The summer estate of Daniel Chester French (1850-1931), sculptor of Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial, is one of the hidden gems of the Berkshires. After a guided tour of French’s newly rehabilitated studio and nine-bedroom residence, we’ll enjoy a buffet lunch and free time to explore the formal gardens and woodland walks, plus an outdoor sculpture exhibition of works by 15 contemporary artists.
The afternoon will feature a guided tour of the house and gardens at Naumkeag. With its gracious house, magnificently restored gardens, and panoramic views, Naumkeag is a quintessential country estate of the Gilded Age. Joseph Choate, a leading 19th-century attorney, hired the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, & White to design the 44-room “cottage” which would serve as a summer retreat for three generations of Choates. With its views of Monument Mountain, its stunning collection of gardens created by Joseph Choates’s daughter, Miss Mabel Choate, and famed landscape architect Fletcher Steele, its original artwork, and its shingle-style house, Naumkeag creates an unforgettable experience for visitors. Garden highlights include the Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools, flanked by four flights of stairs and a grove of white birches; the Afternoon Garden; Tree Peony Terrace; Rose Garden; Evergreen Garden; and Chinese Garden.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for climbing stairs and walking on uneven ground. There are no elevators at Naumkeag.
Wednesday, August 16, Leave Tower Hill at 8am, return at 6:30pm. Tower Hill Member $150, Non-member $175, including transportation, guided tours and buffet lunch. Register online at www.towerhillbg.org.
