Elihu Benjamin Washburne House
Encyclopedia
The Elihu Benjamin Washburne House is a Greek Revival house in the city of Galena, Illinois
, USA. Constructed in 1844–45, the building was built for and owned by Elihu B. Washburne
a nationally significant politician and Galena resident. The Washburne House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1973.
resident Elihu Benjamin Washburne. Washburne was a congressman and served a short stint as U.S. Secretary of State during the Ulysses S. Grant
administration. The house's present appearance is the result of a major remodeling and enlarging in 1859.
s and features a 2-story porch with four fluted
Doric
column
s.
and is open to the public for tours. The Washburne House is a declared Illinois State Historic Site.
The house is open for guided tours of the first floor and two second-floor bedrooms. Tours emphasize Elihu Washburne and his Civil War-era friendships with Abraham Lincoln
and Ulysses S. Grant. The rooms are furnished to reflect the mid-19th-century life of a well-to-do midwestern professional.
added the Washburne House to its listings on July 5, 1973. The 1970s Illinois Historic Sites Survey noted the Washburne House for its importance architecturally as well as for its association with Elihu Benjamin Washburne. The Washburne House also lies within the Galena Historic District
, designated in 1969, the district has more than 1,000 contributing properties.
Galena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
, USA. Constructed in 1844–45, the building was built for and owned by Elihu B. Washburne
Elihu B. Washburne
Elihu Benjamin Washburne was one of seven brothers who played a prominent role in the early formation of the United States Republican Party...
a nationally significant politician and Galena resident. The Washburne House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973.
History
The Elihu Benjamin Washburne House was constructed in 1844–45 as a -story Greek Revival home for important GalenaGalena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
resident Elihu Benjamin Washburne. Washburne was a congressman and served a short stint as U.S. Secretary of State during the Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
administration. The house's present appearance is the result of a major remodeling and enlarging in 1859.
Architecture
The Elihu B. Washburne House represents a good example of late Greek Revival architecture. The house was built in the style of Greek templeGreek temple
Greek temples were structures built to house deity statues within Greek sanctuaries in Greek paganism. The temples themselves did usually not directly serve a cult purpose, since the sacrifices and rituals dedicated to the respective deity took place outside them...
s and features a 2-story porch with four fluted
Fluting (architecture)
Fluting in architecture refers to the shallow grooves running vertically along a surface.It typically refers to the grooves running on a column shaft or a pilaster, but need not necessarily be restricted to those two applications...
Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s.
State Historic Site
The Elihu B. Washburne House is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation AgencyIllinois Historic Preservation Agency
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is tasked with the duty of maintaining most State-owned historic sites within Illinois, and maximizing their educational and recreational value to visitors....
and is open to the public for tours. The Washburne House is a declared Illinois State Historic Site.
The house is open for guided tours of the first floor and two second-floor bedrooms. Tours emphasize Elihu Washburne and his Civil War-era friendships with Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and Ulysses S. Grant. The rooms are furnished to reflect the mid-19th-century life of a well-to-do midwestern professional.
Historic signficance
The U.S. National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
added the Washburne House to its listings on July 5, 1973. The 1970s Illinois Historic Sites Survey noted the Washburne House for its importance architecturally as well as for its association with Elihu Benjamin Washburne. The Washburne House also lies within the Galena Historic District
Galena Historic District
The Galena Historic District is a historic district located in the city of Galena, Illinois, USA. The historic district encompasses 85 percent of the city of Galena and includes more than 1,000 properties. The downtown area consists of three successive tiers made up of Main, Bench and Prospect...
, designated in 1969, the district has more than 1,000 contributing properties.
External links
- Washburne House - Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
- Property Information Report: Elihu B. Washburne House, Illinois Historic Preservation AgencyIllinois Historic Preservation AgencyThe Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is tasked with the duty of maintaining most State-owned historic sites within Illinois, and maximizing their educational and recreational value to visitors....