The Honolulu House Museum is a wonderful blend of Italianate, Gothic Revival and Polynesian architecture. It was built in 1860 by Abner Pratt, the U.S. Consul to the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands. Pratt so enjoyed living in Honolulu that he had this house built in the style he had known there. However, he was also partial to the clothing he wore in Hawaii and this proved to be his demise. He is believed to have contracted pneumonia after riding to Lansing in light, tropical clothing during the winter. He died in 1863.
The house was a private residence, housing four families, over the years. It became vacant after the last owner, Mrs. Annette Bullard, died in 1951. It gradually fell into disrepair and was in danger of demolition. But one of Marshall's leading citizens, Harold Brooks, bought the building to preserve it as he had done with other historically significant local structures. In the early 1960s the Honolulu House became a museum and the headquarters of the Marshall Historical Society. During the 1970's, the Historical Society restored the home to its original 1880's splendor and during the 1990's and 2000's extensive structural restoration work was completed.
