After being closed to the public for several years, the McConnel Mansion Museum located at 110 S Adams St has reopened for visitors to experience this piece of history. Built in 1886, this historic home is a beautifully preserved example of Victorian architecture and is now open to tour from 1 – 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, no appointment necessary.
The original owner, William McConnel, was the third governor of Idaho and was also a local Moscow businessman. The house was then owned by two more families before being bought by Frederick Church, a professor at the University of Idaho, who gave the house to Latah County after his passing in 1966. The mansion opened as a museum in the 1970’s, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been an important part of the preservation of Moscow’s history ever since.
Hayley Noble, the Executive Director of the Latah County Historical Society, explained that one of the Mansion’s main functions is to educate the community about life in the 19th century. The museum is a well-preserved window into a lifestyle that is all but forgotten today.
“People are often visual learners and people love examples,” Noble said. “So to be able to bring groups in and show them, without these modern amenities, how people used to live is really powerful.”
The museum features an abundance of historic relics, such as a butter churn, ice box and a Victrola hand crank record player. Very few architectural renovations have been made, so when guests enter the mansion it truly feels like they are stepping back in time.
“So the education piece is really one of the main things for us, trying to help people understand what life used to be like,” Noble said. “It’s just a really fun way that people can interact with some of these older ways of living.”
In addition to educating visitors about Moscow’s history, the McConnell Mansion also serves as a community gathering place that brings people together. The Historical Society hosts events such as Victorian Christmas in the winter and the Ice Cream Social in July. These, and most events hosted at the Mansion are free for anyone to attend and are a great way to meet neighbors and new friends.
“Aside from history, one of our really significant tenants is community building,” Noble said. “We want to be a space where we can bring people together.”
For UI students and the Moscow community alike, McConnell Mansion provides a window into the past while also bringing people together in the present.
“It can be so fun to step back in time for a while,” Noble said.
Grace Giger can be reached at [email protected]