Mansion Tour
Stop 5.1: Christmas Decor
The all-white décor in this room evokes the magical winter landscape at Blithewold after a snowfall. Framed pictures on the tables show how much the family enjoyed playing outside in the snow!
Stop 5.2: Furniture and Decorative Arts
The beautiful classic mantelpiece is said to be from Gloucester House in London, once the residence of the Duke of Cambridge, cousin of Queen Victoria. Gloucester House was demolished in 1906.
Take note of the Chickering piano. Marjorie’s good friend Irma Nayral was an opera singer and often performed here. Over the bookcases are watercolors by Louis K. Harlow and William Trost Richards, from 1891.
Stop 5.3: Lectern
The lectern in the corner to the left of the piano was probably used to display a special book such as a Bible, an art book, or one of the family Guest Books.
The beautiful classic mantelpiece is said to be from Gloucester House in London, once the residence of the Duke of Cambridge, cousin of Queen Victoria. Gloucester House was demolished in 1906.
Take note of the Chickering piano. Marjorie’s good friend Irma Nayral was an opera singer and often performed here. Over the bookcases are watercolors by Louis K. Harlow and William Trost Richards, from 1891.
Stop 5.4: The Herreshoffs and Our Connection to the Sea
The model of the family’s Herreshoff steam yacht was built to scale using original plans and photographs, and is shown in this room. The yacht was over 72 feet long and cost Augustus $100,000 in 1894. Remember, that amounts to over $2½ million today!
The relationship between the Van Wickles, McKees, and Herreshoffs quickly developed into a lasting friendship. For the next 70 years the families sailed, raced, and socialized together, and shared many special occasions.