In 1883 a young Massachusetts doctor in delicate health passed through Battle Creek on his way to North Dakota. He never left town. A Dartmouth College classmate persuaded Dr. Arthur Kimball to establish his medical practice in the bustling "Queen City."
This was the beginning of an 83 year tradition of medical service to this community by three generations of doctors named Kimball.
The first Doctor Kimball, and his wife Marion, prospered in Battle Creek. In 1886 they build their elegant 14 room home on Capital Avenue N.E., the city's most fashionable thoroughfare which was then known as Maple Street.
The Queen Anne style house was distinguished by a central square tower flanked by turrets. This was not a mansion, by Maple Street standards, but an upper middle class home with touches of opulence, including colored glass windows, walnut woodwork in the front hall and parquet floors.
The first doctor Kimball died at the age of 44, only nine years after coming to Battle Creek. He was succeeded by his son, Arthur S. Kimball, who became one of the city's most influential physicians, He worked with Dr. John Harvey Kellogg of the Sanitarium to establish "open air " schools where ailing students were invigorated with a regimen of fresh air, diet and exercise. He was also instrumental in founding a tuberculosis hospital, which was built and named for him immediately after his death in 1921.
Dr. Arthur S. Kimball, Jr. carried on the family medical tradition until his death in 1966. At that time, the family decided to donate their home to the community to be preserved as a museum. The Junior League accepted the challenge to return the home to its turn-of-the-century appearance.
Two years later, the League turned the project over to the newly-organized Kimball House Historical Society. For many years the Kimball House Guild maintained and staffed the museum for the Historical Society.
Other community organizations and individuals made major contributions to the development of the Victorian house museum. A generous gift by Mrs, Marguerite Roll, along with the efforts of the local branch of the Women's National Farm and Garden Association, provided the landscaping, herb garden and plants inside the home. The Calhoun Medical Auxiliary collected the medical artifacts on display in the house.
Although few of the furnishings are original to the house, many items were donated by prominent local families, including the china cupboard from Dr. John Harvey Kellogg's home.
In December the home is garlanded with Victorian decorations in preparation for the Christmas Open House and the Christmas Candlelight Stroll. Midnight at the Creek celebrations on New Year's Eve, Vintage Home Tour and Preservation Month activities in May combine with other special annual events to keep the Museum alive with activity all year long.
The Kimball House Museum features a Battle Creek history room with information about cereal pioneers C. W. Post and W. K. Kellogg as well as health reformer Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and the Battle Creek Sanitarium.
The Museum houses the only major collection of artifacts relating to Sojourner Truth, who lived in Battle Creek from 1857 until her death in 1883. The ex-slave and abolitionist was a powerful speaker who traveled the nation advocating women's rights, prison reform and fair treatment for the freed slaves after the end of the Civil War.
A changing exhibit area is also located on the second floor. The basement features a pioneer kitchen and an old country store. A gift shop, including the area's largest collection of Underground Railroad material, is open during Museum hours.
Kimball House is open for individual and family tours on Friday and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. School and bus tours are scheduled to fit the convenience of the group. The Historical Society plans a varied schedule of special events and classes at the house during the year.
Individual adult admission to the Kimball House is $3.00; students $2.00. Special rates are available for group or student tours.
For schedule information, or to make a group tour reservation, contact the offices of the Historical Society of Battle Creek:
165 N. Washington Street
Battle Creek, MI 49017
or call (616) 965-6513
or fax (616) 966-2495
Back to the Kimball House