Honolulu House

The Honolulu House is a residential building in Marshall designed in the Italianate style, distinguished by elaborate cornices, tall arched windows, and decorative brackets. The exterior displays carefully detailed ornamentation typical of 1800s Italian-influenced architecture.

Built in 1860, the house reflects the prosperity of an era when wealthy Americans brought European styles back to their hometowns. Its recognition on the National Register of Historic Places honors its architectural contribution to Michigan's building history.

The house shows how European architectural ideas of the 1800s came to American homes, creating a new visual language in the region. Its style shaped the appearance of Marshall's more affluent neighborhoods and remains a visible marker of that era.

You can visit the house from April through December with guided tours led by the Marshall Historical Society. These tours cover both the interior and exterior, offering insight into the building and its past.

The house was named and designed after its owner's time as a former US consul in Hawaii, where he encountered tropical and Pacific influences. This unusual blend of Italian design and Hawaiian elements makes it a rare record of how far-flung personal experiences shaped American homes in the 1800s.

Location: Marshall

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.27269,-84.96456

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:04