Whitaker–McClendon House facts for kids
Whitaker–McClendon House in 2014
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| Location | 806 W. Houston St. Tyler, Texas |
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| Type | History |
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Whitaker–McClendon House
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Stick/Eastlake, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004522 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 2, 1982 |
The Whitaker–McClendon House is a special museum in Tyler, Texas. It's like stepping back in time! People also call it the McClendon House. A famous journalist named Sarah McClendon grew up here. She even reported from the White House! This old house is important. It's listed on several historical registers. These lists help protect old buildings. They show how special a place is.
Contents
History of the Whitaker–McClendon House
This beautiful house was built between 1878 and 1880. It was designed in a style called Victorian. It also has parts that look like Italianate and Eastlake architecture. A local lawyer named Harrison Moores Whitaker built it.
Building the House
The house has two stories. It was made from strong cypress and pine wood. It sits on a solid brick foundation. On the first floor, you'll find the main entrance and living room. There is also one bedroom, a bathroom, the kitchen, and a dining room. Upstairs, on the second floor, there are four more bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Changes Over Time
In 1910, some new parts were added to the house. Tall, fancy columns were put in to hold up the front porch. A new bedroom was also added upstairs. This new room had its own bathroom and a porch.
Who Lived Here?
The land where the house stands was once owned by James Pinckney Henderson. He was the very first governor of Texas! When Harrison Whitaker married Mattie Bonner, her father bought the land for them. Mattie's father was a Texas Supreme Court judge.
Sadly, Mattie passed away in 1892. Harrison Whitaker remarried in 1903. He then moved to Jefferson County and rented out the house.
The McClendon Family
In 1907, Mattie Whitaker's sister, Anne, and her husband, Sidney Smith McClendon, bought the house. Their daughter, Sarah McClendon, was born here in 1910. Sarah was the youngest of their nine children. She grew up to be a very famous journalist. She reported on news directly from the White House!
Historical Recognition
The Whitaker–McClendon House is very important to history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This list helps protect important historical sites. Since 1988, it has also been a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The City of Tyler also calls it a Tyler Historical Landmark.
Museum Exhibits
Today, the Whitaker–McClendon House is a museum. It shows what life was like in Texas long ago. You can see old items and documents from different time periods. These include things from before the Civil War all the way through World War I and World War II.
See also
