uilt in 1896 by Calvin E. Riley, the Riley House has been home to the Mercer County Historical Society since 1975. The front entrance of the house, fashioned from oak, is designed to emulate the captain’s quarters on a sailing ship. This is an obvious nod to Calvin Riley’s grandfather, the seafaring Captain James Riley. The house was purchased by the Society from David Riley, a member of the Riley family, whose cousin, Lena Riley, lived in the house until her passing in 1974. Three years after becoming a museum, the house joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The Riley House is an American Queen Anne Victorian home, evidenced by its asymmetrical façade and ornate woodwork (among other things). The home has been periodically updated over the years as it was lived in. Despite having plumbing and electricity, the house has been largely maintained so that guests may enjoy the its original charm and beauty.