Washington Place

Infobox_nrhp | name =Washington Place
nrhp_type = nhl

---

caption = Washington Place
location= Honolulu, Hawaii
lat_degrees = 21 | lat_minutes = 18 | lat_seconds = 31.74 | lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 157 | long_minutes = 51 | long_seconds = 24.36 | long_direction = W
area =
built =1847
locmapin=Hawaii
architect= Isaac Hart [ [http://www.nr.nps.gov/Red%20Books/73000666.red.pdf NPS Red Book] ]
architecture= Greek Revival
added = June 18, 1973
designated = March 29, 2007cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1535589501&ResourceType=Building
title=Washington Place |accessdate=2008-07-03|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = State
refnum=73000666 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Washington Place is a Greek Revival home in the Capital District in Honolulu, Hawaiokinai It was where Queen Liliokinauokalani was arrested during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Later it became the official residence of the Governor of Hawaiokinai. It is a National Historic Landmark, designated in 2007. The current governor's residence is located on the same grounds as Washington Place.

Construction

The home was constructed from 1844–1847 for an American merchant, John Dominis, who was lost at sea, in 1846, just as the house was nearing completion. His wife, Mary, then converted the home into a boarding house. One of the first borders of the home was Anthony Ten Eyck, an American Commissioner to the islands appointed by President James K. Polk. Ten Eyck was credited for naming the house "Washington Place", in 1848, after George Washington in celebration of the first US president's birthday.

The building was built by the master carpenter Isaac Hart, who had built the first okinaIolani Palace. The building was also constructed by Daniel Jenner, an Italian master mason. The interior was originally finished by the master painter Israel Wright. Native Hawaiians were also involved in the construction of the building, but are not individually named in the archival records.

The foundation of the building, the lower level walls and the lower columns are constructed of coral stone. The upper floor is of wood frame construction. Washington Place conforms to period French Creole Greek Revival houses that were built along the lower Gulf-Coastal region of the southeastern United States. The home was constructed with an almost square core surrounded by a peristyle, a two tiered verandah, Tuscan columns on its upper floor, and a hipped roof. The interior of the home is arranged in a traditional Georgian floor plan, with four distinct parlors on the first floor and four bedchambers on the second floor.

History

William Little Lee, made Washington Place his home from 1849–54. Lee was instrumental in integrating a Western legal system in the Hawaiian Islands, based upon the Massachusetts model. Lee also authored the Great Mahele, which introduced private land ownership into Hawaiian culture.

Lydia Kamakaeha Paki, the future Queen Liliokinauokalani and the Heir Apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiokinai, married John Owen Dominis, the son of John and Mary Dominis, in 1862, making Washington Place the private residence of the princess and future queen.

Arrest of the Queen

In 1893, Washington Place was the site of the dramatic events of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It was there that the queen was arrested by the new governmental forces that were aided by a detachment of United States Marines. The Republic of Hawaii tried the queen before a military tribunal, where she was charged with concealment of treason against the new government, the Republic of Hawaiokinai. She was convicted and was confined for several months at Washington Place after her release from imprisonment at okinaIolani Palace.

Queen Liliokinauokalani resided at Washington Place for the remainder of her life. She died in the downstairs bedroom of Washington Place on November 11, 1917. The home offers the citizens of Hawaiokinai a strong sense of place and belonging in association with the kingdom and of Queen Liliokinauokalani's memory.

Executive Mansion

Beginning in 1918, Washington Place became the Executive Mansion for twelve governors of Hawaiokinai. Technically it was the residence of 13 governors because John Owen Dominis, the queen's consort, was governor of the island of Ookinaahu from 1863 to 1891. The home served in this role until 2002, when it became a historic house museum. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2007. [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Apr/04/br/br8571324960.html]

On May 14, 1921, the territorial legislature of Hawaiokinai purchased the building, for $55,000, from the estate of Queen Liliokinauokalani.

In her book, "Hawaiokinai's Story by Hawaiokinai's Queen", Liliokinauokalani described the building as "a palatial dwelling" and a "choice tropical retreat in the midst of the chief city of the Hawaiian islands."

ee also

*List of Governors of Hawaiokinai

References

* [http://starbulletin.com/96/10/25/features/story1.html A Sense of Washington Place]

External links

* [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hh:@field(NUMBER+@band(HI0023)) Library of Congress: America's Memory]
* [http://starbulletin.com/96/10/25/features/story1.html A Sense of Washington Place]