Greater Minnesota - Duluth
*This archived article was originally published in Spring 2005.
Glensheen
BY EVE DANIELS
A century ago, Chester and Clara Congdon first laid eyes on the 7.7-acre landscape that would soon become the backdrop of “Duluth’s American Castle.” Completed in 1908, at a cost of just under $1 million, the historic Glensheen resembles an early 17th-century English country estate.
Located along the shores of Lake Superior, the estate’s rolling terrain, gentle streams and grand gardens surround a 39-room Jacobean-style mansion. The land also features a carriage house, fountain, and gardener’s cottage, boathouse, bowling green and clay tennis court.
In 1968, the Congdon’s heirs gave Glensheen to the University of Minnesota for use of “public pursuits which might not otherwise be available because of growing pressure to budget demands upon public and educational institutions.” The estate opened for public tours in 1979 and has since served as a favorite attraction to more than 2 million visitors.
With indoor and outdoor space accommodating 28 to 200-plus people, the estate also provides a breathtaking backdrop to many special events, both casual and formal, from business meetings to fund-raisers to weddings. Whether your guests sip tea in the green-tiled breakfast room, wine in the Georgian-style dining room or fruit punch on the front lawn, an event at Glensheen is sure to be one hit of the century.
A significant part of Duluth’s history has been preserved at Glensheen. “To this day, the property closely resembles the way it looked when the Congdon family first moved in,” said Marketing Director Lori Melton. “The majority of the furnishings are original to the time the estate was first occupied.”
On May 7, Glensheen opens its doors to the community for a Centennial Celebration, complete with refreshments and a silent auction. The free event might be the perfect time to preview the site for your next meeting.
