Mathias Ham House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mathias Ham House
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Mathias Ham House January 2012
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2241 Lincoln Ave. Dubuque, Iowa |
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| Built | 1856 |
| Architect | John F. Rague |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000764 |
| Added to NRHP | July 19, 1976 |
The Mathias Ham House is a cool old house in Dubuque, Iowa. It was built a long time ago, in the 1800s, and is now a special museum. This house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. You can find it near the entrances to Eagle Point Park and Riverview Park.
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Discover the Mathias Ham House
This amazing house was designed by a famous architect named John F. Rague. He also designed the original state capitol buildings in Illinois and Iowa! The house was built in 1857 for a local businessman and lead miner named Mathias Ham.
Who Was Mathias Ham?
Mathias Ham was an important person in Dubuque's early history. He used to own an island in the Mississippi River near Dubuque. This island was called Ham's Island. Today, it has a different name: Chaplain Schmitt Memorial Island.
What Style is the House?
The architect, John F. Rague, designed the house in the Italian Villa style. This style was popular in the 1800s. It often includes towers, wide eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls), and fancy windows.
Step Back in Time: The Museum
The Mathias Ham House has been carefully fixed up and turned into a museum. It shows what life was like during the Antebellum era. This means the time period right before the American Civil War. Inside, you can see furniture and decorations from America and Europe that were used back then.
The property also has other cool historical buildings:
- The Louis Arriandeaux Log House: This is a double log cabin built in the dogtrot style. It's thought to be the oldest building in Iowa! It was built in 1833 in Dubuque. Later, it was moved to Eagle Point Park before finding its home at the Mathias Ham House Historic Site.
- A One-Room Schoolhouse: The old Humke School, which was a one-room schoolhouse, was also moved here. It helps visitors imagine what school was like for kids long ago.
- Replica Mine and Badger Hole: To teach people about Dubuque's history with lead mining, a pretend mine shaft was built. There's also a "badger hole" or "badger hut." These were small shelters used by early miners.
Visiting the Museum
The Dubuque County Historical Society runs the Mathias Ham House museum. This same group also operates the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. So, if you like history and learning about rivers, you might enjoy both places!
