Glensheen Mansion | Duluth

Glensheen Mansion – In Detail
Duluth, Minnesota

1. Overview

Glensheen Mansion is a historic 39-room mansion on the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota. Constructed between 1905 and 1908, it was commissioned by Chester Adgate Congdon, a wealthy attorney, investor, and politician. The mansion served as the Congdon family residence and is now a meticulously preserved historic house museum operated by the University of Minnesota Duluth.

2. Architectural Significance

Style: Glensheen was designed in the Jacobean Revival style by architect Clarence H. Johnston Sr., known for his work on various University of Minnesota buildings.

Structure: The 27,000-square-foot mansion features a red brick exterior with granite trim, decorative gables, and a commanding presence above Lake Superior.

Layout: The estate originally included over 22 acres of land with the main house, a carriage house, gardener’s cottage, boathouse, pier, and extensive formal gardens.

Craftsmanship: Interior design was carried out by the William A. French Company, using luxurious materials such as mahogany, walnut, oak, silk wall coverings, and hand-crafted ironwork.

3. Interior Features

The mansion’s interior remains remarkably intact, preserved with nearly all original furnishings and décor. Notable features include:

The Reception Room: Lavish and ceremonial, adorned with stained-glass transoms and carved wood.

The Library: Stocked with Chester Congdon’s collection and detailed with dark wood paneling and built-in shelves.

Dining Room: A grand room with a coffered ceiling, oak paneling, and a large dining table used for formal gatherings.

Bedrooms: Each family member’s room was uniquely designed, including Clara Congdon’s room with a view of the lake and personalized decor.

Third Floor & Attic: These levels housed servants' quarters and a schoolroom. The attic contains historical storage and displays related to the family’s daily life.

The mansion was equipped with several modern innovations for the early 1900s:

A central vacuum system

A dumbwaiter

An intercom system connecting various parts of the home

Radiator heat and electricity throughout the house

4. Gardens and Grounds

Landscape architect Charles Wellford Leavitt Jr. designed the estate's expansive gardens and natural integration with the Lake Superior shoreline.

Formal Gardens: Include terraces, a rose garden, and geometric plantings.

Woodland Paths: Wind through the natural terrain alongside Tischer Creek, with picturesque stone bridges.

Orchards and Vegetable Gardens: Originally supplied much of the family’s produce.

Boathouse and Pier: Provided the Congdons with direct access to Lake Superior for recreational boating.

The estate remains a rare example of a Gilded Age home that still reflects its original design from house to gardens.

5. The Congdon Family

Chester Congdon was an attorney who became wealthy through iron ore investments on the Iron Range and served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

The Congdons raised seven children at Glensheen.

Chester died in 1916; Clara lived at the mansion until her death in 1950.

The mansion was eventually inherited by their daughter Elisabeth Congdon, a philanthropist and advocate for the disabled.

6. The 1977 Tragedy

A notorious chapter in Glensheen’s history unfolded on June 27, 1977, when Elisabeth Congdon and her night nurse Velma Pietila were found murdered in the mansion.

Elisabeth was smothered in her bed; Velma was bludgeoned on the stairway.

Roger Caldwell, the husband of Elisabeth's adopted daughter Marjorie, was convicted of the murders. He later confessed but died by suicide in 1988.

Marjorie was charged but acquitted, though later imprisoned for arson and fraud in unrelated cases.

For many years, the mansion’s tours avoided mentioning the murders, but the full story is now acknowledged as part of the estate’s legacy.

7. Transition to Museum

In 1968, the Congdon family bequeathed Glensheen to the University of Minnesota Duluth, under the condition that the home remain intact and open to the public.

It was opened as a museum in 1979 and has since become Minnesota’s most visited historic home.

8. Visitor Experience

Glensheen is open to the public year-round with a variety of tours:

Classic Tour: Self-guided, includes the basement, first, and second floors.

Full Mansion Tour: Adds the third floor and attic, with behind-the-scenes access.

Grounds Access: All tickets include full access to the lakeside estate and gardens.

Specialty Tours: Offered seasonally, such as candlelight tours, flashlight tours, and Christmas tours featuring historic decorations.

Interpretive signage and optional audio guides enhance the experience with detailed stories about the Congdon family and the architecture.

9. Preservation and Educational Role

Glensheen is not only a house museum but also a learning environment:

It hosts public programs, historic preservation workshops, and educational field trips.

The University of Minnesota Duluth continues to preserve the home’s integrity while allowing thoughtful modernization for sustainability and accessibility.

10. Importance

Glensheen is an architectural and cultural gem that encapsulates the aspirations, wealth, and complexity of America’s early 20th-century elite. With its untouched interiors, scenic grounds, and layered human stories-from philanthropy to tragedy-it offers a vivid and immersive journey into Minnesota’s Gilded Age.

Its place in Duluth's heritage is unparalleled, not only as a tourist draw but also as a living record of a family’s rise, legacy, and enduring presence on the shores of Lake Superior.