, though some of it was covered by insurance. The fire also ruined several stores below the museum. These included a dry goods store, a bookstore, a clothing store, and even the law library of Benjamin Butler 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 acts and displays over the years.
- April 1843: Mr. Harrington of Boston, a famous ventriloquist, performed. He was known for his amazing voice tricks and magic. Advertisements promised funny, mysterious, and astonishing shows. Tickets for two people cost 25 cents, and shows started at 8 PM.
- May 1843: A special show called "The Conflagration of Moscow" was put on. This was a sound and light show that used cannon fire and military music. It showed the burning of the city by Napoleon in 1812.
- July 1843: Kip Darling performed at the museum.
- December 1848: Miss Eliza Eberle, a dancer, had her first performance at the Lowell Museum.
- 1850-1851: Mr. John Howe often played music at the Lowell Museum.
