Adena Mansion

It's still raining! And the wind is still very gusty...
Today we decided to venture out and visit the Adena Mansion and Gardens since it was way too nasty to go to the caves at Hocking Hills (we didn't realize we would have to hike the 1/4 mile between the Museum and the Mansion...).

The house is one of only three houses designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe still standing in the country. Latrobe is considered the first professional American architect and served as architect of the U.S.capitol under President Thomas Jefferson. "Adena" is a Hebrew word meaning "pleasure." The house was built from sandstone quarried on the estate for Thomas Worthington, his wife and their ten children. (This picture is from their website.)

This is the master bedroom which is in the downstairs along with the nursery. Note the "window door" -- the bottom portion opens, you lift the window, and step outside into the gardens.

 This is in the dining room -- note the "round-about" serving butler built into the corner.  The salmon-pink color used on the windows and the door trim in the downstairs is the original color -- it was considered a very expensive "masculine" color in 1807 when the house was built. The curved sideboard is one of two built by the "in-house" carpenter.

This is the back side of the round-about as seen from the kitchen side.  Food could be loaded onto it and served without disturbing the guests.

An upstairs "guest" bedroom.  President James Monroe stayed in this room when he toured the territory. I was intrigued by the hip-bath in the corner behind the screen --

Thomas Worthington was the first US Senator from Ohio and the 6th Governor of the State of Ohio.  He is considered the "Father of Ohio Statehood," having enticed many settlers into the Northwest Territory.  He built a sawmill and was a land speculator, miller, farmer/cattleman, and distiller.

A glimpse into the gardens -- from the description, they must be quite a sight in the spring and summer --

These interesting bushes were planted outside the front Museum windows --

The lady in the gift shop told me it was a "Beauty Bush" and that the plants had been grown from heirloom seeds --

Once again, I cannot find anything like it in my plant books! So frustrating!