(PRINCETON, NJ) -- This February and March, Morven Museum & Garden’s Grand Homes & Gardens Distinguished Speakers Series’ travels the Eastern seaboard from the Rockefeller estate and gardens in Maine to Henry Flagler’s Whitehall mansion in Florida, warming up winter with acclaimed speakers and outstanding visuals of grand homes and impressive gardens.
“Launched just last year, this series quickly became a favorite with armchair travel to some of the most sumptuous estates in the country. Each speaker brings the inside story to our guests with visuals that will make you long to see them in person.” said Morven’s Executive Director Jill Barry.
The series launches on Thursday, February 27 at 6:30pm with a presentation on Dumbarton Oaks: Home & Garden of Humanities. Currently the research institute, library, museum, and garden at Harvard University in Washington, DC, the site was the former residence of diplomat and art collectors, Robert and Mildred Bliss. Dumbarton Oaks Director Jan M. Ziolkowski will speak on the Blisses’ world-class collection of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art and the historic garden, the focal Dumbarton Oaks features.
The Seal Harbor, Maine & Beyond: The Rockefeller Gardens lecture on Thursday, March 5 at 6:30pm will provide a peek inside the exclusive Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden and two other elegant gardens John D. Rockefeller Jr. funded: Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Garden. Casey Banning, author of The Rockefeller Family Gardens: An American Legacy, will present a fascinating program on the history and current evolution of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden on Mount Desert Island, Maine, and the Eyrie, its 1oo-room house that was removed in 1962. She will expand on how the Rockefeller gardens were created with limited access to the outside world and reveal why Beatrix Farrand’s design of the garden took over 7 years to complete. Casey Banning’s book will be available for signing and purchase following the lecture.
On Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30pm, Morven invites renowned author, lecturer, & lifestyle editor Bettie Bearden Pardee for her presentation on Living Newport: Houses, People, Style. Pardee is the author of two books on entertaining: Private Newport: At Home And In The Garden and Living Newport: Houses, People, Style where she provides an insider’s glimpse into the fabled Newport, Rhode Island where privacy is a treasured asset. An accomplished hostess, her home, “parterre,” and its gardens provide the ideal setting for carrying on Newport’s tradition of gracious living. Pardee’s books will be available for purchase and signing following the lecture. The “Living Newport” lecture is sponsored by Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP.
The Series finale focuses on Whitehall: Henry Flagler’s Palm Beach Estate with Flagler Museum Executive Director Erin Manning providing insight into industrialist Henry and Mary Lily Kenan Flagler’s winter retreat from 1902 until Henry’s death in 1913. Erin Manning (formerly Historical Society of Princeton’s Executive Director) will provide a grand tour of the exquisite 75-room, 100,000-square-foot Gilded Age Palm Beach estate. Illustrated books will be available for purchase following the lecture. The series finale is sponsored by Mrs. G Appliances.
Refreshments served 30 minutes prior to talk at each lecture. Doors to the Stockton Education Center adjacent to Morven Museum open at 6:00 p.m. Individual tickets are $25; $18 for Friends of Morven. Series tickets available: $75 for General Admission; $50 for Friends of Morven. Tickets are available for purchase online.
Morven Museum & Garden is located at 55 Stockton Street in Princeton, New Jersey. Morven Museum & Garden is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
