Brucemore, Iowa, United States

4traveltheworld012 5:00 PM Mar 16, 2020

There is a big story behind this beautiful place.
We stayed at a B&B in Cedar Rapids (Belmont Hill) and the owners recommended that we pay a visit to Brucemore. We did, it was a very nice and bright sunny day in March, 2020 just right for walking the grounds and taking it all in. The original stables has been converted to the historical society offices upstairs. Downstairs is the ticket office, a gift shop area and a very informative small museum. The big story of Brucemore, is unusual for a mansion of this caliber. The museum tells the story of three families: the Sinclairs who built it, the Douglases who transformed it, and the Halls who gave it to the community. The extreme wealth of these families allowed them freedom to pursue their cultural and philanthropic interests. Each of these families created a home at Brucemore which reflected their passions. At Brucemore you can hear (and read about) the story of these families and their daily lives. From their home we can picture their comings and goings, hobbies, pets, individual tastes, and styles. The Sinclairs began as an immigrant family who started a meat packing business and made a fortune. Unfortunately, Mr. Sinclair died early. Mrs. Sinclair raised their six children alone (with servants to help) and eventually swapped homes with the Douglas family. The Douglas family really expanded the acreage and increased the size of the mansion. Lastly, owned by the Hall family. Mr. Hall was a big party guy and hobnobbed with celebrities and movie stars. Many of their photos can be seen at the museum. The Halls had a lot of animals here, including a few lions. Eventually, the estate was donated to a trust where is can be toured today. The group of servants individual homes are still there as well on the property. A very worthwhile visit. Cost of the guided mansion tour is $9/adult.

5Greg 5:00 PM Jan 6, 2020

Fascinating history embodied in this Cedar Rapids Gem!
This place is a must-see if you are in Cedar Rapids.Tucked away on a gorgeous piece of property just minutes from downtown is a complex of interesting buildings that have been constructed over a period of decades by a number of prominent civic figures. It is free to walk the spacious grounds which has a pool, a pond, an expansive front lawn and agricultural & botanical structures. A modest fee is charged for a wonderful guided tour through most rooms in the mansion. But first one can get oriented to the estate by visiting the ticket office/musum/gift store where the story of Brucemore is told through photos and short movies. I would highly recommend a visit.