🪶✍️ Step into a piece of history at Glensheen Mansion! Nestled in the heart of CHESTER'S DEN, on the FIRST FLOOR, you’ll find an intriguing piece of the past: the Skull & Inkwell with its distinguished quill pen. 🖤 🖋️ A long time ago, way before we had touchscreens, people used quill pens. These pens, made from the best swan or goose feathers, started being used in Spain around the 6th century. Did you know a quill was the tool that scripted the iconic Declaration of Independence? 📜✨ Chester Congdon, however, embraced innovation with a steel "nib" pen, a design born in England in 1828, blending tradition with the march of progress. 🏰🌟

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🖋️ Long ago, before touchscreens were invented, what kind of pen did people use to write?

Feel the warmth of the LIVING ROOM, on the FIRST FLOOR, and discover the vintage charm of a 🌟 Brazier Portable Heater. 🏰 This isn’t your ordinary space heater; it's a throwback to the days when hot coals brought comfort during chilly Duluth winters. Imagine the family gathering, stories shared, and the

gentle crackle of coals. It's not just a heater; it's a portal to the past. ✨🪵

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🌟 What did people use to keep warm during cold winters before modern heaters were invented?

✨ Nestled on the FIRST FLOOR, in the LIBRARY are shelves lined with hundreds of non-fiction books on real events, people, places, or facts; every book tells a tale of reality crafted through time. 🏰💼 This isn’t just any library; it's a sanctuary filled with statues, vases, and memorabilia, each piece a silent narrator of the Congdons' journeys. 🌍🖼️

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✨ What kinds of things can you learn about in non-fiction books?

🎨👑 On the FIRST FLOOR, of the LIBRARY, you'll find Clara Congdon's homage to the arts: her very own rendition of Sir Peter Paul Rubens' "King David Playing the Harp." 🖌️📖 Crafted with passion during her college years at Syracuse, Clara chose a warm brown backdrop, diverging

from the original's forest green, infusing the piece with her personal touch and perspective. 

(Sir Peter Paul Rubens was a Flemish artist from the Netherlands 1577-1640 (Belgium)

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🖌️ What is the title of Clara Congdon's rendition painting displayed in the library?

🎩 In CHESTER's BEDROOM, on the SECOND FLOOR, his top hat stands as a symbol of  💼 wealth and social stature. 🏰 In the days before 1910, a stroll through town wasn't complete without the distinguished silhouette of a

top hat. As times changed, this iconic headwear transitioned to a staple of formal attire. 👤✨ Witness the fashion that crowned the heads of history's gentlemen.

In the early 1900s, the height of a man’s top hat did indeed signify status, particularly in the 19th century leading up to that time. Taller hats were often associated with greater wealth and social standing, as they were more expensive to make and maintain. These hats became a symbol of formality and prestige, frequently worn by the upper class and those in high society.

However, by the early 20th century, top hats began to decline in popularity, as society shifted towards less formal styles. The bowler hat, which had been introduced in the mid-19th century, became a more practical and popular alternative. It was originally designed as a protective riding hat but gained widespread acceptance among the working and middle classes due to its durability and comfort.

While the bowler hat never fully "replaced" the top hat in formal contexts, it did become more common for everyday wear. Top hats retained their place in highly formal settings, such as state occasions, weddings, and horse racing events like Ascot, but they were no longer the dominant style for men's daily wear. By the mid-20th century, hats in general saw a decline in everyday use.

In summary, while wealthy men occasionally wore bowler hats starting in the late 19th century; the period from 1870 to 1899, they were more commonly associated with middle-class professionals and city workers. Wealthier individuals primarily adopted them for semi-formal or informal occasions rather than as a primary style choice.

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💼 Why was a top hat considered important for a gentleman's outfit before 1910?

✨ In HELEN CONGDON'S BEDROOM, on the SECOND FLOOR, a charming collection of women's hats awaits. 🏰🎀 During the early 1900s, no lady’s attire was complete without a hat upon leaving home, a nod to the era's

dress etiquette. 🚶‍♀️🌼 Adorned with feathers, a

fashion statement since the 14th century in Europe, these hats whisper stories of elegance and social gatherings. Step into Helen's world of timeless style.

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🌼 What special decorations made the hats in Helen Congdon's collection fashionable during her time?

🛁✨ In the MASTER BATHROOM, on the SECOND FLOOR, behold the Sitz Bath, a testament to past health practices. 🏰💧A bath, designed to envelop just the hips and buttocks in warm waters, 🌿 offering relief and comfort for various ailments, including post-childbirth recovery. Embrace the healing traditions and see this unique piece of the Congdons' daily life.

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🌿 What is the main purpose of a sitz bath?

🍳✨ Travel through culinary time at the Glensheen Mansion! In the heart of the KITCHEN, on the FIRST FLOOR, 🔥 marvel at the modern replica of what once was a coal and natural gas stove circa 1900. 🏰 This electric stove stands as a tribute to the evolution of cooking, blending the aesthetic of the past with the convenience of today. 👩‍🍳💡Imagine the aromas of historical feasts and the warmth of the kitchen that fueled the Congdon household.

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🔥 What kinds of stoves did people use in kitchens around the year 1900 before electric stoves were common?

🎻🎶 The AMUSEMENT ROOM, located in the BASEMENT, includes the Congdons' cherished string instruments. 🏰🪕From the intricate lute, with its plucked strings and rounded body, to the harmonious family that includes

the mandolin with its 8 strings, the classic guitar with 6, and the 🎵 playful ukulele with 4, each instrument tells a story of leisure and melody. ✨

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🎵 What are some of the string instruments you can find in the Amusement Room at the Glensheen Mansion?

💦🌷 In the FORMAL GARDEN where the enchanting marble fountain reigns and intricate fish motifs leap 🏰⛲this isn't just any fountain; it's hand-carved with precision and care by George Thrana, a local Duluth artisan, in 1913. 🐟🎨 Stroll through the garden, listen to the serene sounds of water, and marvel at a century-old work of art.

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🌳 What material is the fountain made from?

🚤🌅 The BOATHOUSE & PIER once sheltered the Congdon's grand 🛶 yacht, this lakeside haven is a relic of luxury and leisure. 🏰

Not merely a storage space, but a launchpad of endless summer days on the open water. And what’s a boathouse without a bit of social flair? The Congdon's would ascend the stairs to the rooftop, where gatherings under the sky were as limitless as the horizon. 🌊

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🛶 What was the main use of the Boathouse at the Glensheen Mansion?

🏰 Chester Congdon is an astute lawyer who shaped Duluth’s destiny; his story is as captivating as the grounds he once called home. Chester’s journey from lawyer to iron ore magnate began with a pivotal partnership with Pittsburgh businessman Henry Oliver. Chester Congdon was a lawyer who had moved to Duluth when he met Henry Oliver, a Pittsburgh businessman interested in purchasing land from the Merritt brothers' Iron Mine. Chester Congdon was the 🌲 lawyer for Henry Oliver. Chester invested in Henry Oliver's Iron Mining Co., which was bought out by J.P. Morgan and later became U.S. Steel.  🏗️💼

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🌲 What role did Chester Congdon play in the creation of U.S. Steel?

🌻🌾 Explore the splendor of the Vegetable & Flower Gardens, these gardens, once accompanied by four flourishing greenhouses before their 1970s departure, were the heart of the Congdons' self-sufficiency. 🌳 Corn, raspberries, and a bounty of produce thrived under their care, later preserved in the mansion’s vegetable cellar for the harsh winter months. 🥕❄️ The essence of the English garden is its rebellion against the rigid and the rectilinear, embracing winding paths and an informal style that allows nature to express its unbridled beauty. 

English gardens, developed in England, revolting against unnatural shaping of trees, sculpture, rectilinear patterns (Straight lines), focuses on connecting paths, and an informal style of gardening, but there are many varying identifiers of what an English garden is. The focus is a more natural appearance, irregular, letting trees grow into natural shapes, often non-symmetrical layouts.

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🌳 What types of plants and vegetables are grown in the Vegetable & Flower Gardens at the Glensheen Mansion?

✨🕯️ Wander through the Glensheen Mansion and bask in the soft glow of history. Scattered throughout, candle shades stand not only as protectors of flame but as delicate ornaments of a bygone era. 🏰💡 These decorative shades hint at the transition from flickering candlelight to the steady assurance of electric lamps. Although Edison sparked the age of electricity in 1882, it wasn't until 1905 that Glensheen was built, basking in the luxury of electric

power, 🔌 a rarity at the time. 💭 By 1925, with only half of American homes electrified, many still relied on candles to pierce the night's darkness. 

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 🔌 Why was it special that Glensheen Mansion had electric power when it was built in 1905?

🍳💚 The BREAKFAST ROOM nestled on the FIRST FLOOR, is a cozy space in hues of refreshing green and dappled with sunlight. 🌿🌿☀️ This is where the Congdon family used to eat their breakfast, just a few steps from the kitchen. Imagine sitting there, feeling the cool, casual vibe as you look out the window and enjoy a warm drink. 🥐🫖

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🌳 What breakfast would you like to eat in the Breakfast Room at Glensheen Mansion?

🍽️✨ The FORMAL DINING ROOM, on the FIRST FLOOR, isn’t just a room; it's a portal to an era of elegance and sophistication. 🏰

Look for the discreet button beneath the head of the table, once used to silently 🛎️ summon the butler, a fine detail that speaks of a time when dining was an event. 💼 The concept of a formal dining room in the U.S. is a practice dating back to Thomas Jefferson in the late

1700s. As the nation grew, so did the homes of the affluent, incorporating spaces dedicated to dining in style. 🇺🇸🕰️ In the 1800s, most American homes had a universal table serving multiple purposes, often too small to accommodate everyone at once. It was common for meals to be eaten in shifts,

with women and children standing. Fast forward to the 1950s, the dining room

became a symbol of family unity, heavily marketed as essential for a happy home life—a narrative that has shaped the consumer landscape ever since. 🏠❤️

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🛎️ What was the button under the table in the Formal Dining Room used for at Glensheen Mansion?

✨ Descend into the heart of the Glensheen Mansion and find yourself in the Congdons' BILLIARDS ROOM, a space of leisure tucked away in the BASEMENT beside the Amusement Room. 🏰🃏Envision the click of billiard

balls, the soft laughter, and the strategic pause as history's games unfolded in this very room. 🤵A visit to Glensheen is more than a tour; it's an immersion into a life of luxury and recreation, preserved in the spirit of Duluth’s most iconic family.

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🌳 What kind of games do you think were played in the Billiards Room and Amusement Room at Glensheen Mansion?

🌊🏰 Discover the scenic serenity of the Glensheen Mansion, a jewel nestled along the lakeshore of Duluth. 📍✨While the affluent of the early 1900s perched their homes atop the city's bluffs, the Congdons dared to dream differently, breaking tradition to build their estate (1905-1908) by the water’s edge. 🛤️🌳 During the time the Glensheen was built, the wealthy lived in the bluffs of Duluth. Their visionary choice gifted Glensheen with 🌳 breathtaking views of Lake Superior. 

Stroll through history along the serene walking paths that meander by Lake Superior’s Great "Gitche Gumee." Breathe in the rich past as you gaze upon the vast "Huge Water" — a moment captured, a memory made.

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🌳 What special views does Glensheen Mansion have because it's built near the water?