02/02: Dow Museum of Historic Houses
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
Kenneth Worcester Dow was born in 1911, the only child of a wealthy businessman. Kenneth's parents died when he was in his 20s and he inherited enough money that he did not need to work and was able to indulge in his passion of collecting. Dow first traveled to St. Augustine in the 1930s. Thoroughly enjoying his visit, he made St. Augustine his permanent home. In 1941, he purchased the oldest home on a block of properties, the 1790 Prince Murat House. By the early 1950s, Mr. Dow had acquired all nine historic homes on the block. He filled the homes with his "collections". In 1989, Mr. Dow generously donated his entire collection of artwork, furniture and other antiques to the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach, FL. The Dow Museum of Historic Houses was opened in late 2000 after 11 years of restoration.
The oldest homes were built while under Spanish control, and thus were required to built a wall to help protect the city. This is part of the conquina defense wall.
The second-oldest structure on the property is the Dow House. This house was constructed by Antonio Canova in 1839. Mr. Dow purchased the Dow House in 1941 from the oldest living resident in the city, Sarah McKinnon. At the time, Sarah McKinnon was 98 years old and the deal stated that Mr. Dow would grant her life tenancy in the house in exchange for ownership. The agreement was approved and Ms. McKinnon lived to be 103.
The kitchen in the Dow House.
As one of the oldest surviving Colonial structures in St. Augustine, the Prince Murat House is the oldest house on the Dow Museum property. The house was purchased in 1821 by Antonio Canova and is named after its most famous occupant, Prince Achille Murat. A nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Murat was also the Crown Prince of Naples in Italy. When he moved to America in 1824, Prince Murat resided in this dwelling for several months before relocating to Tallahassee.
An old gate in a coquina wall.
The bedroom in the Worcester house. That's a massive headboard.
The Carpenter's House is characterized by its unique lean and mismatched building materials which were left over from the construction of the Spear and Worcester Houses. The tilt, however, is not a consequence of poor construction techniques; rather, it is a result of the house being detached from its foundation. This event most likely occurred during a hurricane and flood that struck the city in October 1944.
Interesting fountain in the courtyard.
Given the cold we've been experiencing it's nice to see flowers blooming.
One of the streets we walked down today.
An interesting gate we passed today.
The oldest homes were built while under Spanish control, and thus were required to built a wall to help protect the city. This is part of the conquina defense wall.
The second-oldest structure on the property is the Dow House. This house was constructed by Antonio Canova in 1839. Mr. Dow purchased the Dow House in 1941 from the oldest living resident in the city, Sarah McKinnon. At the time, Sarah McKinnon was 98 years old and the deal stated that Mr. Dow would grant her life tenancy in the house in exchange for ownership. The agreement was approved and Ms. McKinnon lived to be 103.
The kitchen in the Dow House.
As one of the oldest surviving Colonial structures in St. Augustine, the Prince Murat House is the oldest house on the Dow Museum property. The house was purchased in 1821 by Antonio Canova and is named after its most famous occupant, Prince Achille Murat. A nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Murat was also the Crown Prince of Naples in Italy. When he moved to America in 1824, Prince Murat resided in this dwelling for several months before relocating to Tallahassee.
An old gate in a coquina wall.
The bedroom in the Worcester house. That's a massive headboard.
The Carpenter's House is characterized by its unique lean and mismatched building materials which were left over from the construction of the Spear and Worcester Houses. The tilt, however, is not a consequence of poor construction techniques; rather, it is a result of the house being detached from its foundation. This event most likely occurred during a hurricane and flood that struck the city in October 1944.
Interesting fountain in the courtyard.
Given the cold we've been experiencing it's nice to see flowers blooming.
One of the streets we walked down today.
An interesting gate we passed today.