Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a Registered National Historic Landmark and was built for Mr. LeGrand Lockwood and his family in 1864 and completed in 1868 and was designed as a "summer cottage." Interesting to note is that Mr. Lockwood was one of the first one hundred millionaires in the United States and owned a brokerage firm, Lockwood & Co. established in 1857, and he also owned a steamship company. It cost nearly $2 million to build the mansion. It was designed in the French Loire Valley Chateau style made of limestone with Victorian elements including turrets and wrought iron trim, with state-of-the-art technology for that time including having five flush toilets and hot and cold running water. The 63-room, 44,000 square foot house has many Greek symbols throughout, gorgeous intricately carved woodwork, and rare inlaid wood doors. Mr. Lockwood was an art lover and there are beautiful paintings and marble sculptures in the house. The Mathews family purchased the home from Mrs. Lockwood after the death of her husband. 

We visited the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum (LMM) on Saturday, December 11, 2021, when the house was stunningly decorated for the holidays and took a tour with docent Janis Jackson who provided visitors with the interesting history of the historic house along with introducing us to holiday traditions. 

Vestibule

We have visited the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum many times throughout the years at various times of the year, and we always love sharing the experience of this magnificent mansion with our guests. Whenever we visit, we always learn something new about the mansion, and during this visit, we learned that the Stephen King film "Mr. Harrigan's Phone" staring Donald Sutherland (to be released on Netflix in 2022) was filmed at the LMM in November 2021, and learned that the television soap opera, Dark Shadows, was also filmed there many years ago. 

The mansion was beautifully decorated for the holidays with its stunning exterior dressed with pine garlands and bright red bows gracing the wrought iron fence, a pine tree topped with a bright red bow, with fresh pine wreaths, and urns filled with boughs of pine in the porte-cochère. As we entered the front door, there was an array of smaller trees to greet us in the vestibule, as well as a white sleigh laden with brightly wrapped packages and smaller trees decorated with fairy lights. 

As the tour progressed from room to room, Janis explained about the holiday décor for five decades beginning with the 1850s. One of the many interesting facts we learned during the tour was that "decorating trees for the Christmas Holy Season was a German custom brought by new settlers to America in the mid-1850's." With each subsequent decade, the trees at the mansion became larger and more opulently dressed, and by the 1890s, colored Christmas lights were the fashion for those that could afford them. 

Christmas 1860s

Interesting to note is that by the 1870's, bright red poinsettia plants became prominent for home holiday decor, followed by white poinsettia plants, and in 1874, the first Christmas cards were introduced in the United States. 

The tour explored two floors and while all the rooms in the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion are truly exquisite with exceptional craftsmanship and artistry, the library is one of our favorites as it is gorgeously resplendent with its wallpaper embossed to resemble Moroccan leather and cost $45,000 when it was built. The coffered ceiling is an architectural dream with its hand-carved black walnut wood and colorful paint of blue, rose and gold, and its stunning chandelier. Hand-carved furniture from the prestigious Herter Brothers, along with an intricately carved ornate fireplace, and a book vault complete the magnificent room.

Library

An inviting light-filled conservatory flanks the library and is visually appealing as a welcome respite with its white wrought iron bench, high back rattan chair, and plethora of flowers placed along the Minton tile floor imported from England.  

Conservatory

Another highlight of the mansion is the rotunda with its impressive cove ceiling and magnificent 42-foot skylight that could be opened for natural light and ventilation, an etched art glass double-sided fireplace, stunning paintings, and an intricately carved stairway that cost $50,000 to build. 

Rotunda

Although the mansion was wonderful to visit at the holidays when it was dressed to impress, they have many interesting events and programs throughout the year, so be sure to check their website and calendar for upcoming programs. In addition to the program, "Holiday Enchantment at the Mansion" they also have another exhibit, "Envisioning Space: Architecture Through the Ages," which runs until January 2, 2022. 

Holiday Table

Whether you enjoy touring period home museums, love architecture or interior design, or are fascinated by history, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is sure to please. Wishing you a happy holiday season! 

Holiday Tour - 60-Minute Guided Tour Admission: Adult: $15, Senior (62+): $10, Student (8-18): $8, Veteran & Active-Duty Military: $7.50, Child (7 and under): Free. Tours are given Wednesday through Sunday at 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.

Take a stroll at the
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit their website: www.LockwoodMathewsMansion.com

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum
295 West Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06850
United States
Telephone:   +1 203-838-9799
Website: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LockwoodMathewsMansionMuseum/
Twitter: @LockwoodMathews
Instagram: @LockwoodMathewsMansionMuseum 

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