Thorstein Veblen Farmstead

Thorstein Veblen Farmstead
The farmhouse in 2014
Location 16538 Goodhue Avenue
Nerstrand, Minnesota
Coordinates 44°20′52″N 93°02′49″W / 44.34778°N 93.04694°WCoordinates: 44°20′52″N 93°02′49″W / 44.34778°N 93.04694°W
Area 10 acres (4.0 ha)
Built 1867-1870[1]
Architectural style Second Empire
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 75001024[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP June 30, 1975[2][3]
Designated NHL December 21, 1981[4]

The Thorstein Veblen Farmstead is a National Historic Landmark near Nerstrand in rural Rice County, Minnesota, United States.[5]

Thorstein B. Veblen (1857-1929), economist, social scientist, and critic of American culture, lived on this farm as a youth and returned often as an adult. The product of an austere agrarian upbringing, Veblen has often been called one of America's most creative and original thinkers.[6] He coined the term "conspicuous consumption." The property's simple vernacular styling illustrates early influences on Veblen's life as the son of immigrants, growing up in a tightly knit Norwegian-American community. His book, Theory of the Leisure Class is distinguished by economic, social, and literary scholars.[1]

The house and farm buildings were built by his parents, Thomas and Kari Veblen, and he lived there as a teenager. The Veblens sold the property in 1893 and it continued to be an active farm until 1970, when the buildings fell into disrepair. The house has now been meticulously restored and the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota holds a preservation easement on the property.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Historic American Buildings Survey". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  3. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places". www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com. 2007-10-31.
  4. ↑ "Thorstein Veblen Farmstead". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  5. ↑ James Sheire (May 21, 1981). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Thorstein Veblen Farmstead" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying 4 images taken in 1971 PDF (2.33 MB)
  6. ↑ "Thorstein Veblen Farmstead". National Historic Landmarks Program. National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  7. ↑ "Restoring a national historic landmark". Benchmarks in Minnesota's Historic Preservation. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-11-02.

External links