Honolulu House Museum

The Honolulu House Museum is a unique structure built in 1860 for a former diplomat who tried to live here as he had in Honolulu. It was updated by another flamboyant owner in the 1880s to a high Victorian style featuring marvelous ceiling and wall paintings. It was rescued in the 1950s from possible demolition and in the early 1960s became a house museum and the Marshall Historical Society's headquarters.

The building is a wonderful blend of Italianate, Gothic Revival, and Polynesian architecture. An elaborate nine-bay porch spans the front, with its wide center bay serving as the base of its pagoda-topped tower. Its tropical features include a raised veranda and the observation platform. The Gothic Revival influences are evidenced in the pointed (four-centered) arch of the door, the veranda trim, and the vertical board-and-batten wood siding. The main floor has two sides. The north, and more formal, side contains the formal parlor, dining room and the former butler's pantry that is now an office. The south side contains the family parlor and two smaller rooms. A key feature is the curved hallway staircase that leads to the observation deck. The downstairs houses the family dining room and kitchen.

The Honolulu House is open from April through December. Please go to the website for current days, hours of operation and admission fee.