W. H. Shipman House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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W. H. Shipman House
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His Hilo house is now a hotel
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Location | 141 Kaʻiulani Street, Hilo, Hawaii |
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| Area | 4.9 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | Henry Livingston Kerr for J. R. Wilson |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001013 |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1978 |
The W. H. Shipman House is a historic home in Hilo, Hawaii. It was once owned by William Herbert Shipman, a well-known businessman. The house is located on Kaʻiulani Street. This street is named after Princess Kaʻiulani, who was the last crown princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was also the niece of Queen Liliʻuokalani.
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A Special Location
The land where the house stands has an interesting history. In 1856, King Kamehameha IV leased this area. It was known as Kolo iki and was used for cattle. Later, in 1861, a man named William Reed bought the land. It then became known as "Reed's Island." It is not a true island, but a piece of land between two parts of the Wailuku River.
Building a Dream Home
In 1899, an iron bridge was built in Hilo. After this, J. R. "Jack" Wilson bought a large lot on Reed's Island. He owned a horse rental business called Volcano Stables. Wilson wanted a house with a great view. He built a big house in the Victorian architecture style.
The house was designed by Henry Livingston Kerr, an architect from Honolulu. It was very modern for its time. It had indoor plumbing and electricity. The estate included more than just the main house. There was also a guest house, servants' quarters, and beautiful gardens. A garage was also part of the property. One special part of the house is its two-story round tower. It has a cone-shaped roof and large curved windows.
A Home for Important Guests
In 1901, William Shipman bought the house. He used it to entertain important visitors in Hilo. Many famous people stayed here. Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last queen of Hawaii, often visited. She would play her own music on the grand piano.
The famous author Jack London also stayed at the house. He and his wife were there for five weeks in 1907. This was while their boat, The Snark, was being fixed. London later wrote a book about his travels called The Cruise of the Snark.
In the 1930s, filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille used the area for a movie. He filmed parts of Four Frightened People near the house. Later, in 1939, the artist Georgia O'Keeffe visited. She was shown many places that later appeared in her paintings.
A Historic Landmark Today
The W. H. Shipman House is an important part of history. It was added to the state register of historic places in 1973. Then, in 1978, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a special historic site in the United States.
In 1997, Barbara-Ann Anderson, a great-granddaughter of W. H. Shipman, restored the house. She turned it into a bed and breakfast hotel. Today, people can stay there and experience its history.
