Victorian Mansion

Description

Vioctoria Mansion was built in 1858 as a summer home for Ruggles Sylvester Morse (1814-1893) A Maine native whod made his fortune in New Orleans hotels. Architect Henry Austin designed the house and Gustave Hester was the interior designer responsible for coordinating all aspects of interior decor and furnishings. Under his suprervision artist Giueppe Giidicini and his team created elaborate and colorful wall and ceiling frescoes. Morse brought the technological comforts from luxury hotels to his Mansion, including indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water, wall-to wall carpeting, central heating,and a bell call system for the servants. After Morse died his widow sold the property to Joseph Ralph Libby (1845-1917) a retail merchant. The Libby family occupied the house from 1894 to 1928. The house was saved from destruction in 1940 by retired educator William H. Holmes and his sister, Clara Holmes and opened the following year as a historic house musuem in honor of Queen Victoria. It continues to operate the mansion as a museum open to the public from May through October