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Ace of Clubs House

$10,000 won in a poker game in 1884 allowed James Draughon to build this intriguing home.

Texarkana, Texas

Added By
Clinton
"'Ace of Clubs' House. Has 3 groups of octagonal rooms (leaves of a club) opening on a rotunda backed by long rectangular rooms (the club's stem). Rotunda has a marble mantel, french mirrors and spiral stairway and is topped with 20-foot tower. Built 1884 by J.H. Draughan. Owned since 1894 by Henry Moore family."   http://www.flickr.com/photos/0ccam/2835410...
Aerial view of the 'Ace of Clubs House'. Archived Texas postcard.   http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txpstcrd...
The Ace of Clubs House in Texarkana, Texas (United States).   Michael Barera (Atlas Obscura User)
Across the street   DJPellegrino (Atlas Obscura User)
Looking up at Moores Bedroom near Tulip tree on right side)   chelstatum (Atlas Obscura User)
Look at the windows   DJPellegrino (Atlas Obscura User)
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About

Local legend holds that the house was built by owner Confederate Veteran Captain James Draughon who won $10,000 in a poker match with an ace of clubs. Draughon happened to be a local lumberman and with his earnings set out to build a mansion befitting of its origin.

Three families lived in the 'Ace of Clubs' house through its span as a residence. The last owners of the home, The Moores, donated the house to the Texarkana Museum System in 1985.

The house was remodeled beginning in 1987 and has operated solely as a museum since. The rooms are ornate and extravagant, a truly unique home inhabited for almost 100 years, built on the luck of the "ace of clubs."

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Added By

Clinton

Published

September 26, 2009

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