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Ventfort Hall – The Museum of the Gilded Age

on October 1, 2010 – 3:46 am

Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. Designed by the architects Rotch & Tilden, it is located in Lenox, Massachusetts. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and declared an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Millennium program of Hillary Rodham Clinton and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Ventfort Hall is the home of  The Museum of the Gilded Age.

Dining Room at Ventfort Hall

Ventfort Hall was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the 19th century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. Located on spacious grounds in the heart of the village, we are continuing its restoration, with the first floor completely open to the public along with many of the rooms on the second floor.

 Ventfort Hall South Veranda in Period Photograph.

 Ventfort Hall South Veranda with Awnings  after Restoration.

Through lectures, exhibits, theatrical performances and other events, The Museum of the Gilded Age interprets the great changes that occurred in American life, industry, and society during the Nineteenth Century, a fascinating period of American history.

 Ventfort Hall in Period Photograph.

An extraordinary exhibit currently on view at Ventfort Hall is Les Petites Dames de Mode, featuring 59 stunningly beautiful miniature “fashion models” that portray the history of women’s fashion from 1855 to 1914. The 1893 mansion provides the perfect backdrop for the almost half-life size “Ladies” in their hand-made costumes. This Exhibition is available during all normal hours and is included with the price of admission.

For more information visit www.gildedage.org.
104 Walker Street • Lenox, Massachusetts 01240
General Info call 413-637-3206

[Images: © 2010 Ventfort Hall Association, Inc. All rights reserved]

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