Mallory–Neely House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mallory-Neely House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 652 Adams Ave., Memphis, Tennessee |
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| Built | ca. 1852 |
| Architectural style | Italianate villa-style |
| Part of | Victorian Village District (ID72001253) |
| Designated CP | December 11, 1972 |
The Mallory–Neely House is a beautiful old home located at 652 Adams Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. It's part of a special area in Memphis called the Victorian Village. This house is known as an important building in that historic neighborhood.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Building a Victorian Home
This amazing house was built around 1852. It was designed in the Italianate style. This style was popular for homes that looked like grand Italian country villas. It was an early example of a Victorian-era house.
Families Who Lived Here
From 1852 all the way until 1969, many families called this mansion home. These families included the Kirtlands, Babbs, Neelys, Grants, and Mallorys. Each family added their own touch to the house over the years.
Big Changes and Beautiful Decor
In the 1880s and 1890s, the house got a huge makeover. The original two-and-a-half stories were made into three full stories. The tower on the house was also made much bigger. After these changes, the house had 25 rooms!
The Neely family decorated the mansion in the popular Victorian style. They added special parquet flooring, which means the wood floors had cool patterns. There was also fancy plasterwork on the ceilings and walls. Even the ceilings had stenciled designs, making them very artistic.
A Special Wish
In 1969, the last person to live in the mansion passed away. Her name was Daisy Neely-Mallory, and she was 98 years old. She had a special wish for her home. She wanted the house to be given to groups like the Daughters, Sons, and Children of the American Revolution.
The Mallory-Neely House as a Museum
Becoming a Historic Landmark
In 1972, the entire Victorian Village area in Memphis became very important. It was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a place worth protecting because of its history.
Opening as a Museum
The Mallory-Neely House itself became a museum in 1973. It was set up to show what homes looked like during the Victorian era. You can see furniture and decorations from that time. The City of Memphis and Museums Inc. have managed the museum since 1987. It is also part of the Pink Palace Family of Museums.
Renovations and Reopening
In 2005, the Mallory-Neely House had to close its doors. It needed a lot of expensive repairs. The City of Memphis also had some funding problems at the time.
However, the house reopened to the public in November 2012. It had a special ceremony for important guests. A week later, on November 11, 2012, everyone could visit. The house was made stable and got a new roof with slate tiles. It also has full copper trim, which looks very nice.
Many changes were made to help people with disabilities visit. A ramp now allows easy entry to the first floor. The old carriage house is now the ticket office. It also shows a 20-minute video about the museum. The house is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays.
See also
