Nordica Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Nordica Homestead
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 116 Nordica Lane, Farmington, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 115 acres (47 ha) |
| Built | 1857 |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000006 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 1969 |
The Nordica Homestead is a special museum in Farmington, Maine. It's a historic house where a famous singer named Lillian Nordica was born. She was a very important opera singer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This house became a museum in 1928 to remember her. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. You can visit it from June to October.
Contents
About the Nordica Homestead
The Nordica Homestead is a charming old house. It has one and a half stories and is made of wood. The outside is covered with clapboard siding. Its foundation is made of strong granite. The house has an extra part at the back. Inside, you can still see the original pine floors. These floors were painted with a cool spattered design. The house also has old wallpaper.
The property used to be a large farm. It was about 115 acres. Today, only a barn remains from the old farm buildings.
Lillian Nordica's Amazing Story
Lillian Nordica was born in this house in 1857. She lived here until she was five years old. Lillian later became a world-famous opera singer. She was known by her stage name, "Lillian Nordica." She trained her voice at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. Her career was truly amazing.
The Nordica family sold this house in 1857. But later, two of Lillian's sisters bought it back. They gave it to Lillian in 1911. She loved visiting it during the summers. She continued to visit until she passed away in 1914.
The House Becomes a Museum
After Lillian's death, the house was empty. It started to fall apart. But a group of her friends and fans wanted to save it. They worked together to buy the property. They carefully restored the house. In 1928, they opened it as a museum. It was a way to honor Lillian Nordica's memory.
The Nordica Homestead was recognized as an important historic site. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. Today, you can visit the museum from June through October. There is a small fee to enter.
See also
