Page-Walker Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Page-Walker Hotel
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The Page-Walker Hotel
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 119 Ambassador St., Cary, North Carolina |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | c. 1868 |
| Architect | Allison Francis Page |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003339 |
| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1979 |
The Page-Walker Hotel, also known as the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, is a special place in Cary, North Carolina. It used to be a hotel, but now it's a historic house museum, which means it's a building kept to show how people lived in the past.
Allison Francis Page, who founded the town of Cary, built this hotel around 1868. It was designed in a fancy style called Second Empire. Later, a person named J. R. Walker bought it. Allison Francis Page's son, Walter Hines Page, became a famous journalist, publisher, and diplomat.
Contents
A Look Back at the Page-Walker Hotel
Serving Train Travelers
From 1868 to 1916, the Page-Walker Hotel was a busy spot. People traveling by train on the Southern and Seaboard Air Line railroads would stay there. It was a convenient place for passengers to rest during their journeys.
From Hotel to Home
After 1916, the building stopped being a hotel. For many years, until 1980, it was used as a boarding house. A boarding house is like a shared home where people rent rooms. It also served as a private home for families.
Saving a Historic Building
After 1980, the building was empty for five years and started to fall apart. But the Cary Town Council stepped in and bought the property. Many volunteers worked hard to restore the outside of the hotel. They made it look just like it did when it was first built.
What You Can Explore Today
The Cary Heritage Museum
Today, the Page-Walker Arts & History Center is home to the Cary Heritage Museum. This museum teaches visitors all about the history of Cary. You can see different exhibits and learn about the town's past.
Galleries and Gardens
The center also has art galleries where you can see amazing artwork. There are educational rooms for learning activities and an archive gallery with old documents. You can even explore a historic smokehouse and a beautiful garden on the property.
National Recognition
Because of its importance, the Page-Walker Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 29, 1979. This list includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.
Fun Events at the Page-Walker
Community Gatherings
The Page-Walker is a lively place that hosts many different events. People celebrate special occasions like weddings there. It's a popular spot for the community to come together.
"Paint the Page" Art Contest
Every year, the center holds a "Paint the Page" art contest. Young artists from grades 8 to 12 are invited to participate. They get to draw or paint parts of the building that inspire them. It's a great way for students to connect with local history through art.
See also
