Join Brucemore staff for a special “Hired Help Tour” on September 21 and 28 at 5:30 p.m. Consider what it was like to live and work on one of Iowa's grandest estates while exploring the servants' living quarters and the Servants' Village. Documents, photographs, and other materials from Brucemore's collections enrich visitors understanding of the relationships between the employers and “the hired help.” Tickets are $10 per Brucemore member and $15 per person in advance.

Brucemore announces the re-opening of the 21-room mansion for guided tours on March 1, 2017 following an annual two-month hiatus to allow deep cleaning and interior preservation.

Brucemore’s story reflects the history of Cedar Rapids and eastern Iowa unlike any other setting. The 26-acre, park-like estate invites exploration of the site’s history, gardens, grounds, and 21-room mansion. Completed in 1886, the Queen ...

Brucemore announces the re-opening of the 21-room mansion for guided tours on March 2, 2016 following a two-month hiatus for deep cleaning and interior preservation. Guided tours offer the opportunity to explore over a century of eastern Iowa hi...

Celebrate the season by enjoying Brucemore's Holiday Mansion Tours, November 27 through December 31. Visitors will relish the seasonal splendor of 13 glowing trees, a dining room set for Christmas dinner, stunning mantel arrangements, the lush garland adornment of the grand staircase, and other seasonal cheer throughout the mansion. Sunday tours feature live music from the original 1929 Skinner pipe organ. The holidays at Brucemore are sponsored by Pearson.

 

Daytime tours will be offered, Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and, Sundays, noon to 3:00 p.m. Tours begin on the hour except on Saturdays and Sundays when they begin on the half hour. The last tour begins at 3:00 p.m. Admission for daytime tours is free to Brucemore members, $7 per adult, and $3 per child. Tickets are available for purchase the day of the tour in the Brucemore Visitor Center. Space is limited per tour; please show up early to purchase tickets. Groups of 15 or more are required to make a reservation at least two weeks in advance. Evening tours will be offered as part of the Thursday Night Lineup; visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375 for more information. Brucemore will be closed on Mondays as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Classics at Brucemore with an outdoor performance of Our Town?July 9 - 11 and 16 - 18 at 8:00 p.m. Watch as Thornton Wilder's beloved American classic comes to life as Brucemore's scenic outdoor amphitheater becomes the backdrop of Grover's Corners. Audiences are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnics, and beverages to the show; the gates will open at 7:00 p.m.  Advance tickets are $15 for Brucemore Members and students and $20 for adults.  All tickets at the gate are $25.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.brucemore.org, by calling (319) 362-7375, or by visiting the Brucemore Store located in the Visitor Center.

One of the most iconic pieces of American theater, Our Town tells the story of two families living in the small town of Grover's Corner as they navigate the joys and difficulties of everyday life. With its universal themes of love, marriage, and death, Our Town has been translated into dozens of languages and is one of the most frequently performed plays in the world. The characters' experiences will resonate with audiences of diverse backgrounds. The show will feature original music commissioned from Cedar Rapids native Luke Gullickson, who will play along with the Grant Wallace Band in the show.

Audiences attend the Classics once and realize that what is in their picnic basket is nearly as important as what is onstage. From carryout pizza or deli-sandwiches to elaborate spreads of antipasto plates and roasted chicken, dining is taken to a new level with Brucemore's version of dinner and a show. Packing for a Classics picnic just became easier. Brucemore is partnering with The Early Bird to offer patrons the opportunity to have their picnic waiting for them at the show. Select one of three dining options, call Brucemore (319) 362-7375 to place an order, pick it up in the Visitor Center the night of the event, and enjoy the Classics experience. Picnics must be purchased at least 24 hours before the show date by calling (319) 362-7375. A "Classics Package" is also available, including a wine tote, two picnics, and a bottle of wine. A complete list of the picnic options can be found at www.brucemore.org.

Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and media sponsored by The Gazette and KCRG-TV9, Our Town features a cast of the area's finest actors. Nineteen return to the Classics stage, including Jason Alberty, David Bolt, Ben Charles, Leslie Charipar, Taylor Foster, Harrison Ginsberg, Lincoln Ginsberg, Megan Ginsberg, Steve Ginsberg, Larry Hansen, Scott Humeston, Jim Kern, Jessica Link, David Morton, Marty Norton, Rip Russell, Susan Streit, Cherryl Moon Thomason, and Rick Titus. Making their Classics debut are Alisa Gerhold and Anna Neumann, as well as members of the Grant Wallace Band?Chris Fischer-Lockhead, Luke Gullickson, and Ben Hjertmann. For additional information, please visit the Brucemore website, www.brucemore.org.

The Classics at Brucemore began as collaboration between Torchlight Theatrics and Brucemore in 1996, thus launching outdoor theater in Eastern Iowa. The Classics celebrates a rich history of quality live theater, from Greek tragedy to Shakespearean comedy and twentieth century American drama. Much more than a play performed outdoors, the Classics fully utilizes the natural amphitheater, incorporating the estate itself into the action; actors emerge from the woods, get dunked in the pond, and help themselves to the audience's picnics.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

Celebrate Preservation Month at Brucemore with free guided tours of the 21 room mansion on Saturday, May 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 3 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Follow a guide on a tour of the 21-room mansion and investigate the art, furnishings, technology, architecture, surrounding landscape, and stories preserved at Brucemore. Tours will begin approximately every 15 minutes with the last tour beginning at 3:00 p.m.  Free tour weekend is sponsored by Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust Company.

Three families owned the Brucemore estate between 1884 and 1981?the Sinclairs, the Douglases, and the Halls. They were business and community leaders during a century of evolution in the Midwest. Caroline Sinclair, widow of pioneer industrialist, T.M. Sinclair and mother of six, hired architects Josselyn and Taylor to build the mansion for $55,000 in 1884. In 1906, George Bruce Douglas, of the Quaker Oats and Douglas and Company fortunes, acquired the home with his wife Irene, transforming the property into a country estate they named Brucemore. In 1937, their daughter, Margaret, inherited Brucemore with her husband, Howard Hall, founder of Iowa Manufacturing and Iowa Steel and Ironworks. The Halls added flair to the estate with famous guests, including Presidents Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman and their exotic pet lion. The Queen Anne architecture, 1925 Grant Wood Porch, 1929 Skinner pipe organ, and 1930s Grizzly Bar and Tahitian Room reflect the vibrant history of remarkable people.  The changes they made to their estate, the impact they had on their community, and the stories they left behind shape our understanding of modern Cedar Rapids, eastern Iowa, and the American Midwest.

The National Trust created Preservation Month in 1971 to spotlight grassroots preservation efforts around the country, and has since grown into an annual celebration for local communities to honor their past and help build their future. Brucemore will offer other Preservation Month activities in May, including:

  • A Time of Service: Brucemore the World Wars exhibit - Daily (Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
  • Hired Help Tour - May 7, 5:30 p.m.
  • Brucemore Summer Plant Sale - May 9, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Nooks and Crannies Tour - May 21, 5:30 p.m.
  • Brucemore in Bloom Tour - May 28, 5:30 p.m.

For more information about Preservation Month activities during May and throughout the year, visit Brucemore's website at www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375. Visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation website at www.preservationnation.org for more information about Preservation Month.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

 

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Brucemore announces the reopening of the 21-room mansion for guided tours on March 3, 2015. Explore over a century of Cedar Rapids history through the lives of the three families who called Brucemore home?the Sinclairs, the Douglases, and the Halls. They were business and community leaders during a century of evolution in the Midwest. An investigation of the mansion's Queen Anne architecture, 1925 Grant Wood Porch, 1929 Skinner pipe organ, and 1930s Grizzly Bar and Tahitian Room reflect the history of remarkable people. The changes they made to their estate, the impact they had on their community, and the stories they left behind shape our understanding of modern Cedar Rapids, eastern Iowa, and the American Midwest.

Mansion tours are offered March through December, Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3:00 p.m. Tours begin on the hour and last approximately 50 minutes. Admission is free to Brucemore members, $7.00 for adults, and $3.00 for youth between the ages of 6 and 18. Purchase tickets fifteen minutes before the top of the hour in the Brucemore Store located in the Visitor Center. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to schedule a private tour a minimum of two weeks in advance. Visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375 for more information or to schedule a group tour.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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SPT Theatre featuring special guests Angela Billman and Aaron Murphy

SPT Theatre will return to Brucemore for the twelfth year of A Modern Salon?January 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31 at 7:30 p.m. The event emulates the Parisian salons at the turn of the twentieth century and continues the tradition of entertaining that was common for the families who called Brucemore home. Special guests Angela Billman and Aaron Murphy will join SPT in entertaining audiences with hilarious stories, engaging conversation, and outstanding music inspired by the 2015 theme, travel. Admission is $40 per Brucemore member or $45 per person in advance.  Admission includes pre-show wine tasting from First Avenue Wine House and appetizers from the Wright Touch Bake Shoppe and Catering beginning at 7:00 p.m. Champagne and desserts will be served during intermission. Evening dress is encouraged and valet parking is available (tips welcome). Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org, by telephone at (319) 362-7375, or by visiting the Brucemore Store.

SPT Theatre (Small Professional Theatre) has entertained audiences with music, song, humor and wit since its establishment in 2006. SPT's mission is to support, provide for and expand the artistic opportunities available to performers and arts patrons in the Cultural Corridor. SPT strives to coordinate performances with existing organizations and create new opportunities for actors, musicians, writers and artists. For more information about SPT Theatre, call (319) 361-5297 or visit www.spttheatre.org.  

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Celebrate holidays past by participating in Brucemore's annual tradition, Holiday Mansion Tours, November 28 through December 31. Visitors will enjoy the seasonal splendor of 13 glowing trees, a dining room set for Christmas dinner, stunning mantel arrangements, the lush garland adornment of the grand staircase, and other seasonal cheer throughout the Mansion. Sunday tours will feature live music from the original 1929 Skinner pipe organ. The holidays at Brucemore are sponsored by Pearson.

 

Daytime tours will be offered, Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and, Sundays, noon to 3:00 p.m. Tours begin on the hour except on Saturdays and Sundays when they begin on the half hour. Admission for daytime tours is free to Brucemore members, $7 per adult, and $3 per child. Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour in the Brucemore Store located in the Visitor Center. Space is limited to 15 people per tour; please show up early to purchase tickets. Groups of 20 or more are required to make a reservation at least two weeks in advance. Evening tours will be offered as part of the Thursday Night Lineup; visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375 for more information. Brucemore will be closed on Mondays as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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