Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

At age 21, William S. Culbertson left New Market, Pennsylvania, to seek his fortune in Indiana. Settling in New Albany, he found employment as a clerk in a dry goods store. Culbertson possessed exceptional business sense and energy. He started his own utility company in 1854, eventually becoming a prosperous, independent businessman. In 1868, Culbertson retired from the dry goods business to invest his money in new ventures, in and around New Albany. Culbertson was widowed twice and married for the third time at age 70. He died in 1892, at the age of 78, achieving a net worth of $3.5 million dollars — about $61 million in today’s economy.

An Architectural Gem

The three-story, Second Empire mansion encompasses more than 20,000 square feet and contains 25 rooms. The facade, east elevation and west elevation all feature semi-circular bays, allowing plenty of light into the rooms. Built by brothers William and James Banes, it was one of the most striking homes on Main Street.

Wall-to-wall wow!

No expense was spared in decorating the interior of the home. The family hired artists to paint the designs on the walls, ceilings and cornices of the first and second floors. Artists used the technique of trompe l’oiel in several rooms to mimic paneling, molding or other textured surfaces. Special tools were used to create the look of wood graining. Many of the floors were hand-painted with this “faux bois” graining. Other rooms were covered with wall-to-wall carpets.

A slice of victorian life

In 1964, Historic New Albany purchased the home, and it was accepted as a state historic site in 1976. The Culbertson Mansion represents the lifestyles of the Victorian fortune-makers, as well as the lifestyles of the servant staff.