Cash in Colors

The bright yellow exterior of Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site makes the home stand out among the other buildings on Main Street in New Albany — and not just because it looks different. 
Even without knowing the mansion was home to William Culbertson, the richest man in Indiana during the 1800s, it’s obvious this house belonged to well-to-do people. Its opulent Victorian style, marble staircase and ornate interior all hint at the money it took to build this house.
Ironically, the vibrant rainbow of colors that covers the mansion, inside and out, is one of the more subtle clues about the house’s legendary luxury.
During the 19th century, most Hoosiers couldn’t have afforded to add even a pop of color to their house. But William Culbertson was no ordinary Hoosier. With an astute mind for business, Culbertson worked his way up from clerking at a dry goods store to owning his own utilities company by the time he was 40.
He went on to invest his wealth across the New Albany area in a variety of business opportunities and philanthropic efforts. At the time of his death, he had a net worth of $3.5 million — that’s $61 million today!
“Thanks to advances in technology and the industrialization of production, a wide variety of paint colors were available to the Victorian home decorator,” said Devin Payne, site manager at Culbertson Mansion.
Painted ceilings were popular at the time. But as with all of his ventures, Culbertson wanted to take it a step further simply because his wealth afforded it. Not only were the ceilings painted, but every wall, floor and trim in every space the family would occupy was covered in a rainbow’s worth of colors — even his children’s rooms, the insides of closets and basement ceilings.
“It was costly, time-consuming and required a skilled artist to accomplish,” said Payne.
But Culbertson was happy to pay for it all and that’s exactly what his house feels like: the masterpiece of skilled artists. The photos here are just a fraction of the kaleidoscope of colors at Culbertson Mansion — you have to see them in person.