Whaley Historic House Museum facts for kids
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Robert J. Whaley House
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The house in July 2018
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 624 E. Kearsley St., Flint, Michigan |
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| Built | c. 1873 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001855 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1980 |
The Whaley Historic House Museum is a special old house in Flint, Michigan. It's also called the Robert J. Whaley House. This historic building has been turned into a museum where people can learn about its past.
The house was recognized as a very important place in Michigan in 1977. Later, in 1980, it was added to a national list of historic places. This means it's a significant part of history for the whole country.
Contents
History of the Whaley House
The land where the Whaley House stands today has a long story. It changed hands many times before Edward H. Thompson bought it in 1847. In 1858, Thompson gave the land to his daughter, Mollie, and her husband, Austin Witherbee. Austin Witherbee was a banker and later became the mayor of Flint.
Before 1859, a smaller house was built on the property. This first house was in the Greek Revival style, which was popular back then. Austin Witherbee passed away in 1871. The next year, his wife sold the property to James H. Briscoe.
Building the Current House
James H. Briscoe immediately started building a much larger house. This new house was attached to the original Greek Revival structure. It's mostly the same house you see today. However, Briscoe had money problems and had to sell the house in 1884.
Robert Whaley's Family Home
The next owner was Robert Whaley, and the house is named after him. He was the president of Citizens National Bank. Robert Whaley moved into the house in 1884.
Robert Whaley was born in New York in 1840. He lived in New York and Wisconsin when he was younger. In 1867, he married Mary McFalan. Her father was a well-known lumberman and banker in Flint.
The Whaleys moved to Flint, and Robert Whaley started working for his father-in-law's business. He became a bookkeeper. In 1877, he joined the board of directors at Citizens National Bank. When Mary's father passed away in 1881, Robert Whaley became the bank's president.
The Whaley family lived in this house for many years. Robert Whaley lived there until he passed away in 1922. Mary Whaley lived there until her death in 1925.
The House as a Museum
Since 1974, the house has been open to the public as a museum. Visitors can explore the rooms and learn about the Whaley family and life in Flint long ago. In 2015, a small fire caused some damage to the third floor of the house.
Design of the Whaley House
The Robert J. Whaley House is a two-story building. It is built in the Queen Anne style. This style often features different shapes and sizes put together, making the house look interesting.
Exterior Features
The outside of the house is made of painted brick. The front of the house has three main sections. There is a porch that wraps around the front, covering the main entrance on the left side. Above the porch, there is a tall window with a fancy, rounded arch design.
The middle section of the house sticks out a bit. It has tall windows on both the first and second floors. These windows have two panes of glass, one above the other, that can slide up and down. Above the roofline in the center, there is a small, gabled roof section called a dormer. The right side of the house has three simple windows on each level.
