In September, the Mansion was awarded a prestigious IMLS grant for the Museums of America program. The grant will partially fund the restoration of the original painted finishes of the walls and ceilings of the Reception Room, part of the only extant architectural commission by artist Giuseppe Guidicini.
The project will also encompass photographic documentation and paint sampling for microanalysis. The removal of original fixtures and furnishings will allow the room to be fully scaffolded. The original interior shutters will be repaired and UV protective film will be installed on all exterior windows. This project represents an important step towards our goal of presenting the Mansion’s interiors as they appeared in the 1860s, enhancing the appreciation and understanding of a distinctive mid-nineteenth-century American aesthetic and lifestyle for visitors and members like you.
