Vachel Lindsay House facts for kids
Vachel Lindsay House
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![]() Vachel Lindsay House
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Location | 603 South Fifth Street, Springfield, Illinois |
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Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1848 |
Architect | Henry Dresser |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 71000297 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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Added to NRHP | November 11, 1971 |
Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
The Vachel Lindsay House is a special place in Springfield, Illinois. It is a historic house museum, which means it's an old house kept to show how people lived long ago. This house was built in 1848. It was the home of a famous poet named Vachel Lindsay from the time he was born in 1879 until he passed away in 1931.
In 1971, the house was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site in the United States. Today, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency takes care of the house. They offer tours that teach visitors about Vachel Lindsay's amazing poems and art. You can visit the house during certain times of the year.
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What is the Vachel Lindsay House Like?
The Vachel Lindsay House is located in downtown Springfield. It's a two-story house made of wood. The outside has a classic look with a pointed roof in the front. There's a porch that covers the middle part of the front of the house. This porch has square posts and a fancy trim.
The front door has a special frame around it. Inside, the first floor has many rooms. You'll find an entry hall, two sitting rooms, a library, a dining room, a kitchen, and other areas. Upstairs, there's a central hallway, a sewing room, five bedrooms, and a storage room.
Inside the Historic Home
The rooms inside the house are decorated in a style from the late 1800s. This is called the Victorian style. You can see some of Vachel Lindsay's own things there. For example, the bed where he was born is still in the house. There's also a desk that he built himself. You can even see the table where he wrote many of his famous poems.
Who Was Vachel Lindsay?
Nicholas Vachel Lindsay was born in this very house in 1879. When he was young, he first wanted to be an artist. But soon, he found he had a special talent for writing poems. His first book of poems was published in 1913.
Lindsay's Unique Poetry Style
In 1914, Vachel Lindsay published a poem called "The Congo." This poem became very famous and brought him a lot of attention. His way of writing poetry was quite different and special for his time. He used everyday language that people understood. When he read his poems in public, he would often chant them in a singing way. This made his performances very memorable.
After Vachel Lindsay passed away, his family sold the house to a group that wanted to preserve it. This group turned the house into a museum. It first opened its doors to the public in 1960.