Peirce Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Peirce Mansion
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View from the east
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2901 Jackson St., Sioux City, Iowa |
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| Built | 1893 |
| Built by | Hansen Bros. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001273 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1978 |
The Peirce Mansion is a large, beautiful house with 23 rooms in Sioux City, Iowa. For many years, from 1960 to 2011, this mansion was home to the Sioux City Public Museum. The museum showed exhibits about the history of the area.
Today, the Sioux City Public Museum still owns the mansion. It has been carefully restored to look like it did during the Victorian era. You can visit the mansion during special open house events held a few times a year. It is also available to rent for events. The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, which means it's an important historical building.
Contents
History of the Peirce Mansion
Who Built the Mansion?
The Peirce Mansion was built for a wealthy businessman named John Peirce. He was a financier, which means he managed large amounts of money. The house was finished in 1893.
What is the Mansion Made Of?
This impressive home was built in the Romanesque style. It was constructed using a strong, reddish-brown stone called Sioux Quartzite. This stone gives the mansion its unique and sturdy look.
The Mansion as a Museum
In 1959, a group called the Junior League bought the mansion. They worked to turn it into a museum. The Sioux City Public Museum officially opened its doors in the mansion in September 1960. It became a place where people could learn about the history of Sioux City and the surrounding region.
In 1996, there was a theft at the museum. A saddlebag was stolen. This was part of a series of thefts that involved Native American artifacts from museums.
A New Home for the Museum
After many years in the Peirce Mansion, the Sioux City Public Museum moved to a new location. In 2011, the museum opened in downtown Sioux City. Its new home is in a building that used to be a J. C. Penney store.
