Greater Minnesota - Hastings
*This archived article was originally published in Summer 2005.
LeDuc Historic Estate
From architectural gem to national treasure, this old mansion is open for new business.
BY KELLY FITZGERALD
An expert chef would never prepare forgettable food, and a devoted bride would never plan a mundane wedding, so why would you risk the success of your event by choosing an ordinary meeting space? The LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings has been on the National Register of Historic Places for 35 years, but has been closed for the past 20. Its doors are now open, and—with upgraded utilities and structural repairs restoring the home to its original glory—it’s a prime place to consider for your next business or pleasure retreat.
Built soon after Minnesota achieved its statehood in 1858, the estate is most notable because its original occupants, William and Mary LeDuc, built it from the designs of distinguished architectural writer and landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing. In fact, it’s one of the most intact, unaltered examples of Downing’s work, who is best known for his design of New York’s Central Park. The 4.5-acre grounds and each of the 15 rooms of the limestone mansion are all part of LeDuc’s public historical tour, enticing visitors (and perhaps a creative planner or two) to take an imaginative step back in time.
The Past is Present
The first stop on the tour, the library, features a multimedia presentation introducing visitors to the LeDuc family. William LeDuc was an attorney, entrepreneur and distinguished Civil War officer who served as U.S. Commissioner of Agriculture under President Rutherford B. Hayes. He lived in the home for many years with his wife, Mary, and their four children: Willie, Minnie, Florence and Alice. The presentation also reveals a planner’s first opportunity to fully utilize LeDuc’s space; the library’s on-site capabilities are available for a similar setup for your own presentations and displays.
The next stop is the parlor. On a typical day, this four-room space showcases educational exhibits, such as a timeline of the LeDuc family and the historic river town of Hastings. For an event, these exhibits can be removed and the space may be used as needed. Site Director Joan Mathison says that this was a key objective in the mansion’s renovations. They wanted a historically designed, creative space that could be used for many purposes. If an event calls for one large space for a reception, group speaker or anything similar, the adjoining walls of the parlor can be taken down, turning the four smaller exhibit rooms into one big room.
In its entirety, this space can be filled with 75 to 125 people for a standing reception, or around 60 people with table seating. Tall windows line the room and reveal the picturesque, sprawling land outside, and even more guests can trickle onto the outdoor porches, where additional seating is available.
“The large windows, including two large bays and two porches, brought the beauty and inspiration of nature into the lives of the LeDuc family year round,” says Mathison. “And with the restoration, we are able to enjoy that same sense of the place today.”
The dining room is the tour’s next stop and a perfect location for an intimate dinner or small meeting. While the estate does not staff a permanent caterer, the kitchen is available for serving food prepared off-site. In the dining room, tourists learn about the house’s Gothic revival style, and the national significance of Downing’s design.
Downing worked to create architecture in harmony with nature, so the architectural value of the LeDuc Historic Estate stretches much further than the building itself. This can be experienced when continuing the tour to the carriage barn, apple orchard, ice house and the rest of the grounds. “Andrew Jackson Downing is called the Father of American Landscape Architecture because he effectively blended the wild, picturesque landscape of the American frontier with a revival of the Gothic style from the Middle Ages,” says Mathison.
The Great Outdoors
While visiting the pre-Civil War barn to learn about transportation and George Daniels, a freed Georgia slave who became manager of LeDuc’s farms, you’ll notice the potential for an outdoor event. With so much land, there’s more than enough space for a large tent and many tables. The space is perfect for overflow seating or an event all of its own, and the scenic surroundings provide a striking, yet quaint and comfortable setting that make the Twin Cities feel years away rather than minutes.
Still, LeDuc and the town of Hastings offer city amenities in addition to natural beauty, historic buildings and outdoor recreation. With Hastings set at the confluence of three rivers (the Mississippi, St. Croix and Vermillion), LeDuc is near many scenic parks and trails, as well as golf courses and beaches. There also are a number of hotel and bed and breakfast options available, to turn your project launch or awards reception into a weekend retreat.
With the restorations now complete, the city of Hastings has acquired the deed to LeDuc, but Mathison is the one to contact for guided tours and for more information about event-hosting opportunities. Still feel the urge to step back in time yourself? LeDuc is open for public tours Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursdays until 8 p.m. While the regular tour season ends in October, year-round reservations are available for special events. Mathison currently is scheduling weddings, receptions and anniversary celebrations at the mansion. Slow Food Twin Cities also is planning a major event at the estate this fall.
