Wylie House Museum
Built in 1835, Wylie House was the home of Indiana University's first president, Andrew Wylie, and his family. Today Wylie House is owned and operated by Indiana University as an historic house museum recreating the Wylie home prior to 1860.
The house is distinctive and unusual for south-central Indiana, a blend of Federal and Georgian styles of architecture more characteristic of southwest Pennsylvania, where Wylie was born and raised. It is one of the few pre-1840 structures remaining in Bloomington.
Wylie House contains an outstanding collection of early to mid-19th century American furnishings, including many Wylie family artifacts. A large collection of Wylie family letters and personal papers are housed in University Archives.
The mission of the museum is to preserve and study the house, artifacts and documents and through them to interpret for the public our local history and domestic heritage as it is embodied by the early Wylie home.
Wylie House Restoration Projects
A major restoration of Wylie House took place in the early 1960s that concentrated on the structure of the house. Between 2001 and 2010 we worked to complete the interior decoration of the museum in order to give visitors a more accurate impression of early 19th century life in south-central Indiana. The walls were all painted using period appropriate colors and techniques; 19th century style window dressings were added; antique furniture, some that originally belonged to the Wylies, was restored and/or reupholstered and added to the house; the exterior trim of the house was painted and so on. Below are a few photos of some of these improvements.
Education & Outreach
WYLIE HOUSE overlaps with several other local cultural institutions in its ability to offer solid content support in the areas of early U.S., Indiana, and local history. This pre-1840s house and its surrounding heirloom gardens, however, offer a unique and direct connection to mid-and-late 19th century domestic life and insights into IU′s early institutional and academic beginnings.
In addition to our extensive collection of 19th century furniture, china and textiles, our rich collection of family letters, diaries, drawings and shop ledgers detailing Wylie family expenses provide wonderful insights into everyday aspects of 19th century life and the larger burning political and economic issues of the time.
Seed Saving and Heirloom Gardening at the Wylie House
Wylie House is an historic house museum recreating and interpreting the Wylie home of the 1840s. We have extended our work to the grounds surrounding the house and grow and save seed from heirloom flowers and vegetables. We have a full time Outdoor Interpreter who is responsible for planning the garden and overseeing the work of local gardeners who volunteer here. While we don't know the exact varieties that the Andrew Wylie family grew, the seeds we select to grow are all heirloom varieties that were grown in this area prior to 1875. We welcome your questions, support, and participation!
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