Houston House

Point of Interest Details

This house was built by David H. Houston on a Bonanza farm near Hunter, ND in 1881. Houston, a Scottish immigrant, was a jack of many trades known for being a poet, a farmer and perhaps best as an inventor. Houston invented a roll film camera, which he sold the patent of to William H. Walker, which would later serve as the basis of the Kodak camera, designed for use by the general public.

The house itself was once much larger, including a kitchen and servant’s quarters that have since been removed. The Houston house also had a storm cellar, a hot air furnace and an indoor bathroom, which was unusual for houses of this time period.

Question: When was the first camera patented?

Answer: The first camera was patented by George Eastman in 1888