Pope House Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dr. M.T. Pope House
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 511 S Wilmington St., Raleigh, North Carolina |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1900 |
| Architectural style | Two-story gable front |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001392 |
| Added to NRHP | November 22, 1999 |
The Pope House Museum, built in 1901, is a special home in Raleigh, North Carolina. It used to belong to Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, an important African-American doctor and leader.
This house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site in the United States. The city of Raleigh started offering tours of the Pope House in 2012. It's a great place to learn about history!
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The area where the Pope House stands has changed a lot over the years. In the early 1800s, people thought fancy homes would be built here. But things changed when Shaw University moved nearby in 1870.
Many African-American families came to Raleigh after the American Civil War. They settled in this neighborhood, known as the Third Ward. Dr. Pope studied medicine at Shaw University before becoming a doctor.
Building a Home
Around 1900, black professionals started building their homes in the Third Ward. Dr. Pope decided to build his house here in 1901. His neighbors were also important African Americans, like another doctor and a pharmacist.
His home was close to his office on East Hargett Street. This street was the main area for black-owned businesses at that time.
Modern Features for Its Time
Dr. Pope made sure his home had the newest technology. It had lights that could use both gas and electricity. The kitchen had running water, and there was a full bathroom upstairs.
The house also had coal-burning stoves for heat and even a telephone! There was a special call bell system too. Buttons in each room would ring a bell in the back hall. This was like an early intercom system.
Later, in the 1920s and 1930s, Dr. Pope started seeing patients at home. He used a small area near the kitchen for this. It had a sink and a cabinet for his medical tools.
Family Life and Changes
Dr. Pope married Delia Haywood Phillips in 1907. They added a garage and updated the house with full electricity. In the 1920s, the front porch was changed into a sleeping porch.
Over time, parts of the house were updated again. Dr. Pope and Delia had two daughters, Evelyn and Ruth. After their parents passed away, Evelyn and Ruth took care of the family home.
The Neighborhood Today
The Pope House is still in its original spot, but the area around it looks very different. Old homes and shops have been replaced by office buildings and parking lots.
The biggest change was the Raleigh Convention Center built right across the street. Today, the house stands among tall skyscrapers built in the 1980s and 1990s.
Becoming a Museum
The Pope House was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 22, 1999. Soon after, the Pope family's foundation decided to turn the house into a museum.
A non-profit group called The Pope House Museum Foundation was started. The family's old papers and records were organized and given to a special collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In 2011, the Pope House Museum needed help with money. So, the city of Raleigh bought the house to make sure it would be saved. Now, Raleigh Parks and Recreation manages the museum. This allowed the Pope House Museum to open for regular tours for the very first time!
See also
