Old Castle Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Castle Hall, Baker University
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 513 5th St., Baldwin City, Kansas |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Plains Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000309 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1971 |
Old Castle Hall is a very old and important building at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. It was the very first building ever built for the university! It has a long history, serving many different purposes over the years. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about the past.
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What is Old Castle Hall?
Old Castle Hall was built a long time ago, between 1857 and 1858. When it was first finished, the first two floors were used for university classes. Imagine learning in a building that's over 160 years old! The third floor had a different purpose; it was used by the Palmyra Masonic Lodge.
How the Building Was Used
For many years, Old Castle Hall was the main place for students to learn. Classes were held there until 1871. After that, new buildings were constructed for the university, and Old Castle Hall found new jobs. It was used as a mill, which is a place where grain is ground into flour. It also served as a dormitory, a place where students could live, and even for storage.
During its time as a mill, the third floor needed some repairs. It was rebuilt to fix problems with its structure. You can still see where this change happened on the outside of the building!
Old Castle Museum
In the 1950s, Old Castle Hall got a special makeover. It was carefully restored to its former glory. Since then, it has been kept as the Old Castle Museum.
The museum is a cool place to visit. It shows off many interesting items from the early days of Kansas. You can also find artifacts related to the Methodist church and the history of Baker University itself. It's like stepping back in time!
Building's Unique Look
Old Castle Hall is made from rough, natural stones. This type of building is called "rubble stone construction." The corners of the building have special stones that make them strong and look nice.
If you look closely at the outside, you can see where the third floor was rebuilt. The way the stones are laid changes, showing where the new work was done. The building has a simple rectangular shape. Inside, many changes have been made over the years to fit its different uses.
A Historic Landmark
Old Castle Hall is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 24, 1971. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. Being on this list helps protect the building and makes sure it will be around for many more years.
