December 2018
Children’s Tree Decorating and Ornament Crafting
Bring the family and help us decorate one of the many trees that adorn the Mansion this holiday season and make holiday cards for friends and family. Children will be able to craft their own ornaments and decorate a tree with them as well as take home some handmade ornaments. Punch and cookies will be served. Admission is $5 per child (to cover material fees). Parents/guardians are admitted at no extra charge.
Find out more »Marionette Show – “Little Red Riding Hood”
Puppeteer Carl Sprague returns to charm all ages with his “behind-the-scenery” mastery in bringing to life (almost) this classic fairy tale. The audiences will have the opportunity to meet this wizard, who knows how to pull strings, over children’s holiday refreshments. Carl has been a puppeteer since childhood. He inherited a collection of 60 charming Czech marionettes, each about eight inches tall, and two marionette theatres that were assembled by his great-grandfather, Julius Hybler, with purchased heads and hand-made costumes.
Find out more »February 2019
Movie and Tea – Morgan O-Yuki: The Geisha of the Gilded Age
You are invited to see the film of this one-woman show, produced by Kevin Sprague of Studio Two, of that first performance, stage set by Carl Sprague. It’s the little-known true story of the beautiful Yuki (“Snow Fragrance”) Kato who marries George Denison Morgan, son of the owners of Ventfort Hall and her extraordinary international life thereafter. Tea follows the movie.
Find out more »March 2019
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Good Fella, Dead Fella,”
It is a special night for Don Yukon Cornelius. His major renovations for his club are just about finished and you have been invited to join him for the unveiling of his newest gaming rooms. As leader of the Eco-Unfriendly Gang, he takes great pride in wasting resources, but someone decides to waste him. Come along and make your wager on whether it was his ex-girlfriend Fay Daway or his right hand man, Little Billy Bosco. Might it have been…
Find out more »April 2019
Childrens’ Flower Planting and Crafts Workshop
Early spring is the perfect time to plant seeds that will grow and can be transplanted to the garden or outdoors when the weather gets warmer. Children who attend this workshop will learn how to plant nasturtium as well as how to take care of their flower as it grows throughout the spring. There will be an informal lesson on planting seeds and caring for their flowers. After the lesson the workshop continues until 3pm. Children will decorate their flower…
Find out more »Slavic Egg Decorating Workshop
Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft. We are offering our annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional workshops. This year the workshop will take place at the mansion’s former gatehouse at 55 Kemble St., Lenox. This Eastern European tradition of creating intricate and beautifully decorated eggs has been passed down for generations. Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague, who will again lead the workshop, learned the technique many years ago from her…
Find out more »June 2019
Tea & Talk: Chateau Higginson: Social Life in Boston’s Back Bay
Former Boston Globe reporter and Pittsfield native Margo Miller is the author of a new book titled Chateau Higginson: Social Life in Boston’s Back Bay, 1870 – 1920, the subject of her lecture. She will center on Henry Lee Higginson (1834- 1919), founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra among other major accomplishments. Family members, friends, the tastes, culture, economics, architecture, society, public health, entertainment and more create a full picture of the times. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – Egyptomania
Recognized as a foremost Egyptologist, Dr. Bob Brier (“Mr. Mummy”) will examine the fascination with the ancient world along the Nile and the events that fanned the flames of “Egyptomania” including Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign that led to a new decorative arts trend, the Suez Canal Big Dig, the carting of gigantic obelisks to Paris, London and New York and the opening of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – The Tragic Story of the Majestic Normandie Ocean Liner
A child with happy memories of crossing the Atlantic on ocean liners with his parents, author René Silvin will focus on the subject of his latest book the Normandie: The Tragic Story of the Most Majestic Ocean Liner. The French Line’s glorious and glamorous flagship first set sail from Le Havre on May 29, 1935 and died an inglorious death on February 10, 1942 at a New York dock on the Hudson River, two months after Pearl Harbor and with…
Find out more »Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – Murder Maiden in China
Gertrude Ingrid Josephine Mattel, a.k.a. GI Jo is running the Maiden China Toy Co. since the passing of her beloved father. She’s a hated dictator with enemies. Her husband Lou Zerr is hen-pecked. Her assistant, C. Alice Knightly, is an office slave. Goldie Digger, Lou’s “secretary” can’t stand Jo. Charlie Brown III of “This Side UP” delivery service is the brunt of name-calling. Someone gets so sick of her that she ends up in permanent retirement. Have fun figuring who…
Find out more »July 2019
Tea & Talk: Posting It, or Networking, Victorian Style
Prof. Catherine Jean Golden will reveal the story of a little-known revolution with her presentation. It started in early 19th century Britain when the recipient, not the sender, paid to receive a delivered letter. By 1840, the Penny Post was established – a penny stamp for a ½ ounce letter paid for by the sender. In London by 1860, there were 12 postal deliveries from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Stamps and prepayment quickly became the norm worldwide. Reservations are…
Find out more »Tea & Talk: Downton Abbey Style: The Influences on Fashion, 1912 – 1925
Downton Abbey Style: The Influences on Fashion, 1912 – 1925 is the subject behind what historic textile and costume expert Susan J. Jerome calls “the notable evolution of women’s and men’s clothing” – the dramatically social, technological and political developments of the period’s broader world. She will take a look at the work of some of the influential designers and what was fashionable, or not, as a clue to why people wore what they did. Reservations are recommended as seating…
Find out more »Ghost Hunt – A Spirited Evening
Join David Raby for a paranormal investigation of our historic and haunted mansion. A non-fiction author and paranormal investigator, Raby has always been intrigued by history. His interest in the paranormal was shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassion and openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive historical research and fact finding. Before the investigation, he will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways –…
Find out more »Tea & Talk – Lenox Rusticators on the Maine Coast
Historians Cornelia Brooke Gilder and Ronald Epp will join together to present the story of the impact the Berkshires had on the development of the Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island led by George Bucknam Dorr, the legendary conservationist, landscape designer and founder of the Mount Desert Nurseries. He was also an advisor to gardening friends Beatrix Farrand in Maine and Edith Wharton at her Lenox estate. Reservations recommended.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – After Emily: The Women Who Introduced Emily Dickinson
Mabel Loomis Todd was the woman who brought to light the work of a reclusive but highly talented poet. Prof. Julie Dobrow will discuss After Emily: The Women Who Introduced Emily Dickinson, the subject of the presenter’s new book. The shadowy and scandal-laced Amherst, Massachusetts surroundings include Mabel’s lover, Emily’s brother, Austin, who was 30 years older, and Mabel’s daughter Millicent Todd Bingham – a complex tale indeed. Reservations are recommended.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – John White Alexander: An American Gilded Age Artist
Considered on a par with John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase, the once acclaimed portrait painter John White Alexander is especially recognized for his figure paintings of women striking evocative poses and elaborately arranged in flowing gowns. Art historian and Alexander author Mary Anne Goley will introduce us to the artist’s career and his exceptional talent for movement and gesture. She fortunately had early access to the untouched Alexander estate for her book. Reservations are recommended.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – John White Alexander: An American Gilded Age Artist
Considered on a par with John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase, the once acclaimed portrait painter John White Alexander is especially recognized for his figure paintings of women striking evocative poses and elaborately arranged in flowing gowns. Art historian and Alexander author Mary Anne Goley will introduce us to the artist’s career and his exceptional talent for movement and gesture. She fortunately had early access to the untouched Alexander estate for her book. Reservations are recommended.
Find out more »August 2019
Tea & Talk – Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland, 1861 – 2008
Wadsworth Atheneum chief curator Robin Jaffee Frank will take us on a ride with Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland, 1861 – 2008. The lead author and editor of the groundbreaking book, Frank will cover “America’s playground,” the world-famous entertainment mecca for the masses and national cultural symbol that has inspired music, literature, paintings, photography and films. Her focus will be the site’s enduring status as inspiration for artists. Reservations are recommended.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – Archer Milton Huntington & the Hispanic Society of America Museum
Historian Francis Morrone will uncover the life of an intensely private personality, Archer Milton Huntington, founder of the Hispanic Society of America Museum. Due to reopen this fall, its collection rivals that of the Morgan Library. Morrone: Huntington is “truly one of the most remarkable Americans” of the Gilded Age, “and his story is almost unbelievable.” His former home at 1083 Fifth Avenue, for which Morrone is detailing, is one the great New York extant mansions. Reservations are recommended.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – The Grandest Madison Square Garden: Art, Scandal and Architecture in Gilded Age New York
There is a cast of fascinating characters in The Grandest Madison Square Garden: Art, Scandal and Architecture in Gilded Age New York by art historian and museum director Suzanne Hinman. Her remarkable story centers on the most beautiful of the Gardens (1890) and the controversial 18-foot nude sculpture of Diana, Virgin Goddess of the Hunt that crowned it. The prominent players are pals; architect Stanford White and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Reservations are recommended.
Find out more »September 2019
Tea & Talk – George Bisacca: His Life, His Way
Writer/reporter Steve Crowe will focus on remembering a onetime dynamic Berkshire figure who created the celebrated Eastover Resort in Lenox when he presents “George Bisacca: His Life, His Way” at a Tea & Talk. As the writer of the authorized memoir, Crowe autograph copies of his book of the same title during an accompanying Victorian tea.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – The Story of the Lenox Tub Parade
Ventfort Hall board member and veteran Lenox Tub Parade participant Tjasa Sprague will present a Tea & Talk on the story of this traditional event that dates back to the Gilded Age in the Berkshires. Her presentation will be followed by a Victorian Tea. The talk coincides with the annual Lenox Main Street parade scheduled for the same day at 1:30 pm, co-sponsored by the Colonial Carriage & Driving Society and the Lenox Chamber.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – Life Along the Hudson: The Historic Livingston Country Estates
Award-winning architecture and interiors photographer Pieter Estersohn will take us on a pictorial journey with “Life Along the Hudson: The Historic Country Estates of the Livingston Family.” The tour will relate to many of the thirty-five sublime country homes along the Hudson River that he photographed for his large-scale book of the same title. Autographed copies of his book will be available for purchase during the Victorian tea following his presentation.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – “Life Along the Hudson: The Historic Livingston Country Estates
Award-winning architecture and interiors photographer Pieter Estersohn will take us on a pictorial journey with “Life Along the Hudson: The Historic Country Estates of the Livingston Family.” The tour will relate to many of the thirty-five sublime country homes along the Hudson River that he photographed for his large-scale book of the same title. Autographed copies of his book will be available for purchase during the Victorian tea following his presentation.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – Well-Wheeled: How Gilded Age Cottagers Fueled Early Automobiling
Berkshire historian Bernard Drew will put the petal to the subject of early automobiling here at the mansion. His presentation will be followed by a Victorian Tea. He will have copies of his new book on the subject available for autographing.
Find out more »November 2019
Reading of Audiobook Adaptation of Little Women
A celebration to launch the new audiobook of Little Women, read by Ventfort Hall favorite, Anne Undeland. Anne will read excerpts, followed by a conversation with award-winning audiobook narrator/producer and bestselling novelist, Alison Larkin. As achingly beautiful as it is humorous and wise, Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel (the first of four books) gives us the March sisters in one evanescent year, from Christmas to Christmas, as they dance the tender line between childhood and adulthood. A Victorian Tea will follow.
Find out more »December 2019
A Christmas Carol with Gerald Charles Dickens
The great-great-grandson of the literary legend Charles Dickens, British actor Gerald Charles Dickens, will present a one-man theatrical performance of his ancestor’s classic work A Christmas Carol. An elegant Victorian tea will follow.
Find out more »A Christmas Carol with Gerald Charles Dickens
The great-great-grandson of the literary legend Charles Dickens, British actor Gerald Charles Dickens, will present a one-man theatrical performance of his ancestor’s classic work A Christmas Carol. An elegant Victorian tea will follow.
Find out more »Murder Mystery Dinner: Grandma Got Runned Over by a…Oh Dear!
Sandy Klawes has invited the family to a get together at their compound in Northpole Springs, Tennessee. It is your typical Family get together with Road Kill Casserole and Grandpa’s “special” beverage in his mason jars hidden in the cellar. Believe it or not, someone doesn’t get along with everyone and someone ends the season celebrating permanently. Come along and help figure out who dunnit. Dinner and cash bar.
Find out more »Children’s Tree Decorating and Ornament Crafting Workshop
Children of all ages and their families are welcomed to Ventfort Hall to decorate one of the many trees that adorn the mansion this holiday season and make holiday cards for friends and family. Children will be able to craft their own ornaments and decorate a tree with them as well as take home some handmade ornaments. Punch and cookies will be served.
Find out more »January 2020
Women in Film Seminar Part 1: Invisible: Female Film Makers Before 1960
Berkshire screenwriter and historian Nannina Gilder, as well as former film curator for the Little Cinema at The Berkshire Museum, will host a four-part Women in Film Seminar titled “Invisible: Female Filmmakers Before 1960” examining short and feature-length films in the context of the theme on four consecutive Thursdays. Tonight features The Birth of Cinema – Alice Guy (short) and Ida Lupino.
Find out more »Women in Film Seminar Part 2: Invisible: Female Film Makers Before 1960
Berkshire screenwriter and historian Nannina Gilder, as well as former film curator for the Little Cinema at The Berkshire Museum, will host a four-part Women in Film Seminar titled “Invisible: Female Filmmakers Before 1960” examining short and feature-length films in the context of the theme on four consecutive Thursdays. Tonight features Dancer & Director – Shirley Clarke (short) and Dorothy Arzner (feature).
Find out more »February 2020
Women in Film Seminar Part 4: Invisible: Female Film Makers Before 1960
Berkshire screenwriter and historian Nannina Gilder, as well as former film curator for the Little Cinema at The Berkshire Museum, will host a four-part Women in Film Seminar titled “Invisible: Female Filmmakers Before 1960” examining short and feature-length films in the context of the theme on four consecutive Thursdays. Tonight features Obsession – Wendy Toye (short) and Jacqueline Audry (feature).
Find out more »Murder Mystery Dinner Theater: “The Last Night at the Museum”
The Comical Mystery Tour ensemble will present a new mystery for you to solve - The Last Night at the Museum. It takes place at the Hysteriaworst house. Kathryn Spinner is donating the house to the city so it can become a museum and be enjoyed by anyone that wants to take a tour. Shirley Eugest is the representative from the city that is helping with the transition but things aren’t going as smoothly as she would hope. Ferris Faire…
Find out more »Rhone Rangers Wine Seminar
Experience the wines of the Rhone Rangers; a group of American Winemakers who promote the use of Grape varieties from the Rhone Valley. With Manny Gonzales, International Wine Specialist.
Find out more »Tea & Talk – The Ice Famine of 1919
A museum professional in the field of living history, historian and author Dennis Picard will give a talk here at the mansion on “The Ice Famine of 1919.” His visual presentation and demonstration will be followed by a Victorian tea.
Find out more »March 2020
Tea & Talk – Tea Time with Simpson & Vail
Known for its “Quality Teas Since 1929,” Simpson & Vail, one of America’s oldest purveyors of the brew and now based in Brookfield, CT, will be the subject of a Tea & Talk presented by company co-president Jim Harron. His presentation will be followed by a Victorian tea where some of Simpson & Vail’s teas will be served.
Find out more »July 2020
Ventfort Hall Reopens
Summer Is Here and So Are We! We are opening the museum to the public, Thursday, July 16. Hours will be 11 am to 4 pm Thursday through Tuesday, closed Wednesdays. Self-guided tours are by prepaid reservation only at 11 am, 12:30 pm and 2 pm. Masks are required and social distancing will be practiced. The mansion is located at 104 Walker St. in Lenox, MA. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors 65 and over, $10 students with ID and…
Find out more »August 2020
Tuesday Talk – Costumes Can Deceive: Gone with the Wind, The Movie
A long-time expert on the history of fashion, Linda Meyer will unveil the fact that most of the celebrated costumes created for GWTW are not stylistically authentic. The speaker will demonstrate on mannequins the true styling of late 19th century fashions and from the standpoint of Hollywood’s viewpoint the fascinating deceptions of GWTW costumes. Also available to attend online.
Find out more »Tuesday Talk – New Lives in a New Country: The Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Social historian Morris Vogel will give a visual presentation on the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York City of which he is president. A National Trust Historic Site, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum tells the story of how immigrants became new Americans and how America became a nation of immigrants. Visitors experience the human side of a special history through guided tours of recreated homes, the personal stories of the residents and the businesses they opened inside…
Find out more »Tuesday Talk – P. T. Barnum: The Man, the Myth, the American Icon
Kathleen Maher, executive director of the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, CT, will give a visual presentation here at the mansion P. T. Barnum. According to Maher, “The Barnum name alone conjures up ideas and imagination, preconceived notions of a man and philosophy. Known to most of the world as the ‘Great American Showman’ for more than 170 years, the weight of the Barnum name has forced associations of humbug and merriment, provoked thought and invited controversy, welcomed the cynical and…
Find out more »September 2020
Tuesday Talk – Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850-1970
Elizabeth A. Williams, the David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence, will speak on “Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850- 1970.” Her talk will be based on the major exhibition of the same title which she curated for the museum last year.
Find out more »Tuesday Talk – All That Glitters Is Not Gold: The Perils of Being Too Rich
Author and historian René Silvin returns to give a Tuesday Talk on “All That Glitters Is Not Gold: The Perils of Being Too Rich.” His focus will be two wealthy women, both of whom he knew; Ann Woodward, whom he dubs “She was a great shot” with good reason, and Christina Onassis, whom he titles “A Greek Tragedy.” Silvin will make his visual presentation via Zoom from his home in Palm Beach, FL.
Find out more »Tuesday Talk – Silhouette Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger
Screenwriter and film historian Nannina Gilder will introduce “Silhouette Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger. A former film curator for the Little Cinema at The Berkshire Museum, Gilder will introduce us to other unique films from Reiniger’s more than 40 works, including Cinderella (1922); The Stolen Heart (1934); Papageno (1935), with background music from Mozart’s The Magic Flute; The Golden Goose (1944), her one film produced in Nazi Germany; Mary’s Birthday (1951), made while living in England, and one or…
Find out more »Tuesday Talk: P. T. Barnum: The Man, the Myth, the American Icon
Kathleen Maher, executive director of the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, CT, will give a visual presentation at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum on “P. T. Barnum: The Man, the Myth, the American Icon.”
Find out more »October 2020
Saturday Talk: Eva Tanguay, the I Don’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age
Historian and author Andrew Erdman will make a visual presentation via Zoom on “Eva Tanguay, the I Don’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age.” He will give his talk from his home in New York City via Zoom.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop in Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The classes are indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Edgar Allan Poe: Master of the Macabre
Literary historian Rob Velella returns to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum via Zoom for a special Halloween virtual event portraying Edgar Allan Poe. Attendees are invited to see him on Zoom at the mansion or at home via Zoom. Poe, impersonated by Velella in costume, returns from the grave to read several of his works, both well-known and forgotten. Among them are “Annabel Lee” and one of the author’s earlier horror stories, “Ligeia,” which will feature some original…
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Walking Amongst the Shadows
Join paranormal investigator and author David Raby when he presents “Walking Amongst the Shadows". Ventfort Hall has been host to Raby’s group paranormal investigation events since 2017. One hundred percent of ticket sales for those events go towards restoration and preservation efforts. In this special talk, Raby will tell some of his favorite experiences from investigating Ventfort Hall and other historic locations. The talk will also feature just some of the many audio clips he has captured throughout the years.…
Find out more »Drop in Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The classes are indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »November 2020
Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Ventfort Hall Holiday House Tour
Experience the historic property all dressed up for the holidays. Self-guided tours are by reservation at 11:00 am, 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm. Reservations are taken by phone only. Thursday – Tuesday.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Friday Morning Diversion – The Woman Who Stole Vermeer
Anthony Amore, Director of Security and Chief Investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, will make a visual presentation on the subject of his new book titled “The Woman Who Stole Vermeer, the True Story of Rose Dugdale and the Russborough House Art Heist.” Attendees are invited to join his audience at the mansion or via Zoom.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Virtual: A Christmas Carol
This unforgettable performance has recently been captured on film for all of his fans to enjoy this holiday season. In a spirited one-man performance, Gerald Charles Dickens tells the beloved story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s heartfelt transformation by acting out all 26 characters in this 70 minute performance. Many of the scenes have been recorded on location throughout the streets of Rochester, England where Gerald's great-great grandfather, Charles Dickens, took inspiration for many of his writings.
Find out more »December 2020
Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »January 2021
Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Virtual: Ghosts of the Berkshires
Local Berkshire author and historian Robert Oakes will put the spotlight on “Ghosts of the Berkshires,” the subject of his new book, with special emphasis on the ghost lore of Ventfort Hall.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »February 2021
Exhibit Opening – Tales for Two: Famous Couples Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Displaying decorated table settings representing couples from Mickey and Minnie Mouse to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the exhibit will be open to the public until Sunday, February 28. Reservations are required.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Virtual Talk: Literary Conversations on Love: Austen, Bronte, Alcott
As a special treat for Valentine’s Day, award-winning audiobook narrator/producer Alison Larkin and Ventfort Hall favorite, actress Anne Undeland, will read from audiobook classics produced by Alison Larkin Presents. Readings from such classic novels as Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and Little Women will be followed by a transatlantic discussion on marriage, love and womanhood and the experience of recording the works of these towering authors.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Drop In Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Virtual Talk: Ashintully Remembered: Postwar Living in a Gilded Age House
Berkshire County native Holly McLennan Ketron, raised at Ashintully in Tyringham, will give a visual presentation on the magnificent Palladian mansion’s history and its architecture. The speaker will focus on its role as home to its builders, Robb de Peyster Tytus and his wife, Grace, as well as the year-round residence of Grace’s son, composer John McLennan and his family.
Find out more »March 2021
Virtual Ventfort Encore: Picturing America: The Prints and Legacy of Currier & Ives
Maggie North speaks on “Picturing America: The Prints of Currier & Ives.” This event is a rerun of the recording that took place in September. The event will be available to access for one week following (so if you are not able to view at 6pm that evening, you will still be able to at your convenience).
Find out more »Virtual: Colfax & Fowler, Legendary Designers of the English Country House Style
A curator who specializes in historic decoration, Lisa Singleton Boudiette will turn our attention to the preeminent English design firm with her talk on “Colfax & Fowler, Legendary Designers of the English Country House Style.” She will give her visual presentation via Zoom.
Find out more »Morning Diversions Series: Colfax & Fowler, Legendary Designers of the English Country House Style
A curator who specializes in historic decoration, Lisa Singleton Boudiette will turn our attention to the preeminent English design firm with her talk and visual presentation via Zoom.
Find out more »Virtual Ventfort Encore: Overcoming Tragedy…in Lenox’s Gilded Era Country Houses
Ventfort Hall resident historian and author Cornelia Brooke Gilder will give us a peek at the subject of her next book when she presents “Overcoming Tragedies: Real Life in Lenox’s Gilded Era Country Houses.” This event is a rerun of the recording that took place in September. The event will be available to access for one week following (so if you are not able to view at 6pm that evening, you will still be able to at your convenience).
Find out more »Virtual: Ventfort Encore: Silhouette Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger
Screenwriter and film historian Nannina Gilder speaks on Museum “Silhouette Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger. This event is a rerun of the recording that took place in September. The event will be available to access for one week following (so if you are not able to view at 6pm that evening, you will still be able to at your convenience).
Find out more »Virtual Ventfort Encore: PT Barnum: The Man, The Myth, The American Icon
Executive Director of the Barnum Museum, Bridgeport, CT, for 22 years, Kathleen Maher will offer her recognized authoritative knowledge to explore “P. T. Barnum: The Man, the Myth, the Legend.” How much of a beguiling con artist was this vibrant character? Was he just all show biz? This event is a rerun of the recording that took place in September. The event will be available to access for one week following (so if you are not able to view at…
Find out more »Slavic Easter Egg Decorating Workshop
Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft. Ventfort Hall is offers its annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional workshops. In practicing social distancing, we will limit the number of people at each session. Masks will be required.
Find out more »Slavic Easter Egg Decorating Workshop
Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft. Ventfort Hall is offers its annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional workshops. In practicing social distancing, we will limit the number of people at each session. Masks will be required.
Find out more »April 2021
Virtual Ventfort Encore: The Woman Who Stole Vermeer
Anthony Amore, Director of Security and Chief Investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, will make a visual presentation on the subject of his new book titled “The Woman Who Stole Vermeer, the True Story of Rose Dugdale and the Russborough House Art Heist.” This event is a rerun of the recording that took place in November. The event will be available to access for one week following (so if you are not able to view at 6pm…
Find out more »Virtual Saturday Talk with Paranormal Investigator David Raby
Join paranormal investigator and author David Raby when he presents “Walking Amongst the Shadows” on Zoom. Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum has been host to Raby’s group paranormal investigation events since 2017 and the mansionhas proven to be quite haunted during those events. In this special online presentation, Raby will tell some of his favorite experiences and showcase some of the exciting evidence gathered at Ventfort Hall. This fast-paced presentation will include both audio and video clips that will…
Find out more »Virtual: Etiquette and the Importance of Self-Presentation Today
Michelle Pappas, founder and director of Potomac Protocol & Etiquette, LLC, will give a presentation via Zoom on “Virtual Zoom Etiquette and the Importance of Self-Presentation Today.” Pappas will focus on giving her audience a thorough understanding of the importance of etiquette in the virtual world of Zoom and how self-presentation plays an important part.
Find out more »Virtual: Helen Hamilton Gardener, Fallen Woman, Free Thinker
Award-winning historian, speaker and writer Kimberly A. Hamlin, PhD will reveal the fascinating story of the “fallen woman” who reinvented herself and became the “most potent factor” in the Congressional passage of the 19th Amendment. Offered by Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, Hamlin will give her talk titled “Helen Hamilton Gardener, Fallen Woman, Free Thinker” via Zoom from her home in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hamlin’s presentation is based on her book Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage, and the Extraordinary Life…
Find out more »Virtual Saturday Talk: The Last Voyage of the Whaling Bark Progress
Join historian Dr. Daniel W. Gifford when he explores one of the stranger sagas of the famous White City of the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. He is the author of the new book The Last Voyage of the Whaling Bark Progress: New Bedford, Chicago and the Twilight of an Industry, the subject of his talk.
Find out more »May 2021
Drop-in Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Saturdays from 9 am to 10 am. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »Paranormal Investigation:Walking Amongst the Shadows at Ventfort Hall
Join David Raby for a paranormal investigation of the our historic and haunted mansion. A non-fiction author and paranormal investigator, Raby has always been intrigued by history. Undaunted, he enters haunted locations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirits to discover why they remain. Reservations required.
Find out more »Drop-in Community Yoga
Join Susan Shook, a yoga practitioner, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Saturdays from 9 am to 10 am. The class is indoors in our great hall. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Find out more »
Introducing Blantyre's Resort Membership Program
The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home
Berkshire Elegant Country Inns
Fairfield Marriott
Norman Rockwell Museum: A Must See!