Reitz Home Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Augustus Reitz House
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 224 S.E. 1st St., Evansville, Indiana |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1871 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000047 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1973 |
The Reitz Home Museum is a beautiful old house in downtown Evansville, Indiana. It's a special kind of museum called a Victorian house museum. You can take guided tours all year round to see what life was like long ago!
When you visit, it's like stepping back in time. The walls are covered with fancy silk, the ceilings are painted by hand, and there are delicate designs made of plaster. Even the wooden floors have amazing patterns. You'll also see pretty fireplaces with tiles and marble, colorful stained-glass windows, and sparkling French chandeliers. Many of the items inside are the original furniture from when the house was first built.
Many people think this house is one of the best examples of the French Second Empire style of architecture. It has even been featured in magazines like Victorian Homes because it's so special. In 2003, the house received an award for how well it has been kept and restored.
The museum is open most days from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but it is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
History of the Reitz Home
Who Built the House?
The Reitz Home was built in 1871 by a man named John Augustus Reitz. He made a lot of money in the lumber business, which is cutting and selling wood. He built this big house to show how successful he was. It was designed in the French Second Empire style, which was very popular at the time. The house was filled with elegant furniture and amazing details.
Changes Over Time
When John Augustus Reitz passed away in the 1890s, his oldest son, Francis Joseph Reitz, took over the house. Francis decided to redecorate the inside completely. He used many different Victorian styles to make it look new and fashionable for his time.
The last of Reitz's children died in 1931. The house was then given to the Daughters of Isabella, a group of Roman Catholic women who do good work in the community. Later, in 1944, the Diocese of Evansville bought the house. A diocese is like a church district. They used the house as the home for their bishop, who is a high-ranking church leader. The first bishop to live there was Henry J. Grimmelsman.
Becoming a Museum
In 1974, the Diocese of Evansville gave the mansion to the Reitz Home Preservation Society. This is a group formed to help fix up and take care of the house. The house was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's recognized as an important historical building. A year later, in 1974, it opened its doors for public tours, so everyone could come and see its beauty. Today, Matt Rowe is the director of the museum.
