Villa Kathrine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Villa Kathrine
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Villa Kathrine exterior in 2020
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location |  Quincy, Illinois |
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| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | George Behrensmeyer |
| Architectural style | Moroccan Islamic |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001110 |
| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1978 |
The Villa Kathrine is a super cool home built in the Moroccan style. It sits high up on the bluffs, looking out over the mighty Mississippi River in Quincy, Illinois. This unique house is famous for a local story about a lost treasure and even a ghostlore tale featuring a dog!
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The Story of Villa Kathrine
This amazing house, which some people call a castle, was built way back in 1900. A talented architect named George Behrensmeyer designed it for a rich man from Quincy named W. George Metz. Mr. Metz loved Mediterranean architecture and used the Villa Kathrine as his home when he wasn't traveling all over the world.
From Grand Home to Restoration
Mr. Metz sold the castle in 1912. After he left, the Villa Kathrine started to fall apart and wasn't taken care of for many years. But then, in 1978, a group of people who loved the castle formed a non-profit organization called Friends of the Castle. They worked hard to bring the Villa back to life. The restoration work was finished in 1998. Over the years, many beautiful items have been donated to make the castle look even more like a real Moroccan home.
What's Inside the Castle?
Today, the Villa Kathrine is the official tourist information center for the City of Quincy. You can even take tours of the site by appointment! Inside, the castle has special rooms like a harem (which was a private area for families), a beautiful courtyard, and a calm reflecting pool. Many of the designs you see inside and outside the building came from sketches that W. George Metz made during his travels. He drew what he saw of Islamic architecture around the world.
Villa Kathrine on Screen
In 2010, the Villa Kathrine was used as a place to film a movie called Fang. It's exciting to think this historic home has been part of a film!
