Warden's House Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Minnesota Territorial/State Prison Warden's House
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The Warden's House from the east
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 602 North Main Street, Stillwater, Minnesota |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Built by | Jesse Taylor Company |
| Architect | Jacob Fisher |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Federal |
| MPS | Washington County MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001044 |
| Designated | December 17, 1974 |
The Warden's House Museum is a special old house in Stillwater, Minnesota. It used to be the home for the people in charge of the state prison, called wardens. From 1853 to 1914, the wardens of the Minnesota Territorial Prison lived here. This prison later became the Minnesota State Prison in 1858.
Since 1941, the Washington County Historical Society has taken care of the house. This makes it the second-oldest house museum in Minnesota. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is important because it is the only building left from the early prison days.
Contents
What Does the Warden's House Look Like?
The Warden's House is a two-story building. It is made from local limestone, a type of rock. The house faces east and has a gently sloped roof. Its design mixes two old styles: Greek Revival and Federal.
Later, in 1870, some wooden parts were added to the back of the house. The front of the house used to have a large balcony. In 1910, this was changed to a two-story porch. Today, it has a smaller porch with a balcony above the main door.
There was also a two-story building for carriages behind the house. This building was taken down around 1914 when the prison closed.
A Look Back: History of the House
The Warden's House was built when the Minnesota Territorial Prison first opened in 1853. It stood outside the prison walls on a hill. The prison itself was in a valley nearby.
The prison was open for 61 years, from 1853 to 1914. During this time, 13 different wardens lived in the house. Some wardens stayed for only five months, while others lived there for 20 years!
At first, the state's leaders chose the wardens. Later, in 1889, a special group of five people started choosing them. This was done to make sure the choices were fair.
The old prison closed in 1914. A new Minnesota State Prison was built nearby in Bayport. After the prison closed, the Warden's House was used by other prison officials. Most of the old prison buildings were torn down in 1936. Luckily, the Warden's House was saved and given to the Washington County Historical Society in 1941.
Exploring the Warden's House Museum
The Warden's House Museum has 14 rooms for visitors to explore. Many of these rooms have been made to look like they did in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can see how the wardens and their families might have lived.
Other rooms in the museum show exhibits about the history of Washington County. You can find items from the early logging industry and things that belonged to the first settlers of Stillwater. There are even some items that belonged to the Younger Brothers, who were part of the famous Frank and Jesse James Gang. The Warden's House Museum is the only museum in Stillwater.
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