Rose Mont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rosemont
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Location | 810 S. Water St., Gallatin, Tennessee |
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Built | 1842 |
Architect | Josephus Conn Guild |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 78002641 |
Added to NRHP | April 26, 1978 |
Rose Mont is a beautiful old house located in Gallatin, Tennessee. It was built in a special style called Greek Revival and was finished in 1842. A man named Judge Josephus Conn Guild built it for his family.
Rose Mont was once a huge farm, covering about 500 acres, where they raised thoroughbred horses. Today, it is a historic place listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1993, the City of Gallatin and a group called the Rose Mont Restoration Foundation bought the property. Now, you can visit Rose Mont and learn about its history!
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The Story of Rose Mont
Rose Mont was built by Judge Josephus Conn Guild, who lived from 1802 to 1883. He started building the house in 1836, and it was ready for his family in 1842. What's cool is that all the materials used to build the house, like wood and stone, came right from the property itself!
Unique House Design
The design of Rose Mont is a mix of two old styles: Greek Revival and Palladian. These styles were not very common in Middle Tennessee back then. Most houses in the area were built in simpler Federal or Georgian styles.
Judge Guild liked different kinds of houses. He often traveled to Louisiana and was impressed by the Creole-style homes he saw there. These homes often had special features like:
- Loggias and galleries: These are covered walkways that connect different parts of the house.
- Wide porches: Perfect for relaxing outdoors.
- Open-air halls and staircases: Letting in lots of fresh air.
- Large windows: To enjoy the views and let in light.
- A raised basement: This helped keep the house cool.
- An over-hanging roof: To provide shade.
The front of Rose Mont also shows the influence of a famous Italian architect named Andrea Palladio. His ideas were used in many large homes in the southern United States during the mid-1800s.
Why the Name "Rose Mont"?
Rose Mont faces east, which was a smart design choice! This means the hot summer sun doesn't shine directly into the main living room, helping to keep it cooler inside.
The house got its name from a beautiful rose garden. Judge Guild's wife, Catherine Blackmore Guild, loved roses and kept a very large rose garden on the north side of their home.
From Farm to Museum
In its early years, Rose Mont was a busy farm. It covered 500 acres and was known for raising fast thoroughbred horses and strong longhorn cattle.
In 1978, Rose Mont was officially recognized as a historic place and added to the National Register of Historic Places. Members of the Guild family lived in the house for a very long time, from when it was built until 1993. That's over 150 years!
After the Guild family, the City of Gallatin and the Rose Mont Restoration Foundation bought the property. Now, Rose Mont is open to the public! You can take guided tours from April 15 through October 31, Tuesdays through Saturdays. The mansion and its reception hall can even be rented for special events.