Plum Grove Historic House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Plum Grove
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Plum Grove, Iowa City, 1996
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1030 Carroll St. Iowa City, Iowa |
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| Built | 1844 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000731 |
| Added to NRHP | May 07, 1973 |
Plum Grove is a special old house in Iowa City, United States. It's known for being the retirement home of Robert Lucas, who was Iowa's very first governor. It was also the childhood home of a famous writer named Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd.
The Story of Plum Grove
This historic house was built in 1844. Robert Lucas, Iowa's first governor, lived here with his wife, Friendly, and their children and grandchildren. Governor Lucas passed away at Plum Grove in 1853. His family then moved out of the house by 1866.
After the Lucas family, the Hoyt family lived here. Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd, a well-known author, was born in this house in 1868. Later, the home was owned by Jacob Carroll Switzer, a hero from the American Civil War. Over time, many different families lived in Plum Grove.
In 1943, the state of Iowa bought the house. They fixed it up to honor Governor Lucas and his important role in Iowa's history. Today, the State Historical Society of Iowa owns Plum Grove. The Johnson County Historical Society helps take care of it.
You can visit Plum Grove for tours! It's open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Wednesday to Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. After Labor Day until October 31, it's open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can also arrange group visits.
Discovering Plum Grove's Past
Since 1974, experts have been studying the land around Plum Grove. This work is called archaeology. They dig carefully to find clues about what life was like in Iowa's early days, from 1844 to 1943. This research also shows how farming changed over the years.
Much of this important work was led by Dr. Thomas Charlton from the University of Iowa. During their digs, archaeologists have found signs of old additions to the house. They also uncovered other buildings that used to be on the property. One interesting find was a large trench filled with animal bones, which tells us about the food people ate long ago.
