FC Buzz: A lot is happening at Lockwood-Mathews

BY SUSAN GILGORE

The fall season at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum promises exciting, new programs and increased access to our communities. Generous support from the city of Norwalk, the state of Connecticut and private and corporate donations have allowed the museum to take some important steps toward universal access, just in time for a calendar of events that we hope will educate, inspire and entertain people of all ages.

The historical significance of the mansion is well known. The mansion is both a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is regarded by experts as one of the earliest and most significant Second Empire Style country houses ever built in the U.S. Its significance from the standpoint of its architecture and history has led to features such as A&E”™s documentary, “America”™s Castles,” as well as many scholarly dissertations. But the the mansion has also deeply penetrated popular culture: Recently “Glee” star Cheyenne Jackson was featured in a music video with the museum as its backdrop, the 1970s “House of Dark Shadows” turned the mansion into a haunted house, and it was seen by millions worldwide when it became the set of the sci-fi movie “The Stepford Wives.”

The museum offers weekly tours and among its fall programs, a black-tie gala Oct. 18 featuring New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry, as keynote speaker. The Young Writers”™ Competition launched in the spring will culminate when Mr. Berry will judge the finalists at the awards presentation the evening of the gala.

“Hidden Treasures from the LMMM Collections,” an exhibit of rarely seen artifacts and exquisite decorative arts objects from the Lockwood and Mathews families, will be on view, giving visitors a glimpse into the personal lives and styles of the mansion”™s former occupants. Lectures featuring renowned speakers and authors, Halloween”™s “Ghostly Sightings” tours, a magnificent and sought-after Victorian tea and a holiday exhibit will be some of the great opportunities for visitors to experience this iconic Victorian-era mansion and National Historic Landmark.

Susan Gilgore is executive director of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, a member of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.