Rockcliffe Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rockcliffe Mansion
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hannibal, MO |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Barnett, Haynes & Barnett |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002378 |
| Added to NRHP | September 18, 1980 |
Rockcliffe Mansion is a grand old house in Hannibal, Missouri, USA. It was built in 1898 by John J. Cruikshank, Jr, who made his money in the lumber business. People thought it was the most impressive and beautiful house in that part of Missouri.
Because it sits high on a rocky hill overlooking the city and the Mississippi River, it was called "Rock Cliff." Later, its name became "Rockcliffe." It's a famous spot that many visitors to Hannibal like to see. The mansion is part of the Maple Avenue Historic District.
About Rockcliffe Mansion
Rockcliffe is a huge house, about 13,500-square-foot (1,250 m2) in size. It was designed in the Colonial Revival and Georgian styles. These styles often feature large columns and porches. The house is built with strong double-brick walls.
The architects, Barnett, Haynes & Barnett from St. Louis, also designed other important buildings. These include the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City and the St. Louis Cathedral.
What Does It Look Like?
From the outside, Rockcliffe Mansion looks very formal. It has a huge porch with tall, fancy columns. But inside, it's full of amazing details. You can find exotic woods, pink marble from South Africa, and beautiful Tiffany glass windows.
Even though Mr. Cruikshank was in the lumber business, the house cost a lot of money to build. It was reported to be $125,000 back then! A newspaper in St. Louis even called it the finest house in the state. The Cruikshank family moved in around 1900.
Inside the Mansion
The house has many large rooms perfect for parties and guests. These rooms are built around a main hallway. One special room is the Reception Room. It has shiny gold wallpaper and fancy oak wood panels. It also features beautiful Tiffany lights.
The Music Room is decorated in pink and green. It has a grand piano at each end. Mrs. Cruikshank's style can be seen in the Green Room. It has gold leaf, garlands, and velvet drapes. There's also a white onyx fireplace.
Famous writer Mark Twain visited the mansion in 1902. He spoke to about 300 guests from the grand staircase. Another interesting room is the Moorish Room. It has unique L.C. Tiffany lights and stained glass windows.
The mansion has 125 windows, some of them very large. It also has 10 fireplaces made of marble and tile. Mr. Cruikshank loved to use different kinds of wood. You can see mahogany, oak, and walnut throughout the house. The house also features designs from the Greek Revival and Art Nouveau styles.
Each room had its own temperature control from a central heating system. The house also had electric lights, but gas lights were added as a backup. Outside, rock walls were built as part of the beautiful gardens. Rockcliffe Mansion is located at 1000 West Bird Street.
A New Chapter
After John J. Cruikshank Jr. passed away in 1924, the mansion was empty for 43 years. Even after all that time, the house had settled less than half an inch!
In 1967, new owners bought Rockcliffe. At first, they thought about tearing it down. But with help from the Cruikshank family, they decided to restore it. One of Cruikshank's daughters even returned some of the original furniture, linens, and lace. She had kept them safe for many years.
Today, Rockcliffe Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open to the public for tours and special events. The mansion still has its original furniture, wallpaper, lights, and even some of the Cruikshank family's books and clothes. Work is still being done to make the mansion look just as it did when it was first built.
You can take guided tours of the mansion every day. You can even stay overnight, as it offers Bed and Breakfast rooms.
