The William Henry Harrison Mansion was built when he served as the first governor of the Indiana Territory (1800-1812). Called the “White House of the West,” Grouseland was the first brick home in the Indiana Territory. In the frontier village of Vincennes it seemed a palatial mansion. It was built on a knoll overlooking the Wabash River near a walnut grove. Grouseland occupies an important place in American history as several treaties with Native Americans were signed in the Council Chamber.
Spinning, weaving and candle-making were done in the craft room in the basement. All houses of the era were self-sustaining.
Behind the sofa is the bowed west wall, a distinctive feature of the house. The round center table originally belonged to the Harrisons and the desk was John Badollet’s. He was the first Registrar of the Land Office in Vincennes. The square piano was made by John Geib.
The dining room was the site of many hospitable dinners given by the Harrisons. It is also the room in which Harrison was walking the floor with his infant son John Scott Harrison, when someone fired a bullet through the shutter. John Henry Harrison, son of the 9th President of the United States, became the father of the 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison.
The master bedroom, called the Harrison bedroom, had two beds. The one shown is from the Harrison family. The wallpaper with a grouse scene was designed for this room.
The large west bedroom was a guest room. When people visited, they often stayed for extended periods as travel was so difficult during that time. The wallpaper, designed for the room, was called the Anna Harrison paper.
The nursery is furnished with charming miniature furniture, just the right size for a child. Furniture sellers of the period carried replicas of their products to show potential buyers.
Also on display are items from the colorful campaign for the White House in 1840. Rumored to be the first “modern” campaign, it gave us two phrases that are still in common parlance today. “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” was a slogan used by Harrison and running mate John Tyler. “Old Kinderhook” was invoked by the opponents in reference to the birthplace of their candidate, Democrat incumbent Martin Van Buren. In time, it was shortened to OK. (USNews and World Report, 2/4/08)
The warming kitchen in the basement was a busy place with food brought in by servants from an outdoor kitchen to finish preparation and keep warm in the large fireplace. It was then served upstairs.