Riley Birthplace and Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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James Whitcomb Riley House
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Front and western side of the house
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 250 W. Main St., Greenfield, Indiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architect | Riley, A. Reuben |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000017 |
| Added to NRHP | September 28, 1977 |
The Riley Birthplace and Museum is a special house in Greenfield, Indiana. It is one of two homes known as the James Whitcomb Riley House listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. You can find it about 20 miles (32 km) east of downtown Indianapolis.
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Who Was James Whitcomb Riley?
James Whitcomb Riley was a famous poet from Indiana. People often called him the "Hoosier Poet." He wrote over 1,000 poems during his life. Some of his most well-known poems include "Little Orphant Annie" and "When the Frost is on the Punkin". During his time, many people thought he was even more important than Mark Twain, another very famous writer!
Riley's Boyhood Home
This house is where James Whitcomb Riley spent his childhood. His father, Reuben Riley, built the home in 1850. Reuben was a lawyer and also the very first mayor of Greenfield.
James was actually born in a small cabin on the same property in 1849. His father soon realized the cabin was too small for their family of five. So, Reuben started building the larger house. He even used parts of the old cabin to help build the new house! For example, the winding stairs inside the house came from the cabin.
Life at the Riley Home
Even though the house was along the National Road, it was a quiet place. It was surrounded by woods and animals, with very few people living nearby. The front porch had two doors. One door led into the family's living room, and the other led to Reuben Riley's law office.
James learned a lot from watching his father. Many people visited Reuben's office. This gave young James a chance to see how his father entertained visitors with stories and speeches. James later used these skills to become a great storyteller himself.
Inspiration for Poems
Some of the people who visited his father's office inspired James's poems. For example, a poor, ragged man and an orphan girl named Mary Alice Smith gave him ideas. Mary Alice Smith later became the inspiration for his famous poem, "Little Orphant Annie".
Changes Over Time
During the American Civil War, James's father, Reuben, helped organize a local group of soldiers. However, his involvement in the war made it hard for him to continue his law career. Because of this, he had to sell the family home in 1870.
Years later, in 1893, James Whitcomb Riley bought the house back! But he didn't live there himself. He had another home in Indianapolis, which is now the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home. Instead, James's brother, John, and John's wife lived in the Greenfield house. James often visited them. On one visit in 1898, he famously called Greenfield "the best town outside of Heaven."
Visiting the Museum Today
The Riley home is now a museum. It is managed by the Riley Old Home Society and the City of Greenfield. Thousands of people visit the museum each year. It is usually open from April through November.
Next to the Riley house is another home called the Mitchell House. This was where John Mitchell, who published James Whitcomb Riley's poems, used to live. The Mitchell House is also part of the museum. This helps keep Riley's original home looking just as it did when he lived there.
The Riley Garden
Visitors often enjoy the beautiful garden behind the Riley house. It is especially lovely in the spring and summer. Since 1991, the Greenfield Herb Society has taken care of this garden.
Annual Festival
Every year, in the first week of October, Greenfield holds a festival. This festival celebrates James Whitcomb Riley's connection to the town. The Riley house is located along the old National Road, which is now known as U.S. Route 40.
Images for kids
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Front and western side of the house
