Wickham House facts for kids
|
Wickham-Valentine House
|
|
The Wickham House in 2019
|
|
 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1812 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000329 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | June 11, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
The Wickham House, also called the Wickham-Valentine House, is a special old house in Richmond, Virginia. It was finished in 1812. People think it's one of the best examples of a building style called the Federal period. In 1971, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States.
Today, The Valentine museum owns and takes care of the house. This museum is all about the history of Richmond.
About the Wickham House
The Wickham House is in a part of Richmond called Court End. It's close to the Virginia State Capitol building. The main part of The Valentine museum is right next to it.
The house has two floors and is made of brick. Its outside walls are covered in stucco. This stucco is made to look like fancy stone blocks. The house has a low, flat roof with a railing around it.
What the House Looks Like
The front of the house has three main sections. The middle section sticks out a little. The front door is special. It has small windows on the sides and a half-circle window above it. A small porch with two sets of columns covers the entrance.
The windows are also unique. Each window has a wider middle part with two narrow sections on either side. Inside, there's a beautiful oval-shaped staircase. You can also see old paintings on the walls. These paintings show ideas from ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian art.
Who Lived Here
The Wickham House was built in 1812 for a man named John Wickham. He was a very successful lawyer. He even defended Vice President Aaron Burr in a big court case.
Some people think the house was designed by Alexander Parris. Others believe Robert Mills or Benjamin Latrobe might have designed it.
Later, a man named John Ballard owned the house. He added Victorian-style decorations to the living room.
In 1882, Mann Valentine II bought the house. He loved to collect old things. He filled the house with many artifacts. Some of these were found from old Native American sites. These sites included places where the South Appalachian Mississippian culture lived. They also included historic Cherokee towns in North Carolina.
Mann Valentine II wanted his collections and the house to become a museum for the city.
The House Today
Now, The Valentine museum manages the Wickham House. It is open for visitors to take tours. It helps people learn about Richmond's history.
See also
