Raphael Semmes House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Raphael Semmes House
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 804 Government Street Mobile, Alabama |
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| Built | 1858 |
| Architect | Peter Horta |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000110 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
The Raphael Semmes House, also known as the Horta–Semmes House, is a special old home in Mobile, Alabama. It's famous because it was once the home of Admiral Raphael Semmes. He was a brave captain who led a ship called the CSS Alabama during the American Civil War. This house became a protected historical site on February 26, 1970.
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A Home with a Past
The Raphael Semmes House was built in 1858 by its first owner, Peter Horta. Later, in 1871, the people of Mobile bought the house. They gave it to Admiral Raphael Semmes. He lived there until he passed away in 1877.
A Gift for the Community
In the mid-1900s, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Linyer Bedsole bought and fixed up the house. On April 22, 1946, they gave it to the First Baptist Church of Mobile, which is right next door. They gave the house to remember their son, Lt. Joseph Linyer Bedsole, Jr. He was a soldier who died in Germany during World War II.
What the House Looks Like
This two-story brick house has a simple, classic design. It shows a style called Federal architecture. The front door has a Greek Revival architecture look, which is another old style.
Special Details
The front of the house has a beautiful cast iron porch on the ground floor. This porch was added in the 1870s. Its ironwork has pretty flower designs. Because the house was built on a narrow city lot, it is much longer than it is wide.
The main part of the house is about 30 feet (9 meters) wide and 40 feet (12 meters) deep. There's also a two-story section at the back, shaped like an "L." This part is about 15 feet (4.5 meters) wide and 27 feet (8 meters) deep. It made the whole house about 67 feet (20 meters) long. This back section was used for service rooms. It had wooden porches on both floors that connected to the main house.
Inside the House
Inside, on the west side, there's a staircase hall on both floors. The stairs are made of dark wood with fancy turned spindles. The hall leads to a living room and a dining room on the first floor. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms. The living room and dining room still have their original black marble fireplaces. The back service section has a kitchen and storage room downstairs. Upstairs, it has two rooms that were likely for servants.
