The James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home, one of two homes known as the James Whitcomb Riley House on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

, is a historic building in the

Lockerbie Square Historic District Lockerbie Square Historic District is a national historic district on the National Register of Historic Places within Indianapolis, Indiana, listed on February 23, 1973, with a boundary increase on July 28, 1987. It is noted for its ...

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...

. It was named a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

in 1962 for its association with poet

James Whitcomb Riley James Whitcomb Riley (October 7, 1849 – July 22, 1916) was an American writer, poet, and best-selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and "Children's Poet" for his dialect works and his children's poetry. His ...

(1849-1916), known as the "Hoosier poet". and

History

An Indianapolis baker, John R. Nickum, had the building built in 1872. Nickum had the money to build the house as he had supplied the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

in Indianapolis with

hardtack Hardtack (or hard tack) is a simple type of dense biscuit or cracker made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. Hardtack is inexpensive and long-lasting. It is used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voy ...

, a form of cracker despised by soldiers, during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

. Nickum's daughter, Magdalena, and her husband Charles Holstein, a lawyer, would possess it when, in 1893, they invited noted poet

to live with them. Riley had a bedroom on the second floor in this building for 23 years, helping the Holsteins with expenses. After Riley and the Holsteins died, William Fortune bought it in 1916. He would later, presumably at the behest of

Booth Tarkington Newton Booth Tarkington (July 29, 1869 – May 19, 1946) was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his novels '' The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1918) and '' Alice Adams'' (1921). He is one of only four novelists to win the Pulitz ...

, transfer ownership to the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association five years later. Due to so little time having passed from Riley's death to its preservation, most of the items of the household items of Riley's day, except for the kitchen, remain within the domicile.Bodenhamer 839 Due to Riley's fame, it is the best known of the domiciles in the Lockerbie Square Historic District. The Riley Children's Foundation operates the museum. Noted items are the wicker chair which he frequently used after his stroke in 1911, and the bed on which he died on July 22, 1916.Conn pg.88, 89

Architecture

The structure is a two-story brick house on a stone foundation and full basement that is considered an excellent example of Italianate architecture typical of the neighborhood's homes built in the 1860s and 1870s. Slate shingles cover a roof which has wide overhanging eaves and decorated brackets, and is low-pitched hipped. Other features of the house are a central tower with oval-glazed paired doors, and masonry crowns atop tall narrow windows and inverted U-shaped windows on the highest floor. Water pumps took water from the well to tanks within the attic that could supply water to different rooms in the house. The interior woodwork is all hand-carved solid hardwoods. The lighting was originally fueled by gas, but is now powered by electricity. Speaking tubes were installed so that the staff could receive orders in the kitchen from other parts of the house.

Gallery

James Whitcomb Riley House - Charles L. Holstein House.jpg, James Whitcomb Riley House in 1975 James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home marker.JPG, Marker denoting the home's NHL status James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home rear.JPG, Rear of the House James Whitcomb Riley (bust) by Myra Reynolds Richards (1916).jpg, The bust by Myra Reynolds Richards 1916)

References

External links

James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home
- Riley Children's Foundation
Lockerbie Square
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Riley Museum Home, James Whitcomb Houses completed in 1872 James Whitcomb Riley National Historic Landmarks in Indianapolis Historic American Buildings Survey in Indiana Historic house museums in Indiana Biographical museums in Indiana Museums in Indianapolis Riley, James Whitcomb Houses in Indianapolis National Register of Historic Places in Indianapolis

History

Architecture

Gallery

See also

References

External links