Brucemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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T. M. Sinclair Mansion
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Front entrance of Brucemore; originally the back of the house
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2160 Linden Dr., SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
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| Built | 1884-1886 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000780 a |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
Brucemore is an amazing historic estate located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It's like a huge park, covering about 26 acres. On this land, you'll find a beautiful mansion built in the Queen Anne style. There are also lovely gardens, including a special children's garden, a pond, an orchard, and a forest area.
The mansion was built between 1884 and 1886 by Caroline Sinclair. She was the wife of a very successful businessman, T.M. Sinclair. Brucemore has been home to three important families over the years. They all used the estate as a place for art and culture. The name "Brucemore" reminds us of the Scottish moors, which were part of the second owner's family history.
Today, Brucemore is a special place. It is Iowa's only National Trust Historic Site. This means it is protected and cared for so everyone can enjoy it. The mansion is also known as the T.M. Sinclair Mansion. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house itself is huge, with three floors and 21 rooms! It has a unique roof with steep gables, five chimneys, and several cool turrets.
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History of Brucemore's Families
Brucemore tells the story of three wealthy families. These families were leaders in business and helped their community. They were also very generous. Thomas Sinclair made his money in meatpacking. George Bruce Douglas was in starch processing. Howard Hall was a successful manufacturer.
But the women of Brucemore are truly at the heart of its story. Caroline Sinclair built the amazing mansion. Irene Douglas turned it into a grand country estate. And Margaret Hall made sure it would be preserved for the future.
The Sinclair Family (1886–1906)
In 1871, Thomas McElderry and Caroline Soutter Sinclair moved to Cedar Rapids. They came all the way from New York City. Thomas started a meatpacking company called T.M. Sinclair & Co. This business grew to be the biggest in the city.
Sadly, Thomas passed away in 1881. Caroline was left to raise their six children, the youngest being only six months old. In 1884, Caroline bought land outside the city limits. She began building her dream home, a Queen Anne-style mansion. She named it "Fairhome."
An architect from Indianapolis, Maximillian Allardt, designed the house. He had to leave the project when his daughter became ill. Other architects, Henry Josselyn and Eugene Taylor, finished the work. The original plans were grand. They included a large main hall, eight bathrooms, nine bedrooms, and 14 fireplaces. There was also a beautiful grand staircase. Caroline added a special glass room called a conservatory to the south side of the house.
The home was finished in 1886. It cost $55,000, which was a huge amount of money back then! Local newspapers called it "the grandest house west of Chicago." In 1906, after all her children had grown up, Caroline traded homes with George Bruce Douglas. She moved to a smaller house in the city.
The Douglas Family (1906–1937)
George Bruce Douglas was a partner in his father's business, the Quaker Oats Company. George moved into the mansion with his wife, Irene, and their daughters, Margaret and Ellen. They renamed the estate "Brucemore."
George made the property even bigger, expanding it to 33 acres. He also added several new buildings. These included a guesthouse, a greenhouse, a carriage house, a squash court, and servants' quarters. He also changed the main entrance to the south side of the house. Inside, the great hall was updated with exposed ceiling beams and special butternut wood paneling. These changes cost over $30,000. They were designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw, a famous architect from Chicago.
In the 1920s, a large painting was added. It showed scenes from Richard Wagner's opera, "The Ring of the Nibelung." A huge 714-pipe organ was installed on the third floor. In 1925, the famous artist Grant Wood designed a special sleeping porch for the house. A swimming pool was added in 1927.
George passed away in 1923. Fourteen years later, Irene also passed away. She left the home to their oldest daughter, Margaret.
The Hall Family (1937–1981)
Margaret Douglas married Howard Hall in 1924. They lived in the Garden House on the Brucemore grounds. This was until Margaret's mother passed away. While living there, they sold off some of the land. This reduced the estate to its current size of 26 acres.
The Halls also made some changes to the mansion. They enclosed the western porch. They added large picture windows to the master bedroom, the library, and the dining room. They also added two very unique recreation rooms in the basement. One was called "The Tahitian Room." It was designed to look like a tropical island. It even had a switch that could make artificial rain! The other room was the "Grizzly Bar." This room was decorated like a Wild West or Alaskan saloon.
The Halls loved animals and had many pets. These included two German shepherds, a monkey, and several birds. But their most famous pets were three lions, all named Leo! One of these lions was related to Jackie, the lion that roars at the beginning of MGM movies. One of the lions and 20 dogs are buried in a special pet cemetery near the gardens.
All the families who lived at Brucemore used their wealth to help the community. When Margaret passed away in 1981, she gave Brucemore to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This made sure the estate would be protected forever.
Brucemore Today: A Community Cultural Center
Today, Brucemore is a lively center for culture, charity, and learning. About 40,000 people visit each year! They come for many different events. These include festivals, concerts, tours, garden programs, and activities for children and families. You can also enjoy outdoor theater and much more.
