Victoria Mansion, a historic house museum in Portland, Maine, is a rare, intact example of a pre-Civil War Italianate villa.  Surviving with over 90 percent of its original furnishings and decorative art more than 165 years after its construction, it houses the last complete commissions by interior decorator Gustave Herter and decorative painter Giuseppe Guidicini. 

Join Victoria Mansion Executive Director Tim Brosnihan for a tour of the house’s remarkable art and architecture and an overview of the museum’s efforts to conserve and restore the property over the last half century.

"Avant-Garde in the Alley" pulls back the curtain on the creative art and theater scene of the bohemian enclave of Towertown. The Near North Side neighborhood served as a laboratory for performance art, modernist sensibilities, and counterculture during the 1920s. Presented by Zac Bleicher, Executive Director of Edgar Miller Legacy, this talk will explore how Chicago’s Interwar art scene became a melting pot of interdisciplinary creativity, where radical thought was openly championed– and challenged– on soapboxes in park squares, in local homes and salons, and in back-alley theatres.

The city's performing arts spaces allowed creative professionals to experiment with small-scale, avant-garde aesthetics that would define a uniquely American modernism. Approached through the perspective of renowned Chicago artist Edgar Miller and the avant-garde performances presented in spaces like the Dil Pickle Club, this talk will highlight how Chicago artists of the Twenties brought new ideas to life, first on the stage and then out into a modernizing urban environment.

Learn how Edgar Miller’s art, the work of other artists, non-traditional staging and set designs, and avant-garde literature merged to establish Chicago as a central site for American modernism. Several original pieces of Miller’s art will be on display.

This talk is being presented in conjunction with a staged reading of “Dear Rhoda” at Glessner House on Monday, November 16, performed by The Shakespeare Project of Chicago, which takes place in the Towertown scene of the Roaring Twenties.

A timeless love story for today!

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago comes to Glessner House for one night only, to present a theatrical reading, with music, of the play Dear Rhoda, by David Ranney and Donna Russell, adapted by Peter Garino.

In the vibrant chaos of 1920s Chicago, Jerry and Rhoda find each other at the Dil Pickle Club—a bohemian haven for artists, radicals, and free thinkers. Drawn together by shared ideals and an undeniable connection, their love ignites. But as a devastating disease spreads, prejudice tightens its grip, and society teeters on the edge of change, will their bond endure? Inspired by the real-life letters of Chicago bookseller Jerry Nedwick and featuring iconic figures like Carl Sandburg, Clarence Darrow, and Fanny Brice, this captivating tale comes to life.

SOLD OUT! Uncover the groundbreaking design of Glessner House on our exclusive tours! Step back in time to 1887 and witness a piece of architectural history that sparked controversy and paved the way for modern residential design. As you explore this magnificent building from basement to attic, you'll gain an in-depth understanding of the work of H. H. Richardson and the lasting impact he had on architects such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. This is a rare opportunity to delve into the history and intricacies of this masterpiece, with access to areas not seen on public tours and a chance to view Richardson's original sketch. Don't miss this unforgettable two-hour journey into the heart of architectural innovation!

SOLD OUT! Step into a world where 60 percent of a family’s home was dedicated to areas for paid servants to live and work. Immerse yourself in the captivating story of this 17,400 square foot mansion, designed by the celebrated architect Henry Hobson Richardson in 1885. Commissioned to house the Glessner family and their live-in staff of eight, this architectural gem offers a rare glimpse into the life of servants in the late 19th century.

Join us on a journey through time as we delve into the extraordinary records maintained by Frances Glessner. Her personal journal and a separate book, where she documented each servant as they came and went, provide an unparalleled insight into the lives of these unsung heroes.

SOLD OUT! Create a holiday masterpiece at Glessner House’s tenth annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party! Create your own mini-gingerbread house to take home. All supplies are included. We will have lots of helpers, so no previous decorating experience is necessary! This event is recommended for ages 3-13 – children must be accompanied by an adult. Two seatings at 10:00am and 1:00pm.

The tree is decorated and the stockings are hung, so Frances Glessner is planning a very special Christmas luncheon with the assistance of her favorite cook, Mattie Williamson, and you are invited.

Join us in the dining room and parlor for a variety of tasty holiday treats, inspired by actual menus prepared by Frances Glessner for her guests. The menu will include soup, a variety of sandwiches, and tempting desserts, accompanied by spiced cider and mulled wine.

During the meal our curator, William Tyre, will share stories about memorable Christmas celebrations by the Glessners through the years.

All tours for December 12 are sold out, please check alternate dates.

Experience the charm of a traditional Christmas at Glessner House this holiday season!

These special one hour docent-led tours will highlight Christmas customs as observed by the Glessner family. The house will feature elaborate decorations of the late 19th-century including a live 10-foot tree decorated with period ornaments, toys and holiday crafts, Christmas music performed on the Glessners’ Steinway piano, and the dining table set for an eight-course Christmas feast. After the tour, enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.

Experience the charm of a traditional Christmas at Glessner House this holiday season!

These special one hour docent-led tours will highlight Christmas customs as observed by the Glessner family. The house will feature elaborate decorations of the late 19th-century including a live 10-foot tree decorated with period ornaments, toys and holiday crafts, Christmas music performed on the Glessners’ Steinway piano, and the dining table set for an eight-course Christmas feast. After the tour, enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.

Experience the charm of a traditional Christmas at Glessner House this holiday season!

These special one hour docent-led tours will highlight Christmas customs as observed by the Glessner family. The house will feature elaborate decorations of the late 19th-century including a live 10-foot tree decorated with period ornaments, toys and holiday crafts, Christmas music performed on the Glessners’ Steinway piano, and the dining table set for an eight-course Christmas feast. After the tour, enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.

Experience the charm of a traditional Christmas at Glessner House this holiday season!

These special one hour docent-led tours will highlight Christmas customs as observed by the Glessner family. The house will feature elaborate decorations of the late 19th-century including a live 10-foot tree decorated with period ornaments, toys and holiday crafts, Christmas music performed on the Glessners’ Steinway piano, and the dining table set for an eight-course Christmas feast. After the tour, enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.