Photo from Glensheen.org
CLIENT
Glensheen Mansion (A University of Minnesota Property)
LOCATION
Duluth, MN
PROJECT SCOPE
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Client Collaboration
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Audience Analysis
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Interpretive Planning
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Infrastructure Improvement Guidance
PROJECT PARTNERS
About the Project
Glensheen is a 39-room mansion built on a 12-acre estate located on the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, MN. Built by Chester and Clara Congdon from 1905 to 1909, the estate includes a carriage house, gardener’s cottage, boathouse, pier, and gardens. Owned by the University of Minnesota Duluth, the estate opened to the public on July 28, 1979. In that time, over 4 million guests have come to Glensheen for a tour or event.
Their vision is “to be the best historic house museum in the upper Midwest by engaging our community through our dedication to education, inspiration, preservation and innovation.”
OES developed an Interpretive Plan which showcased the strengths of the site, while highlighting ways in which the visitor experience could be improved. The Interpretive Plan provided a framework for implementation, and avenues to increase engagement, cohesion of interpretation, and fiscal opportunities for further consideration.