Thorstein Veblen Farmstead facts for kids
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Thorstein Veblen Farmstead
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The farmhouse in 2014
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 16538 Goodhue Avenue Nerstrand, Minnesota |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1867-1870 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001024 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1975 |
| Designated NHL | December 21, 1981 |
The Thorstein Veblen Farmstead is a special old farm near Nerstrand in Rice County, Minnesota. It is a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important place in American history. This farm was the childhood home of Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929). He was a famous thinker, an economist (someone who studies how money and goods work), and a social scientist. He wrote a very famous book called The Theory of the Leisure Class.
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Discovering the Veblen Farmstead
The Veblen farmstead is located east of Nerstrand in eastern Rice County. You can find it off Goodhue Avenue, north of Minnesota State Highway 246. The property is now about 10 acres (4.0 ha) in size. It includes a house, a chicken coop, a granary, and a barn with a milking shed.
What Does the Farm Look Like Today?
The house, granary, and barn were all built by Thomas Veblen, Thorstein's father. They were built between the 1870s and 1880s. The house has two stories and a classic side gable roof. It has two chimneys and is covered with clapboard siding. A porch with square posts stretches across the front of the house. Above the porch, there is a balcony.
The granary is a smaller, two-story building. It is also covered with clapboard and measures about 25 by 30 feet (7.6 m × 9.1 m). The barn is also two stories tall and has a gabled roof.
Who Was Thorstein Veblen?
Thorstein Veblen was born in Wisconsin in 1857. He grew up on this farm, which his parents had settled. Even after he went to college, he often came back to the farm. This was partly because he sometimes had trouble finding a job.
Veblen grew up in a simple farm life. His parents were immigrants, and he was part of a close-knit Norwegian-American community. Many people say he was one of America's most creative thinkers. He even came up with the famous phrase "conspicuous consumption." This phrase describes when people buy expensive things just to show off their wealth. His book, Theory of the Leisure Class, is still studied by experts in economics, social studies, and literature.
Protecting This Historic Place
The Veblen family sold the farm in 1893. It continued to be a working farm until 1970. After that, the buildings started to fall apart. Luckily, the house has now been carefully restored. The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota helps protect the property. This means they make sure the farm stays in good condition for future generations to learn from.
