Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site

Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site is located in New Albany, Indiana by the Ohio River. It was the home of William Culbertson, who was once the richest man in Indiana. Built in 1867 at a cost of $120,000, this Second Empire-style mansion has 25-rooms within 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2), and was completed in November 1869. It was designed by James T. Banes, a local architect. Features within the three-story edifice include hand-painted ceilings and walls, frescoed ceilings, carved rosewood-grained staircase, marble fireplaces, wallpaper of fabric-quality, and crystal chandeliers. The original tin roof was imported from Scotland. The displays within the mansion feature the Culbertson family and the restoration of the building. The rooms on the tour are the formal parlors, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchen, and laundry room.[2]

Culbertson Mansion
The Mansion
Location914 E. Main St., New Albany, Indiana
Coordinates38°17′11.28″N 85°48′46.52″W
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Architectural styleSecond Empire
NRHP reference No.74000019[1]
Added to NRHPJune 28, 1974

In its heyday, a railroad ran behind the house (Culbertson had sold land to the railroad), and a streetcar ran from his house towards downtown New Albany.

History

After Culbertson's death, he willed the home to his third wife, who auctioned off the house and contents in 1899 to John McDonald, also a resident of New Albany, for $7,100.[3] Upon his death, the American Legion obtained it from McDonald's daughter, Mrs. Helen Croxall. The Legion would make extensive changes to the mansion, making it more suitable for a meeting place.

After several different owners, in the 1960s the mansion was in danger of being torn down, in order to put in its place a gas station. Instead, a local historic group called Historic New Albany purchased the mansion in 1964 from the American Legion for $24,000.00. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and became a part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites in 1976.[1]

The Carriage House

In 1985 the tradition of having a haunted house started, and for the first two years the Mansion itself was used, using 10 people to acquire $500 as part of a Spook Run. Starting in 1987, the Carriage House of the Mansion has served as the haunted house. Today, the Haunted House requires 100 volunteers.[4]

The Culbertson Mansion performs historic restoration rather than renovation to protect the historical integrity of the home. The eventual goal is to return the mansion to its 1869 appearance, barring necessary newer items such as electricity and bathrooms.

It is open for daily tours, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Funds for restoration are raised by a non-profit group called The Friends of Culbertson Mansion, Inc., as well as the staff of the mansion itself. The Friends not only operate the Haunted House, but hold an herb sale annually in May.[5]

  • Carriage barn
  • Back entrance to the Mansion

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2015-10-01. Note: This includes Richard K. Stem (June 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Culbertson Mansion" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-10-01. and Accompanying photographs.
  3. Kleber, John E. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky. p. 234. ISBN 0-8131-2890-0.
  4. Official Website of Haunted House
  5. https://www.indianamuseum.org/culbertson-mansion-state-historic-site
  • My Indiana:101 Places to See, by Earl L. Conn (Indiana Historical Society Press, 2006). pg.208-9
  • Kobrowski, Nicole Encyclopedia of Haunted Indiana 2008 ISBN 978-0-9774130-2-7
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