The Farm House (Knapp–Wilson House) facts for kids
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The Farm House (Knapp-Wilson House)
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The Farm House (2025)
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 601 Farm House Lane, Ames, Iowa |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1861 |
| Architect | Milens Burt |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000339 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 19, 1964 |
The Farm House, also known as the Knapp–Wilson House, is the oldest building at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It was built in 1860. This house was part of a special "model farm" for the Iowa Agricultural College. Today, it is a museum that anyone can visit.
The Farm House became a National Historic Landmark in 1965. This was because of two important people who lived there: Seaman A. Knapp and James Wilson. Both were teachers at Iowa State and later became very famous in agriculture.
About the Farm House
The Farm House is located in the middle of the Iowa State campus. It is a three-story building made mostly of brick. The house sits on a strong stone foundation.
The original brick walls were made from local clay. In 1909, these walls were covered with limestone stucco because they were starting to crumble. The inside of the house was also changed a lot around that time. In 1970, the university worked to make the building look like it did in 1910.
A Look at History
Farmers in Story County, Iowa gave the land for Iowa State University in 1858. Building the Farm House started in 1860. However, construction was very slow because of the American Civil War. It was hard to get building supplies.
Iowa Agricultural College opened in 1869. At that time, the Farm House and Old Main were the only two buildings on campus.
Important People Who Lived Here
In 1880, Seaman A. Knapp became the farm superintendent. He was also a professor of farming. Knapp later became the second President of Iowa State. He was also very important in teaching new ways to grow rice in the southern United States.
In 1891, James Wilson moved into the Farm House. He became the Dean of Agriculture. Wilson lived in the house until 1897. Then, he was asked to become the United States Secretary of Agriculture. This is a very important job in the government. He held this job for sixteen years, which is longer than anyone else in American history.
After Wilson, Charles Curtiss became the new Dean of Agriculture in 1897. He and his family moved into the Farm House. The Curtiss family lived there the longest, staying until Charles Curtiss passed away in 1947.
For a short time in 1948-1949, the Home Economics department used the house. In 1949, Floyd Andre became the new Dean of Agriculture. He lived in the house until 1970. Andre strongly believed that the Farm House should be saved. Because of his efforts, Iowa State University decided to fix up the house and turn it into a museum.
The Farm House Museum officially opened to the public on July 4, 1976.
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