The Mount, Edith Wharton's Estate & Gardens

Wharton was also a knowledgeable horticulturist and felt that gardens should be architectural compositions in concert with the house and natural landscape. She planned and planted her own flower gardens; the entrance drive and kitchen garden were laid out by Beatrix Farrand, her niece and a famed landscape designer.

Through the efforts of the non-profit Edith Wharton Restoration, Inc., much of The Mount’s main house and formal gardens were restored in time for its centennial in 2002. As part of that celebration, leading interior designers decorated principal rooms as if Edith Wharton were their client today. The resulting exhibit, which will continue through 2004, showcased the timelessness of Wharton's design principals.

The Mount is now gaining widespread recognition for its place in American architecture and landscape design, and it is among the five percent of National Historic Landmarks whose significance comes from their role in Women’s History.

Master craftspeople brought Wharton’s bedroom, boudoir and bath back to life through meticulous restoration of decorative plaster, woodwork, masonry, fixtures and more. A team of interior design specialists then furnished and decorated the suite based on Wharton’s original plan and her design theories

Future projects include acquiring Edith Wharton’s 2,600-volume library, recreating Farrand's kitchen garden design, and restoring the watering pond, woodland paths and the stable and lodge. This work is funded in part by a $2.3 million federal Save America’s Treasures grant and $100,000 in private SAT matching funds.

Public Access
The 2003 season runs from May 3 through Nov. 2. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Contact Information
The Mount, Edith Wharton's Estate & Gardens
2 Plunkett St., Box 974
Lenox, MA 01240-0974
Phone: 413-637-1899
E-mail: Info@EdithWharton.org
Website: www.EdithWharton.org

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Other Points of Interest
Explore these links on the National Trust’s Web site to learn more about how preservation benefits individuals and communities.

America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
Since 1988, this list has been one of the most effective tools in the fight to save America's irreplaceable architectural, cultural, and natural heritage. Use the new 11 Most Endangered database to learn about threatened sites in Massachusetts.
Website: www.nationaltrust.org/11most

Dozen Distinctive Destinations
These communities offer travelers enjoyable natural, historic, aesthetic, recreational, and cultural experiences all in one place. One of the choices in 2001 was Northampton, Mass., just an hour east of the Mount and recently labeled the "Best Small Arts Town in America."
Website: www.nationaltrust.org/dozen_distinctive_destinations

Historic Hotels
When visiting The Mount, expand the historic travel experience by staying at one of the 200 members of National Trust Historic Hotels of America. There are three Historic Hotels of America in the Berkshires.

Cranwell Resort Spa and Golf Club
Website: www.nationaltrust.org/historic_hotels

The Porches Inn
Website: www.nationaltrust.org/historic_hotels

Red Lion Inn
Website: www.nationaltrust.org/historic_hotels

National Trust Historic Sites
The National Trust’s Historic Sites help tell the story of America, and one of them is in nearby Stockbridge:
Chesterwood features the studio, museum gallery, summer home and gardens of renowned sculptor Daniel Chester French.
Website: www.nationaltrust.org/national_trust_sites