A Brief History of the Ben Ferrel Museum

The Ben Ferrel Museum, also known as the Krause Mini Mansion, entered the National Historic Register in 1977 and operates today as an historic house museum in Platte City, Missouri.

The structure was purchased in 1977 by the Platte County Historical Society and the Platte Purchase Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  A $38,000 bequeath from Ben Ferrel (a Platte County native), passed to these two organizations upon the death of  Mr. Ferrel’s wife, Maria.
Society members raised an additional $135,000 to fund the restoration. Eight years later (on June 15th, 1985), the museum, though not completely restored, opened to the public.

Between 1882-1883, Frederic Krause built the home from bricks fired in his own brick works in Platte City. An immigrant from Prussia, Krause eventually settled in Platte City in the early 1860s and soon distinguished himself as both a builder and a merchant.

He owned a meat market on Main Street and operated a livestock farm nearby.  During 1882, he and his wife Nancy Duncan Krause welcomed their youngest daughter into a family of five other daughters and one son.

Krause may have been inspired in building this home by his visits to the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Krause created a ‘mini’ or smaller version of the Governor’s mansion in several ways: both homes feature slate, mansard roofs, ornate grill work, brick construction and limestone corner quoins.  The bronze fireplace surround in the sitting room closely approximates the shape of a white marble one in the Governor’s mansion.

Three videos produced in 2016 and available on DVD showcase the story of the home: Introduction with Architectural Overview (12:47);  Walking Tour of the Museum (36.32) and Aerial Views of the Museum (2:11).

The Architectural Overview gives viewers a glimpse into the life of Frederick Krause  and the history of this mini mansion as well as details about its architecture. Over ninety historic and architectural photos illustrate the narrative.

The Walking Tour features the curator leading us through the home. She reveals its history from residents through restoration and presentation of a collection that dates mainly from 1840-1900 and traces a Platte County connection.

The third video showcases a drone’s eye view of the mansion’s exterior.

Purchase information can be found in the Books section at http://www.pchs1882.org (the website for the Platte County Historical Society).

Visit the museum and experience a  mini mansion authentically restored!

Each year the museum’s exhibits  amplify not only aspects of Platte County history but also aspects of the home itself–structure, site and collection.