The Turnblad's were really wise in their decision to turn this into a museum. They were really thinking about preserving this for the future as well as honoring all of the craftsmanship that went into the mansion. Many of the other grand old homes on Park Ave. have not been this fortunate. This is well worth visiting.
The interiors of this home are some of the best I`ve seen yet. The woodwork and plasterwork are both incredible and it`s so fortunate that it has all survived so well. Thanks for posting, Ken.
A friend's great-grandfather came over from Sweden to be a wood-carver at this this house. His surname meant 'oak leaf' (Ekblatt, I think) and he carved oak leaves as a signature.
I dread coming to this channel because too many beautiful old houses have been destroyed. The knowledge of those losses depress me more than anything. Then there are the exceptions like this one which give me joy.
Finally, one that is still standing. So many have been lost to artistic endeavors like asphalt parking lots or cube shaped examples of the Fisher-Price school of architecture, where if the architects crayon breaks the project is halted.
Painted glass, painted plasterwork ceilings... some unique artistic/architectural elements add up to a stunning home. So glad this has been preserved. The original family deserves praise for planning ahead to preserve what they built.
I am constantly amazed at the wealth some people acquired in those early days of our country. This is an incredible house and so glad that it still stands.
The family did live in the house from 1908-1915. I am a tour guide at ASI. It is the last remaining great mansion on Park Avenue that is virtually just as it was when built and open to the public. Come visit.
Brilliant interior. Quite tasteful, considering the time in which it was built. I live in Sioux Falls, about 200 miles from Minneapolis, and we have that same tessellated granite that was an integral part of our local architecture in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the Urban Renewal movement of the 1970s ripped away much of our Victorian stone buildings. This house is perfect for its time.
The ballroom is on the top floor of the mansion and the entire roof/ceiling is glass. There was an elevator in the carriage house that would lift guests arriving to the ball in their carriage. They would step out of the carriage directly into the top story ballroom.
What's your source? I live across the street and have never heard anything that fantastic. The house and carriage house aren't connected. Many carriage houses of the day did have an elevator for lifting hay, bedding and out-of-season vehicles for storage on the second floor.
I've toured the American Swedish Institute several times. It was always amazing how each room had different woodwork and how much of the furniture in each room clearly was designed as part of the overall design of that particular room. Thanks for featuring this...
I live in Minnesota one weekend when I went down to Minneapolis. I went to the Swedish Institute. I loved the mansion. It was so beautiful. What is really nice is they use some of the rooms for their displays The grand hall is so beautiful. Loved all the woodwork and carvings all the different fireplaces. Thank you for making a video of this beautiful building.
Every year they decorate the house in traditional for Christmas in the traditional Swedish manner. In my opinion that is the best time to tour the house
When you consider how many Gilded Age mansions were built, how many built fortunes in such vastly disparate ventures, you realize that the US was an extraordinary Opportunity Factory for a substantial segment of the population in the second half of the 19th century. Significantly, this was before the income tax, when the US govt was frugal and lived within its means. As did most of those who grew wealth - frugal living for many years, planning ahead, building something of substance. We need to revere and preserve fruits of the great minds who worked hard. And remember, too, all those jobs these people created - jobs that could last a working-lifetime and provide for oneself and one's family.
That's why you could make a legacy bc you weren't surrounded by fat, lazy, ass, Nascar, NFL, ml, TV watching AMERICANS ALL WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT. I'M JUST WAITING ON JESUS. THESE GODLESS HEATHENS AND MENTAL DEFECTS I am praying fur and loving as best I can. 😢😢Father gave mercy to all yet they rejected it and The GREAT I AM
It is an interesting visit - the woodwork/carving is fantastic and hard to capture in photos - or at least those which do it justice. The ground floor is semi-furnished; most of the rest is exhibit space and rather sparse aside from whatever is there at the moment and of course the decorative architecture itself. Those freestanding 'fireplaces' are actually custom ceramic tile stoves; each individually and intricately decorated. On the ground floor there is also a connecting Swedish museum experience and, at least when I visited, lots of locals sharing how things were 'back then'. Nils Olsson horses available - though they're not cheap.
A large fireplace wastes a lot of heat up the chimney. The smaller firebox was discovered in the 18th century to be more efficient and resulted the in use of stove that actually heated the spaces by radiating the heat from exterior of the stove into the room
🎉🎉 u may have outdone yourself,another Amazing home we would have never known about!!❤......This truly beautiful and unique and a great ending which we don't always have........it could quite possibly be my favorite ever.....Thank you for your insight and excellent work!!😊
Ken your doing a great Job Summer Avenue in Saint Paul is one of the longest trecks Incredible Victorian mansions keep up the good work. I really appreciate what you do. Thanks again.
There was no mansion across the street. The apartment hotel (now a coöp) across the street was built in 1929 and was built on an empty lot. Swan and his daughter, Lillian, lived in #518. I live in the building (2615 Park Avenue) and face the Turnblad mansion.
Yes, I was amazed when we took a tour of the mansion that they said they never really lived that long in there. What were they thinking? It is a beautiful home.
Are you sure the Wizard of Oz wasn't hiding behind those curtains? Sorry, first thought that popped into my head when you said, "Let's look behind the curtains." 😅 Good thinking on Turnblad's part of turning the house into a museum. That was one way of insuring it didn't get torn down. Is the interior pretty much intact? (The various fireplaces and wall coverings, etc.?)
Acquiring wealth in those days was easy!!!..... NO INCOME TAXES!!. Not instituted until the early 20th century. And, thats usually how these once grand private homes survive--becoming institutions. Very Swedish influenced!, especially in the fireplace shapes and designs. Not your common American fireplace!.
It is great to see this presentation, Ken. As you watch the video notice the beautiful porcelain heating stoves that were another fine detail of the mansion. Each is different and if you watch closely you will notice that one incorporates dwarves into the design. These were custom made and imported from Sweden. I live across from the Turnblad mansion/American Swedish Institute for thirty years and have often visited there and seen the steady improvements and preservation that has taken place. Swan and his daughter moved in 2615 Park Avenue (now a co-op) when he gifted the mansion and after his wife passed away in 1930. He and his daughter owned apartments in my building. His daughter was a fine artist.
The Turnblad's were really wise in their decision to turn this into a museum. They were really thinking about preserving this for the future as well as honoring all of the craftsmanship that went into the mansion. Many of the other grand old homes on Park Ave. have not been this fortunate. This is well worth visiting.
Beautiful. I'm glad it's been preserved. That level of workmanship is a thing of the past.
The interiors of this home are some of the best I`ve seen yet. The woodwork and plasterwork are both incredible and it`s so fortunate that it has all survived so well. Thanks for posting, Ken.
Absolutely incredible home. So glad it survives intact with all of its architectural wonders!
A friend's great-grandfather came over from Sweden to be a wood-carver at this this house. His surname meant 'oak leaf' (Ekblatt, I think) and he carved oak leaves as a signature.
I live in Minneapolis and have toured this marvelous mansion in person. Thank you Ken for showcasing this fabulous home.
so happy to know it is still standing. what a treasure 🏰
I dread coming to this channel because too many beautiful old houses have been destroyed. The knowledge of those losses depress me more than anything. Then there are the exceptions like this one which give me joy.
Finally, one that is still standing. So many have been lost to artistic endeavors like asphalt parking lots or cube shaped examples of the Fisher-Price school of architecture, where if the architects crayon breaks the project is halted.
Painted glass, painted plasterwork ceilings... some unique artistic/architectural elements add up to a stunning home. So glad this has been preserved. The original family deserves praise for planning ahead to preserve what they built.
I am constantly amazed at the wealth some people acquired in those early days of our country. This is an incredible house and so glad that it still stands.
Only in America….
Beautiful home and glad to see it largely intact. Was interesting to see the extensive use of Swedish tiled stoves in lieu of fireplaces.
The house has steam heat; the tile stoves are decorative.
The family did live in the house from 1908-1915. I am a tour guide at ASI. It is the last remaining great mansion on Park Avenue that is virtually just as it was when built and open to the public. Come visit.
Incredible! Love everything you showed. And the griffins on the staircase!
Brilliant interior. Quite tasteful, considering the time in which it was built. I live in Sioux Falls, about 200 miles from Minneapolis, and we have that same tessellated granite that was an integral part of our local architecture in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the Urban Renewal movement of the 1970s ripped away much of our Victorian stone buildings. This house is perfect for its time.
Thank you! Those of us who know this building and the Institute are grateful!
The craftsmanship is incredible. Glad to hear it is still standing.
Yesss!!! This beautiful historical masterpiece still stands!! Sweeeet!!!
Minneapolis resident, here. This is one of my favorite old mansions. Thanks for featuring it.
The ballroom is on the top floor of the mansion and the entire roof/ceiling is glass. There was an elevator in the carriage house that would lift guests arriving to the ball in their carriage. They would step out of the carriage directly into the top story ballroom.
Woah wth!!!! I didn't hear that in the VID. That's a part that should have been included in it's story bc it sounds unbelievable
What's your source? I live across the street and have never heard anything that fantastic. The house and carriage house aren't connected. Many carriage houses of the day did have an elevator for lifting hay, bedding and out-of-season vehicles for storage on the second floor.
Absolutely fabulous..so glad he had the foresight to see to its survival... such a spectacular house. Thank you again Ken
I've toured the American Swedish Institute several times. It was always amazing how each room had different woodwork and how much of the furniture in each room clearly was designed as part of the overall design of that particular room. Thanks for featuring this...
So happy this splendid home has been preserved.
I live in Minnesota one weekend when I went down to Minneapolis. I went to the Swedish Institute. I loved the mansion. It was so beautiful. What is really nice is they use some of the rooms for their displays The grand hall is so beautiful. Loved all the woodwork and carvings all the different fireplaces. Thank you for making a video of this beautiful building.
The rich woodwork through out the mansion was so breathtaking‼️
Thank God, some greedy slimy developer didn’t knock this one down and put a big glass box in its place with their name plastered on it
...or a parking lot.
…or they just tear down because “it was an eyesore” while they build the most gaudy mansion that would be out of style in less than 10 years
One day, people will miss those glass boxes.
Every year they decorate the house in traditional for Christmas in the traditional Swedish manner. In my opinion that is the best time to tour the house
Love this, no expense spared! 💙💙
This building got the good fate many of these beautiful houses did not. I am thankful.
When you consider how many Gilded Age mansions were built, how many built fortunes in such vastly disparate ventures, you realize that the US was an extraordinary Opportunity Factory for a substantial segment of the population in the second half of the 19th century. Significantly, this was before the income tax, when the US govt was frugal and lived within its means. As did most of those who grew wealth - frugal living for many years, planning ahead, building something of substance. We need to revere and preserve fruits of the great minds who worked hard. And remember, too, all those jobs these people created - jobs that could last a working-lifetime and provide for oneself and one's family.
That's why you could make a legacy bc you weren't surrounded by fat, lazy, ass, Nascar, NFL, ml, TV watching AMERICANS ALL WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT. I'M JUST WAITING ON JESUS. THESE GODLESS HEATHENS AND MENTAL DEFECTS I am praying fur and loving as best I can. 😢😢Father gave mercy to all yet they rejected it and The GREAT I AM
Glad to see this magnificent home has survived!
I LOVE IT!!!
The place is so beautiful, I can’t pick a favorite room.
Wow!!! I mean WOW!! I love all the details they put into the house!!
Fabulous, an American castle! So glad that treasure still stands. One note: Those are not “curtains” between the rooms but “portieres”
Those are not fireplaces, but ceramic stoves, which are common in the Baltic countries.
A happy ending for a change. Do they give tours of the house?
The museum is open to the public with admission
I live in St Paul, I’ve toured this mansion. This was a very good presentation! Makes me want to go back and enjoy that the building again in person.
Outstanding. Glad it was saved.
Pretty good for a readership of 40 thousand
Your videos are always informative and beautiful. Thank you.
It is an interesting visit - the woodwork/carving is fantastic and hard to capture in photos - or at least those which do it justice. The ground floor is semi-furnished; most of the rest is exhibit space and rather sparse aside from whatever is there at the moment and of course the decorative architecture itself. Those freestanding 'fireplaces' are actually custom ceramic tile stoves; each individually and intricately decorated. On the ground floor there is also a connecting Swedish museum experience and, at least when I visited, lots of locals sharing how things were 'back then'. Nils Olsson horses available - though they're not cheap.
Love it, however most of the fireplaces seem small to me... A little weird!
A large fireplace wastes a lot of heat up the chimney. The smaller firebox was discovered in the 18th century to be more efficient and resulted the in use of stove that actually heated the spaces by radiating the heat from exterior of the stove into the room
Now that is grandure !
The garage has a state of the art turn table
It still stands!
🎉🎉 u may have outdone yourself,another Amazing home we would have never known about!!❤......This truly beautiful and unique and a great ending which we don't always have........it could quite possibly be my favorite ever.....Thank you for your insight and excellent work!!😊
I love the reading room🫶🏾
Extraordinary !!!
Thank you very much
For once, the library wasn't my favorite room. I really liked the dining room!
I like the white and gold salon
Minneapolis, once a beautiful place to live. That was LONG time ago.
❤ Oh so Beautiful ❤
If this house was still a residence, IMO the theater room would likely have been converted into a true home theater.
I live in Minneapolis please explore the James J Hill House in St. Paul on Summit Ave I love your channel Thank You
Ken your doing a great Job Summer Avenue in Saint Paul is one of the longest trecks Incredible Victorian mansions keep up the good work. I really appreciate what you do. Thanks again.
Gargoyles and goth
Check🖤
So did it have a greenhouse attached to the house?
They never actually lived in the mansion. The family lived across the street in a mansion that no longer exists.
There was no mansion across the street. The apartment hotel (now a coöp) across the street was built in 1929 and was built on an empty lot. Swan and his daughter, Lillian, lived in #518. I live in the building (2615 Park Avenue) and face the Turnblad mansion.
Yes, I was amazed when we took a tour of the mansion that they said they never really lived that long in there. What were they thinking? It is a beautiful home.
Are you sure the Wizard of Oz wasn't hiding behind those curtains? Sorry, first thought that popped into my head when you said, "Let's look behind the curtains." 😅 Good thinking on Turnblad's part of turning the house into a museum. That was one way of insuring it didn't get torn down. Is the interior pretty much intact? (The various fireplaces and wall coverings, etc.?)
33 rooms. There you have it. Good old 33..IYKYK
This would be the place to see a private showing of Ms. Angelina Jordan's new Jazzy Song "Bad Valentine" Piano Diaries OMG!
Have you ever looked into the history of the Busch family home at Grant's Farm in st. Louis
👍
Ken would be nice to state the square footage of each home
I noticed school house ceiling light fixtures.
I'm so glad it hasn't been to torn down. As far as I'm concerned, it would be like ripping down Neu Schwanstein.
I live across the street I know that house was never lived in
Acquiring wealth in those days was easy!!!..... NO INCOME TAXES!!. Not instituted until the early 20th century. And, thats usually how these once grand private homes survive--becoming institutions. Very Swedish influenced!, especially in the fireplace shapes and designs. Not your common American fireplace!.
It is great to see this presentation, Ken. As you watch the video notice the beautiful porcelain heating stoves that were another fine detail of the mansion. Each is different and if you watch closely you will notice that one incorporates dwarves into the design. These were custom made and imported from Sweden.
I live across from the Turnblad mansion/American Swedish Institute for thirty years and have often visited there and seen the steady improvements and preservation that has taken place. Swan and his daughter moved in 2615 Park Avenue (now a co-op) when he gifted the mansion and after his wife passed away in 1930. He and his daughter owned apartments in my building. His daughter was a fine artist.