A Prairie Preservation: Walter P. Chrysler’s Boyhood Home

Walter P. Chrysler’s Humble Kansas Roots

Located in central Kansas, the storied city of Ellis comprises 2,047 people. According to the city’s website, notable Western figures like Wyatt Earp and Buffalo Bill were often seen hanging around the streets of Ellis in the late 19th century — just as a young Walter P. Chrysler, the future founder of the Chrysler Motor Corporation, was growing up in a humble home on 10th St. Today, that home has been preserved and converted into a museum to chronicle the life of one of America’s greatest industrialists.

Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home

Completed in 1889, Walter P. Chrysler helped his father and brother build the humble house that currently serves as the Chrysler museum. Little did he know that this humble beginning would later set him up to build the famed Chrysler Building in New York City, perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of real estate in the world.

This property was the third house Chrysler lived in, and it contains artifacts from throughout the magnate’s life, including his corporate desk and a 1924 Chrysler “6”, the first car to ever bear the Chrysler name.

Not surprisingly, the home had changed hands several times since Chrysler had left Ellis at the age of 22. However, it was later purchased by the Chrysler Corporation in 1954, and the property underwent some minor renovations before officially becoming a museum. A year later, the Chrysler Corporation then donated the house to the city of Ellis, the property’s current owner.

As it sits, the museum serves as a great place for weary I-70 travelers to get out of the car, stretch their legs, and dabble in a little Kansas history. The price of admission for kids ages 6-11 is $2, adults ages 12+ is $4, seniors ages 65+ is $3, and children under 5 are free.

The best part? Should you or your clients fall in love with Ellis’s undeniable small-town charm and want a small historic home to retire in, real estate here is very affordable. Just two streets down from the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home is this quaint 3 bed, 1 bath house built in 1919 and available for under $100k.

Historic Properties and Preservation

As it turns out, historic properties are definitely worth saving. By owning a historic home, you not only own a slice of history but also enjoy a slew of additional benefits. To begin, the home is unique in that builders aren’t likely to recreate that particular style of architecture when constructing new builds. Next, historic homes are often in very desirable locations — which is why they’re likely still standing. They also tend to sell faster and fetch higher asking prices than your run-of-the-mill property. Lastly, homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places are oftentimes eligible for tax credits, grant money, and preservation loans if they meet certain rehabilitation standards. As always, check with both federal and state agencies or preservation networks to see if you or your client can help save a piece of the past with your next property purchase.