Weeden House Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weeden House Museum |
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The house in 2010
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| General information | |
| Type | House |
| Address | 300 Gates Avenue South East |
| Town or city | Huntsville, Alabama |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 34°43′47″N 86°34′56″W / 34.72972°N 86.58222°W |
| Completed | 1819 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Part of | Twickenham Historic District (ID73000357) |
| Designated CP | January 4, 1973 |
The Weeden House Museum is a historic two-story house located in Huntsville, Alabama. It was built in 1819 and designed in the Federal style, which was popular for buildings in the early United States. Today, it serves as a museum, allowing visitors to step back in time and learn about its past.
Contents
History of the Weeden House
The Weeden House has a long and interesting history, changing hands many times before becoming a museum.
Early Owners and Important Figures
The house was first built in 1819 for a person named Henry C. Bradford. For the next few decades, it was bought and sold by several different people. One notable owner was John McKinley. He was an important figure in American politics. McKinley served as a Congressman, a Senator, and even as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. This means he was one of the highest judges in the country.
The Weeden Family Era
In 1845, the Weeden family purchased the house. They lived there for over a century, until 1956. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Union Army took control of the house. The Weeden family had to move away to Tuskegee for a while. However, they returned to their home after the war ended.
Maria Howard Weeden's Life
A very special person who lived in the Weeden House was Maria Howard Weeden. She was a talented portrait artist and a poet. Maria spent most of her life in this house, creating her art and writing her poems. Her work often focused on the lives of people in the South during her time.
From Home to Museum
After the Weeden family sold the house in 1956, it was changed into several residential apartments. This meant different families lived in separate sections of the house.
In 1973, the city of Huntsville bought the property. A group called the Twickenham Historic Preservation District Association then worked to restore the house to its original look. They wanted to preserve its history. After the restoration, they acquired the house from the city. Finally, in 1981, this historic private residence officially opened its doors as a house museum. It has been welcoming visitors ever since, sharing its stories and history.
See also
- Lowry House (Huntsville, Alabama)
