Though today’s visitors to Veraestau largely encounter the legacy of the Cornelius O’Brien family, which took over the historic estate in the 1930s, the property’s history dates back much farther. In fact, this year marks no less than 200 years of settlement at the picturesque property perched high above the Ohio River in Aurora.

Just exactly when a young Jesse Lynch Holman arrived on the land he named “Veraestau” remains unclear, though the title abstract cites August 1810 as the date that ownership was transferred to Holman from the United States government. The first log building was on the site by this time, with a stylish brick addition to come shortly after. This brick addition—one of the oldest structures in the state—still stands as the oldest wing of the house. To put it in perspective, William Henry Harrison made his renowned expedition to the Tippecanoe River in November 1811, a full year after fires were burning warm in the hearth at Veraestau! 

From his modest home, Holman launched an eminent legal and political career that places his name solidly among Indiana’s founding generation. His illustrious career included sitting on the state’s very first Supreme Court. A 1939 article by Professor I. George Blake, Holman’s chief biographer, has been reprinted as part of the Indiana Supreme Court Legal History Series, spearheaded by present-day Chief Justice Randall Shepard.

In the year ahead, Historic Landmarks will be celebrating the estate’s long history and profiling its founder, Holman. Save the date now for the culmination of our celebrations at Veraestau the weekend of August 14, when we celebrate Founder’s Day with several events. In the meantime, stay tuned for more history and details about the celebration.

Regular tours of Veraestau will resume this spring, Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5 p.m., April through November. For details, contact Kent Abraham, 812-926-0983 or veraestau@historiclandmarks.org.