It was a fascinating look into the life of a wealthy industrialist Henry Clay Frick's family's life.
We visited the museum shop, which was originally the children's playhouse--the gutters of the bowling alley (I'm not kidding) are visible under a glass plate in the floor. The estate has its own greenhouse, and a carriage house, which boasts all of the Frick family's carriages, and several cars from the early part of the century through a 1953 Packard. The most interesting one to me was the Stanley Steamer (not built by the carpet cleaning company Stanley Steemer!)
Clayton, the family home, was owned by the unmarried Frick daughter, Helen, who endowed the estate and left it intact as a museum for the public to enjoy. According to the brochure, the Frick mansion is unusual among historical homes in that 93% of the artifacts in the house are original. Helen and her father were art collectors, and there is a art museum on the site, although the main Frick collection is in New York.
Western PA has some wonderful sites and opportunities for family-friendly activities--the Armstrong County Tourist Bureau has some great information and a friendly staff to help you. You can also check out Visit Pittsburgh.HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2 comments:
Mindy,
Thanks for spending a wonderful day with me. We had great weather, great food, great company and an all over great time. And you didn't even get us lost once with your navigating. Where will we go next year??????
Sue
I had fun, too. God willing, maybe Falling Water and Kentuck Knob next year--waddya think?
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