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 a wealthy man named John J. Cruikshank, Jr. His family came from Scotland, and he made his money in the lumber business. The mansion was built on West Bird Street. People thought it was the most impressive and beautiful house in that part of Missouri. Because it sits high up on a rocky hill, looking over the whole city and the Mississippi River, it was called 'Rock Cliff'. Later, it became known as "Rockcliffe." Today, it's a popular place for visitors to see in Hannibal. It is part of the Maple Avenue Historic District.
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What is Rockcliffe Mansion?
Rockcliffe is a huge house, about 13,500-square-foot (1,250 m2) in size. It was built in the Colonial Revival and Georgian styles. This means it looks like grand old homes from early American history. The house has large columns and porches that almost go all the way around it. It was built with strong double-brick walls.
Who designed the mansion?
The famous St. Louis company, Barnett, Haynes & Barnett, designed Rockcliffe Mansion. This same company also planned other important buildings. These include the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City and the St. Louis Cathedral.
Inside the Mansion
From the outside, the mansion looks very serious with its tall columns. But inside, it is full of amazing details. You can find exotic woods, pink marble from South Africa, and beautiful Tiffany glass. Mr. Cruikshank worked in lumber and construction. This probably helped keep the building costs down. Even so, the house cost about $125,000 to build. A newspaper in St. Louis said it was the finest home in the state. The Cruikshank family, including his wife and four daughters, moved in during 1900.
Rooms for Guests
The house has many grand rooms for entertaining guests. These rooms are arranged around a central hall.
- The Reception Room has fancy gilded wallpaper and oak wood panels. It also has special Tiffany light fixtures. The furniture, like a sideboard and a table, was made in Florence, Italy.
- The Music Room is pink and green. It has a grand piano at each end.
- The Green Room shows Mrs. Cruikshank's style. It has gold leaf, garlands, lace, velvet drapes, and a white onyx fireplace.
- The famous writer Mark Twain visited the mansion in 1902. He was the guest of honor on his last trip to Hannibal. He spoke to 300 guests and citizens from the double staircase. This staircase leads up to the second floor.
- The Moorish Room has a unique style. It includes special lighting and stained glass windows by L.C. Tiffany.
Special Features
The mansion has 125 windows, including several large Palladian windows. It also has 10 fireplaces made of marble and tile. Mr. Cruikshank was proud of how wood was used in the house. You can see mahogany, oak, and walnut throughout the rooms. Designs from Greek Revival and Art Nouveau styles appear in different rooms. Most rooms had their own temperature control. This was from a central coal-burning heating system. The house first had electric lights, but gas lights were also put in as a backup. Stone walls were built as part of the outdoor design.
Rockcliffe Mansion is located at 1000 West Bird Street.
Rockcliffe Mansion's History
After J. J. Cruikshank Jr. passed away in 1924, the mansion was empty for 43 years. Even after being empty for so long, the house had settled less than half an inch. This shows how well it was built.
New Owners and Restoration
In 1967, some private individuals bought Rockcliffe. At first, they planned to tear the house down. But with help from the Cruikshank family's descendants, the inside of the mansion was saved and restored. One of Cruikshank's daughters returned some of the original furniture, linens, and lace. She had carefully kept these items for many decades.
Visiting Rockcliffe Mansion Today
Rockcliffe Mansion is now 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, light fixtures, and even the Cruikshank family's books, clothes, and personal items. Work is still being done to make the mansion look exactly as it did around 1900.
You can take guided tours of the mansion every day. You can also stay overnight there, as it offers Bed and Breakfast rooms.
