Albert Spencer Wilcox Building
Encyclopedia
The Albert Spencer Wilcox Building, was originally a library and then converted to the Kauai Museum, which displays exhibits on the history of the island of Kauai
in Hawaii
.
was probably established by Reverend John Mortimer Lydgate in 1900 at his church in Līhuʻe. After moving to a temporary home in 1921, a permanent home was needed.
On February 3, 1922, Emma Kauikeolani Wilcox, widow of businessman and politician Albert Spencer Wilcox
(1844–1919) offered US$75,000 for a public library on Kauai.
In October 1922 architect Hart Wood
was selected to design the building named in honor of Wilcox.
Built with John Hansen as general contractor, it opened in 1924 to house the first public library on the island.
Juliet Rice Wichman (1901–1987) was chair of the committee. A granddaughter of businessman and politician William Hyde Rice
, she had married Frederick Warren Wichman after the death of her first husband Holbrook M. Goodale.
The new building was designed by architect Kenneth Roehrig and named for Rice.
Wichman became the museum's first director, and would later co-found the National Tropical Botanical Garden
and donate land to become the Limahuli Garden and Preserve
to the garden.
The first manager of the museum was Dora Jane Isenberg Cole (1917–1988) , a second cousin of Wichman sharing great-grandfather William Harrison Rice
(1813–1862) but Paul Isenberg
(1837–1903) as her paternal grandfather.
On December 3, 1960, the museum opened to the public in the Rice building.
In 1969 the state of Hawaii
built a new library building, and the Wilcox building was converted to house additional exhibits of the Kauai Museum, opening in December 1970.
It is located at 4428 Rice Street, 21°58′29"N 159°22′6"W in Līhuʻe.
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Library
The first library on the island of KauaiKauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
was probably established by Reverend John Mortimer Lydgate in 1900 at his church in Līhuʻe. After moving to a temporary home in 1921, a permanent home was needed.
On February 3, 1922, Emma Kauikeolani Wilcox, widow of businessman and politician Albert Spencer Wilcox
Albert Spencer Wilcox
Albert Spencer Wilcox was a businessman and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii and Republic of Hawaii. He developed several sugar plantations in Hawaii, and became a large landholder.-Early life:...
(1844–1919) offered US$75,000 for a public library on Kauai.
In October 1922 architect Hart Wood
Hart Wood
Hart Wood was an American architect who flourished during the "Golden Age" of Hawaiian architecture. He was one of the principal proponents of a distinctive "Hawaiian style" of architecture appropriate to the local environment and reflective of the cultural heritage of the islands...
was selected to design the building named in honor of Wilcox.
Built with John Hansen as general contractor, it opened in 1924 to house the first public library on the island.
Museum
In April 1954 a committee started raising funds for a museum to be built next to the library.Juliet Rice Wichman (1901–1987) was chair of the committee. A granddaughter of businessman and politician William Hyde Rice
William Hyde Rice
William Hyde Rice was a businessman and politician during the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He collected and published legends of Hawaiian mythology.-Life:William Hyde Rice was born at Honolulu, Hawaii on July 23, 1846...
, she had married Frederick Warren Wichman after the death of her first husband Holbrook M. Goodale.
The new building was designed by architect Kenneth Roehrig and named for Rice.
Wichman became the museum's first director, and would later co-found the National Tropical Botanical Garden
National Tropical Botanical Garden
The National Tropical Botanical Garden is a group that sponors preservation of plants native to the tropics in a network of botanical gardens and preserves.-History:...
and donate land to become the Limahuli Garden and Preserve
Limahuli Garden and Preserve
The Limahuli Garden and Preserve is a botanical garden and nature preserve on the north shore of Kauai island, Hawaii. It is one of the five gardens of the non-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden.-Description:...
to the garden.
The first manager of the museum was Dora Jane Isenberg Cole (1917–1988) , a second cousin of Wichman sharing great-grandfather William Harrison Rice
William Harrison Rice
William Harrison Rice was a missionary teacher from the United States who traveled to the Hawaiian Islands and managed an early sugar plantation.-Life:...
(1813–1862) but Paul Isenberg
Paul Isenberg
Paul Isenberg was a German businessman who developed the sugarcane business in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Paul Heinrich Friedrich Carl Isenberg was born April 15, 1837 in Dransfeld, Kingdom of Hanover, Germany...
(1837–1903) as her paternal grandfather.
On December 3, 1960, the museum opened to the public in the Rice building.
In 1969 the state of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
built a new library building, and the Wilcox building was converted to house additional exhibits of the Kauai Museum, opening in December 1970.
Preservation
The Wilcox building was listed as state historic site 30-11-9344 on February 17, 1979. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hawaii on May 31, 1979 as site 79000760.It is located at 4428 Rice Street, 21°58′29"N 159°22′6"W in Līhuʻe.