Glensheen Estate, Duluth, MN

The Glensheen Estate in Duluth, Minnesota was home to Chester and Clara Congdon, a notable Duluth family. They built the home between 1905 and 1908. Their family was rather large, with more than four children. In fact they had seven children. Chester and Clara were born to ministers, and they met at Syracuse University in 1875. For six years they waited to get married until finally they were graduated and able to marry. In 1892 they felt a move to Duluth was needed. Chester was an attorney and investor in the Iron Range Land Speculation.

By age 50 Chester had amassed quite a fortune and was beginning to take an interest in politics. This was one of the reasons they could afford to build the mansion called Glensheen. Chester died in 1916 with Clara and his daughter Elisabeth still living in Glensheen. Elisabeth adopted two daughters and lived out her life at Glensheen, dying in 1977. For 69 years Glensheen was a family home.

The cost for the mansion was 854,000. The ceilings were 16 inches thick, which is one of the reasons it was such an expensive place to build. The family wanted it to be fireproof. They also built a water reservoir on the land to help operate a fountain and supply water. The fountain propelled water 75 feet into the air, but it is no longer running. The main house on the property has 39 rooms with 27,000 square feet of living space. The architecture is rectangular with A frame eaves and more than three fireplaces to give it character.

Over 22 acres of land made up the landscape at Glensheen. It was heavily wooded to the shoreline, until the Congdon's began developing the area. They provided gardens that moved around the house, and ended at the woods. Mrs. Congdon wanted to have peace and quiet with very little neighbors, which is why the woods were kept.

Tours are offered at Glensheen Estate throughout the year. They have seasonal and year round tours, as well as events at the red brick mansion. One can also take a self guided tour. Hours are 9:30am to 3:30pm Saturday and Sunday during October to mid May. Tours begin at 10am and the last tour is at 3pm. Weekday tours for schools and others can be made with reservations. During the summer the hours are 9am to 5:30pm daily. The tours begin a half hour after opening and the last tour is always a half hour before closing.

The standard tour is one hour with full guiding through the living and working spaces. One can enjoy the Renaissance Revival and Colonial Revival arts and crafts during the walk. An expanded tour is 1 and a half hours which includes the third floor. There are tour limits thus the reservations should be made to ensure visitors can walk through with a guide. Pricing is $5 for grounds only, $15 for the standard tour and $26 for the expanded tour. Children and seniors will receive discounts.