4/5 Lila J. 8 months ago on Google
Since
my
announcement
last
week
regarding
the
book
signing
next
month,
I
decided
a
tour
of
the
Joslyn
mansion
or
castle
as
it
is
referred
to,
would
give
me
a
better
understanding
of
the
building,
grounds,
and
the
history
behind
the
Joslyn
Museum.
George
and
Sarah
Joslyn,
were
a
young
couple
under
thirty
years
of
age.
As
natives
of
Vermont,
they
were
the
part
of
a
wave
of
new
entrepreneurs
that
were
looking
to
achieve
their
best
in
life
after
the
completion
of
the
transcontinental
railroad.
After
Georges'
first
job
in
a
printing
firm
in
Des
Moines,
IA
in
1879,
he
made
smart
business
decisions
and
investments
that
placed
him
in
areas
that
allowed
growth
and
fortune.
On
5.5
acres
of
land,
a
Scottish
Baronial
Architecture
Mansion
would
be
a
future
dream.
With
the
design
hand
of
architect
John
McDonald
and
his
suspected
Scottish
ancestry
influence,
the
35
room,
four
story
house
would
take
10-11
months
of
construction
and
interior
design
to
bring
their
dream
to
life.
Builders
used
gorgeous
and
varied
carved
woods
shipped
in
from
different
countries
and
stained
glass
for
some
of
the
windows.
Mosaic
tiles
for
the
interior
while
Kansas
Silverdale
limestone
created
the
outer
building
.
The
mansion,
which
was
referred
to
as
a
βcastleβ
by
onlookers
due
to
its
small
turrets
and
crenellations,
is
now
on
the
National
Register
of
Historic
Places.
With
the
death
of
her
husband
George
in
1916,
Sarah
remained
a
strong
influence
and
contributor
to
many
charities
and
businesses
in
Omaha.
In
1929,
the
Joslyn
Memorial,
a
tribute
to
her
husband,
became
a
public
cultural
institution
for
the
visual
and
performing
arts.
Known
today
as
the
Joslyn
Art
Museum,
this
is
considered
by
many
as
Sarahβs
most
important
and
greatest
gift
to
Omaha,
NE.