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St. Tammany Parish:
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Historic Beauty |
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by Ellen Brewer
It has been called one of the last great houses of the American architectural renaissance. Visitors have enjoyed its magnificent beauty since its doors opened to the public in 1980. One of the three most-visited historic attractions in New Orleans, it draws more than 45,000 visitors annually to its gates. It is Longue Vue House and Gardens, and the house has much to celebrate this year, including its 25th anniversary and its designation as a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior.
Fewer than 2,500 places bear this national distinction, the highest recognition bestowed upon an historic property. To be considered, the property must have exceptional characteristics that portray the ancestry of the United States in history, architecture, archeology, technology and culture. In addition to this most recent designation, Longue Vue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is accredited by the American Association of Museums. Fewer than 10 percent of American museums have achieved this professional certification.
“For years, Longue Vue has been a popular destination for locals and visitors to New Orleans,” says Bonnie Goldblum, executive director. “We’re proud to add this designation to our list of accolades.”
Born from the dream of philanthropists Edith and Edgar Stern, Longue Vue was built between 1939 and 1942. Edgar, a successful cotton broker, married Edith Rosenwald, daughter of Sears & Roebuck founder Julius Rosenwald, and together they created a legacy of beauty, education and philanthropy.
(Other creations of the Sterns include Dillard University, Newcomb College Nursery School and Pontchartrain Park.) The House and Gardens reflect the collaborative vision of the Sterns, architects William and Geoffrey Platt, and Ellen Biddle Shipman, one of the leading landscape designers of the period.
Longue Vue is an extraordinary example of the Classic Revival architectural style and contains unsurpassed examples of millwork, tile and brick craftsmanship. The three-story home originally encompassed 45 rooms, including baths and closets. Its elegant furnishings include exquisite American and English antiques, French and Oriental carpets, needlework, fine British and Continental creamware pottery, and a notable collection of traditional and modern art.
The architectural splendor continues beyond the home’s walls and spills out into the twelve lustrous gardens spanning over eight acres. Words simply cannot describe the magnificence of the gardens, and photos offer just a glimpse of their vast and stunning beauty. Discoveries await the visitor at every turn: the English-inspired Yellow Garden of gold-colored flowers and foliage; the Wild Garden boasting a variety of native and indigenous plants; the Walled Kitchen Garden; and the grounds’ newest feature, the Discovery Garden. Here children learn to understand and appreciate nature through gardening activities, an herb maze, a worm dig and a human sundial. This latest addition helps to fulfill Longue Vue’s mission to “educate and inspire people to pursue beauty and civic responsibility in their lives.”
In fact, the site offers a variety of enlightening educational programs and seminars to reach this goal. Visit Longue Vue on any given day and you will find visitors creating gardens, learning about textiles, exploring uses for herbs, tracking genealogy and discussing community issues. There is something for everyone, from young to old, from Master Gardener to beginner. Longue Vue is proud to say that it is continuing the legacy of its creators by preserving the historic splendor of the home and its surroundings while inspiring visitors to integrate Longue Vue’s teachings into their lives at home.
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Copyright 2006, M&L Publishing, all rights reserved. |
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