November 2010

The home was built in 1890 and first owned by George Draper Dayton, founder of Dayton's department store. The home has an immense wrap-around front porch with original columns supporting the projecting roof and balcony above, which houses a beautiful Palladian-style window comprised of leaded glass. The second floor, with its painted woodwork, is less ornate but has interesting features of its own including a curved wall in the central hall, an open staircase with carved banisters, a balcony, view of copper roofing, decorative fireplaces, 4 large bedroom chambers, and 2 servant’s chambers.

The Historic Dayton House is available to the visitors as a gathering place for events, tours, and overnight stays.

The Kauffman House is an excellent example of an early residence and tourist hotel. It was built in 1892 by Ezra Kauffman and was run as a hotel continuously until his death in 1920. It was operated as a summer tourist hotel by Ezra's widow and daughters until World War II and then sold to Henry Rhone in 1946.

Exhibits in the museum include: Native American artifacts and timelines, pioneer domestic life, ranching in the Golden area, Golden's commercial history, antique musical instruments, vintage clothing, and heritage gardens showing decorative and medical plants used by early settlers.

In the spring of 1853, the steamboat West Newton left Fort Snelling to journey up the Minnesota River, bound for a plateau above the river in Nicollet County. The steamboat carried soldiers and their families, carpenters, and supplies. The people were assigned to build a fort at the edge of the Dakota reservation. The fort was named "Ridgely" in honor of three men of the same name who had died during the Mexican War. Fort Ridgely was complete by 1855. Before long, Fort Ridgely developed into a self-sufficient community populated by 300 soldiers and civilians.

The Fort played a role in the U.S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862 when it was attacked twice by Dakota Indians. After Fort Ridgely closed in 1872, local farmers used the buildings. The first purchase of land for the park occurred in 1896 as a war memorial to those who fought in the U.S.-Dakota Conflict. More acres were purchased in 1911 when the site was designated a state park.

The Astor House was built in 1867, and stayed in continuous operation as a boarding and rooming house until 1971. It rented rooms and served hot meals to lawmakers, laborers, miners, students and families, some of whom stayed for weeks or even months.

The Clear Creek History Park is ideally located along Clear Creek in downtown Golden. The outdoor setting re-creates the look and feel of a late 1800s mountain ranch complete with gardens, a working blacksmith shop, schoolhouse and chicken coop (chickens included).

Built a year and a half after the city was founded, when most houses were of vernacular frame construction, it is the oldest house still standing. General William Jackson Palmer, founder of the city, chose Major Henry McAllister, his longtime military and business associate, to be the Director for the Colorado Springs Company.

The Colonial Dames have authentically restored the house. Details include original marble fireplaces, floor to ceiling pocket windows, which slide up into the walls making nice doorways to the verandas, and furnishings appropriate to the period.

The Federal Revival style Abbot-Spalding House was the home to a succession of prominent Nashua citizens, including Daniel Abbot who is the father of Nashua, George Perham and William Spalding. The home was a common meeting ground of the famous and influential of New Hampshire. The Spalding family occupied the home for 73 years until it was purchased by the Nashua Historical Society in the late 1970's, from Miss Sylvia Spalding. The interior and exterior have seen major restoration in recent years. The ongoing commitment made by the Nashua Historical Society ensures the Abbot-Spalding House Museum's community roles for future generations. Additionally, within this museum resides an extensive Nashua Library. Research services are provided.

The museum was named in honor of Sceva Speare's wife, Florence Hyde Speare. The museum contains a wealth of information regarding Nashua's origins, its evolution into a mill town in the 1800's, it's continued growth as a city, and as a leading manufacturing and technological center.

In 1983, the Frisco Historical Society and the Town of Frisco officially dedicated the museum, opened the schoolhouse and park to the public, and successfully listed the schoolhouse on the National Register of Historic Places. During the following years, additional historic structures and artifacts were donated and collected.