The Farm House (Knapp–Wilson House) facts for kids
|
The Farm House (Knapp-Wilson House)
|
|
.jpg)
The Farm House in the early twentieth century
|
|
 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 601 Farm House Lane, Ames, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1861 |
| Architect | Milens Burt |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000339 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 19, 1964 |
The Farm House, also called the Knapp–Wilson House, is the oldest building at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It was built between 1861 and 1865. This house was part of a special "model farm" that later grew into Iowa State University. Today, it is a museum that anyone can visit.
The Farm House was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964. This is a special title given to places important to American history. It earned this title because of two important people who lived there: Seaman A. Knapp and James Wilson. Both were teachers at Iowa State. Knapp was an expert in farming, and Wilson later became the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
About The Farm House
The Farm House is located in the middle of the Iowa State campus. You can find it on the west side of Farmhouse Lane. It is a three-story building. The house is mostly made of brick and sits on a strong stone base.
The bricks used to build the house came from local clay. In 1909, the brick walls were covered with a limestone plaster. This was done because the original bricks were starting to crumble. The inside of the house also changed a lot around the same time. In 1972, the university worked to make the building look like it did around 1910.
A Look Back at History
The land for Iowa State University was given by farmers in Story County in 1858 and 1859. The farm was built over the next five years. Work was slow because of the American Civil War happening at the time. Iowa Agricultural College, which is now Iowa State, opened on the farm in 1869.
In 1880, Seaman Knapp became the farm manager. He also taught about farming and experiments. Knapp later became very important for teaching new ways to grow rice in the southern United States.
In 1891, James Wilson moved into The Farm House. He lived there until 1897. Then, he was asked to become the United States Secretary of Agriculture. This is a very important job in the U.S. government. He held this job for thirteen years!
For much of the early 1900s, Professor Charles F. Curtiss lived in the house. During his time, many big changes were made to the house. In 1948, the house was turned into a place for women students to live. Its systems, like plumbing and electricity, were updated again.
In 1970, Dean Floyd Andre and his family moved out. They had lived in the house since 1950. Dean Andre worked hard to save the building from being torn down. He succeeded! In 1976, The Farm House opened as the Farm House Museum.
More to Explore
