When my mom and I drove up to Vermillion, South Dakota, we stopped at the rest stop off the exit right before you head into town. This is where I picked up a tourism magazine
When my mom and I drove up to Vermillion, South Dakota, we stopped at the rest stop off the exit right before you head into town. This is where I picked up a tourism magazine on Yankton, and this is where my adventure all began.
When I first learned of the Cramer-Kenyon home
Looking through all the things this town offered, I started making my list. First was the Cramer-Kenyon Heritage Home. When I saw it listed, I thought “What’s this? A historic home?” and if you know me, you know I immerse myself in history every chance I get.
Old homes tell stories, and when they have been lovingly preserved, you are offered a glimpse back through time, to walk the very steps our ancestors walked, to be connected for a brief moment.
Scheduling my visit
Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 1-4 pm, guided tours are offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day. During the offseason, however, the home is open by appointment only.
So, Wednesday rolled around, and I made my way up to Yankton. Timing it just right, I arrived at the Cramer-Kenyon home right at 1pm. I walked in, paid my $7 admission fee, and this very organized old lady started the tour with just me.
Being an assistant manager of a restaurant, I pick up on customer service, and appreciate when business owners value their patrons. With just me standing in the foyer, this lady didn’t skip a beat, she began the tour with remarkable professionalism.
However, she jokingly said “I was hoping to get some reading in, but it looks like it will be a busy afternoon” as four more people showed up. Vacationing from Vermont, a couple driving in their RV made a stop, as did a mother and her daughter from Rhode Island.
Tallest Queen Anne home in the Dakotas
Restarting the guided tour, we would be enthralled in tales of war, art, and history for an hour. To start off, we learned this was the tallest Queen Anne home in the Dakota Territories. Built in 1886 by James H. Teller, the Secretary of the Dakota Territory, it remains in its original 1890s fashion. The tour guide emphasized, this home has not been restored, rather maintained.
The Cramers
Shortly after building it, Teller sold the home in 1890 to an attorney, Nelson J. Cramer. He and his wife, Alice Bulfinch Cramer, moved in and began decorating. Alice was an artist and an interior designer, and she knew exactly what to do in every room.
Loud wallpaper, textured tiles, and expertly chosen furniture were brought in to beautifully accent this stately home. Alice even hung up several of her own paintings, and she was a gifted artist.
Being superstitious, Alice went as far as to round out corners of rooms, so spirits could not hide. You’ll see hallways, closets and even ceilings with this curved design.
The Kenyons
Inheriting the home in 1929, Esther Kenyon and her husband, Herbert, moved into the home in 1930 with their children, Carlton and Jean. And after Herbert’s death in 1972, the home was sold to Heritage Homes, Inc, and opened to the public in 1974. And as a Bicentennial project to commemorate Yankton being the first capital of Dakota Territory, the Cramer-Kenyon home has retained its historical value.
When you first enter
Now that we have the basics covered, let’s really look at what makes this home unique. First, when you walk into the entryway there are beautiful glass doors, framed with hand-carved wood. After sifting through access storage, these doors were miraculously found untouched, hidden away in the furthermost corners of the attic!
Also, in the entryway is a courting couch. When the Kenyon’s children would go on dates, the young couple would hold their conversations while sitting on this couch. And due to the echo of their voices reverberating off the walls, Esther and Herbert could hear the entire conversation in their bedroom directly above.
General Custer and Shakespeare
As a gift for allowing himself, and his men, to take refuge here during the brutal winter months, General Custer had one of his carpenters carve this ornamented end table. There is only one other like it in the world, making this an incredibly priceless antique.
Another one-of-a-kind are the hand-painted tiles around the downstairs fireplace. These Shakespeare-themed tiles are one of only three fully-assembled sets in the world. Recreations have been made, but what you see here is an original.
South Dakota’s Constitution
There are many more unique features in this room alone, but I will highlight one more. Written at this desk was the majority of the South Dakota’s Constitution. Its author, James Ward, was instrumental in petitioning South Dakota for statehood in 1885. Founder of the earliest high school in the Dakotas, and the Yankton College, Ward also composed the state motto, “Under God the People Rule”.
More than just wallpaper
From Alice Cramer’s personal purse collection to her hair care products, it’s amazing being witness to what life was like in the 1890s. in addition, she was incredibly skilled at interior design. Aspiring to showcase her, and her husband’s, wealth Alice chose to import the finest wallpaper, along with installing textured Lincrusta wall coverings.
In fact, when Heritage Homes, Inc. purchased the Cramer-Kenyon home, they noticed some of the wallpaper was fading, and decided to have it recreated. Cutting out swatches from the walls, they sent samples to a company in California that specializes in restoring historic homes.
One of the designers from San Diego was so impressed with the seashell print, he offered his work for free, and in turn he was able to patten this specific design, and sell it for future projects. The original wallpaper, however, can be seen on the back wall of the closet.
We made it to the top!
Making our way up to the attic, we arrive at the end of our tour. This is where the maid slept, their luggage was stored, and finally the raw, untouched 1886 construction of the tallest Queen Anne home of the Dakota Territories.
Plan your visit
With the tour lasting a little over an hour, there is so much more I haven’t alluded to, and to be honest, I can’t remember everything I learned that day. Trying to sum up 130 years of history in an hour, let alone one blog post, is nearly impossible.
So, now it’s up to you to make your journey to Yankton, stop at the Cramer-Kenyon home, and enjoy a guided tour by a nice old lady. And don’t forget to take note of the small window of time you have. The house is only open for tours during Memorial Day through Labor Day, from 1-4pm, Wednesday through Sunday.
Also, visit their website for more information (https://cramer-kenyon.webs.com/) and keep up to date on their schedule of events via their facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cramerkenyon/)
605-665-7470
509 Pine St
Yankton, SD 57078
Good review. Liked the wallpaper. I’m interested in visiting the house.