GLENSHEEN MANSION - Duluth, Minnesota

Yesterday we went on a day trip on a bus.  We did it for David's sister, Tamara, who runs the Clearwater County Historical society.  Originally we thought David's aunt was going on this trip.  She was unable.

So off we went with a busload of seniors.  Yeah I know we too are seniors.  These seniors all knew each other.  They talked and talked and talked.  The drive to Duluth is about 3 hours long.

Our first stop was lunch.  David had told us that Gramma's Saloon and Grill is a Minnesota must-do.



We arrived just at opening time.  There were approximately 50 of us.  The meals had all been pre-ordered.  Need I say more.  Yeah, 50 meals were served within minutes of our arrival.  Not hot, not fresh.

So on to Glensheen Mansion.  It did not disappoint.  We had 3 hours to explore the house and the gardens.  The tour guide was excellent.  The young man knew every answer to every question that was  asked.

This is the Wiki:

Glensheen, the Historic Congdon Estate is a 27,000 square foot mansion in Duluth, Minnesota, United States, operated by the University of Minnesota Duluth as a historic house museum. Glensheen sits on 12 acres of waterfront property on Lake Superior, has 39 rooms and is built in the Jacobean architectural tradition, inspired by the Beaux-Artsstyles of the era. The mansion was constructed as the family home of Chester Adgate Congdon. The building was designed by Minnesota architect Clarence H. Johnston Sr., with interiors designed by William A. French Co. and the formal terraced garden and English style landscape designed by the Charles Wellford Leavitt firm out of New York. Construction began in 1905 and completed in 1908. The home is a crowning example of design and craftmanship of the Midwest in the early 20th century.

We understand it is also haunted but that's another tale.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour.  Here are a few of our pictures.

The front door

The carriage house

The living room

The garden with fountain with Lake Superior in the background

Tischer creek provides the water for the fountain and some of the house supply

There were lots of interesting facts:  

• If the water was turned all the way on the fountain would shoot 75 feet in the air
• Some of the ceilings were gold leaf
• Some of the wallpaper was silk
• The master bathroom shower had nine shower heads
• They had wall-vac!
• The original gardener, then his son, and then his son tended the grounds.  The last one lived there until 2004, he was 83.  
• The gardener was paid as much as the butler

Upon our return, we had a drink at the bar. ;)