This tour tells the story of the Van Wickle/Mckee family, the original owners of this beautiful seaside garden estate. Visitors experience breathtaking views of Narragansett Bay and see Blithewold Mansion decorated with original furnishings just as it was when the family lived here.

 

The family summered at Blithewold from late spring through Labor Day, but returned for many Christmas seasons. The tradition of the 18 foot tree in the Hall dates back to 1910, when Bessie first decorated an evergreen tree which reached the ceiling of the second story hall. It was one that had been planted at Blithewold years before. Today, this Christmas tradition continues at Blithewold. For 6 weeks over Christmas the Mansion is open to the public. A large tree fills the entrance hall, decorated with hundreds of lights. All the rooms are decorated, and there is a different theme each year, drawn from the Blithewold family history.

 

Blithewold’s gardens have provided an inspiring landscape for volunteer decorators to draw from for this year’s Christmas décor. Design that borrows the color and form of plants and wildlife is in every room, filling the house with flora and fauna that bring the outdoors indoors. Christmas trees and evergreen garlands are festooned with bees, butterflies, birds, and blossoms, and every room reflects nature’s wonders and the beauty of the season.

 

The hospitality of the family lives on each year as Blithewold opens its doors, inviting friends and neighbors into the house to celebrate the joys of the Christmas season.

 

We welcome you to Blithewold.

 

May your days be merry and bright.

 

This guided audio-visual tour is approximately 60 minutes long. To proceed from one tour stop to the next simply swipe right-to-left on the screen. Use the audio bar to pause, rewind, or fast forward the audio, and tap on the top right of each picture to zoom in on it. To learn more about a room, click the “Learn More” button at the bottom of each stop. That button also lets you hear about the seasonal festive decorations in each room.

 

Let's get started!

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