McConnell Mansion, Latah County Historical Society
Moscow, Latah County
- Grant: 2008, 2015 Sister Alfreda Award Winner, 2017, 2023, 2024 – window restoration and repair stage 2
Location: 110 S Adams Street, Moscow, Idaho 83843
This majestic Victorian home is named for its original owner, former Idaho governor and senator William J. McConnell (also at one time a gold miner, truck farmer, rancher, and teacher) and his family. Initially built in 1886, the McConnell’s lived in the home until 1893 when the national depression ruined William’s businesses and they were forced to sell the mansion. It continued to be used as a private residence by three successive families, and some of its notable residents were Dr. William Adair, Ione Adair, and University of Idaho professor Dr. Frederick Church. The home was gifted to Latah County in 1966, opened as a museum in 1971, and it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The stately home is notable for its mélange of Victorian styles, borrowing from the Eastlake, Gothic Revival, and Italianate traditions. It features 41 exterior windows, sharp gables framing the bay windows, curved brackets supporting the eves, etched and beveled glass overtop the entryway, and many other architectural flourishes that are a delight to discover. The interior is equally impressive, with a long banister, original fireplace, and pine woodwork.
The home is overseen by the Latah County Historical Society and serves as both a museum and the largest artifact in said museum. Much of LCHS’s collection is displayed within the mansion, including period appropriate art, furniture, textiles, small artifacts, musical instruments, and much more.
