T. C. Steele State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Theodore Clement Steele House and Studio
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T.C. Steele House, September 2010
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 Location in Brown County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southwest of Nashville off State Road 46, Washington Township, Brown County, Indiana |
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| Area | 211 acres (85 ha) |
| Built | 1907 |
| Built by | Steele, T.C. |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000029 |
| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1973 |
The T. C. Steele State Historic Site is a special place in Brown County, Indiana. It was once the home and art studio of a famous artist named Theodore Clement Steele. His wife, Selma Neubacher Steele, called their home the "House of the Singing Winds."
This beautiful property, covering 211 acres (85 ha), was given to the state of Indiana in 1945. Selma wanted to create a place to remember her husband and his art. Today, the Indiana State Museum takes care of the site. Visitors can take guided tours of the house and studio to learn about Steele's life and work. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The Story of T. C. Steele's Home
Who Was T. C. Steele?
Theodore Clement Steele (1847–1926) was a very important artist from Indiana. He was part of a group called the Hoosier Group. These artists were known for their American impressionist paintings, especially landscapes. Other artists in this group included William Forsyth and J. Ottis Adams.
Steele was born in Owen County, Indiana. He started learning art when he was young. He studied painting in Chicago and Cincinnati. Later, he moved to Indianapolis to paint portraits. He even spent five years studying art in Munich, Germany, from 1880 to 1885. When he came back, he became famous for his beautiful landscape paintings.
In 1913, Steele was recognized as an Associate Artist by the National Academy of Design in New York City. This showed how important he was in the art world. His paintings were shown all over the United States. In 1916, he received an honorary doctorate from Indiana University.
Building a Dream Home and Studio
Around 1905, T. C. Steele was looking for new places to paint. He found a peaceful and scenic spot in Brown County, Indiana. In 1907, he bought 60 acres (24 ha) of land. He then built a hilltop studio and home there. He and his second wife, Selma Neubacher Steele, moved into their new summer home in August 1907.
Over time, the Steeles made their property even bigger and better. In 1911, they bought more land, making their property 211 acres (85 ha). They added beautiful gardens, a large studio that also worked as an art gallery, and other small buildings. By 1912, this special place became their home all year round.
Even though they lived in Brown County, Steele kept a studio in Indianapolis. From 1922, he also had a winter home and studio at Indiana University.
Becoming a State Historic Site
After T. C. Steele passed away in 1926, Selma and her sister continued to live on the property. Selma worked hard to keep the place going. She managed Steele's art studio, rented out cabins, and sold farm goods and her husband's paintings. She even opened a small museum in a log cabin on the property. She charged a small fee for tours of the studio.
In July 1945, Selma gave the Brown County property to the Indiana Department of Conservation. This is now the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. She wanted it to become a historic site to honor her husband. The gift included the house, its furniture, other buildings, and more than 300 of Steele's paintings. In 1973, the site was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Visiting the T. C. Steele State Historic Site Today
Today, the T. C. Steele State Historic Site welcomes visitors. You can take guided tours of the home and the large art studio. The site is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The 211 acres (85 ha) property has several buildings, lovely gardens, and five hiking trails. It also includes a nature preserve.
What You Can See at the Site
The House of the Singing Winds
T. C. and Selma Steele named their home the "House of the Singing Winds." They chose this name because of the gentle breezes that blew through the screened porches. The house was built in 1907. It was made bigger in 1908 to include an art studio wing. Steele used this studio for seven years.
The house has a unique style with high ceilings and a pyramid-shaped roof. Selma Steele decorated the inside with a mix of styles. An artist friend, Gustave Baumann, carved a special saying above the fireplace: "Every morning I take off my hat to the beauty of the world."
The Large Studio and Gallery
The big, barn-like studio was built in 1916. T. C. Steele loved to paint outdoors, so this building was mainly used as a gallery. He displayed and sold his artworks here. The studio is painted a dark red color. It measures 30 feet (9.1 m) by 50 feet (15 m). It has a large wall of windows on its north side to let in natural light. Today, you can still see examples of Steele's art displayed in the studio.
The Dewar Log Cabin
The Dewar log cabin is a two-story building. It was built around 1875 by Peter Dewar, a Scottish immigrant. He built it as a wedding gift for his son. To save this historic cabin from being torn down, Selma Steele had it moved to the property in the early 1930s. It became known as the Trailside Museum. Selma dedicated this small museum in 1934 to her brother, Walter Neubacher.
Other Buildings and Gravesites
You can also see a reconstructed temporary studio that T. C. Steele used in 1911. The Steeles also had guest houses for visitors.
T. C. Steele, his wife Selma, and some of her family members are buried on the property. Their graves are in a family cemetery called the T. C. Steele Memorial Cemetery.
Beautiful Gardens and Trails
The land around the home was not good for farming. But it offered Steele "beautiful picturesque woods and hills and valleys" to paint. Selma Steele took care of the property while her husband painted. She also helped create the lovely gardens. She added new trees, shrubs, and many flowers. The site was especially famous for its daffodils that covered the hillsides in spring.
Today, the grounds have lily ponds, hillside gardens, and a formal garden. There are also five hiking trails to explore: the Trail of Silences, Wildflower Trail, Whippoorwill Haunt Trail, Peckerwood Trail, and Inspiration Ridge Trail. A part of the property, 92 acres (37 ha) of land, was set aside as the Selma Steele Nature Preserve in 1990.
