Ambrose Hopkinson House

The Ambrose Hopkinson House is a Renaissance Revival residence featuring red brick walls and a wraparound porch that extends across the front and sides. The porch is supported by chamfered columns with balustrades on both levels, while the entrance showcases distinctive red glass panels and the roofline displays ornate cornice details.

The house was built in 1874 by an English immigrant named Ambrose Hopkinson. It received official recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, marking its importance to the region's architectural heritage.

The house now serves as a museum where visitors learn about regional development and how people lived in the 19th century. The building itself tells a story about wealth and architectural taste in Illinois during that era.

The house is located on West Elm Street in downtown Olney and is easy to reach by foot or car. The building can be explored at a leisurely pace, and visitors should plan for a short visit to see both the interior and exterior details.

The red glass panels at the entrance are an unusual feature rarely seen in other houses from that period. This distinctive detail reveals the original owner's personal taste and sets the house apart from typical Victorian residences.