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Did you know we offer a picnic lunch and tour option?
Spend a relaxing afternoon at Salisbury House! This option is for two guests and includes a guided tour accompanied by an all-inclusive picnic lunch in the gardens. Reservations may be made during regular museum hours. It's the perfect time of year to take advantage of this while enjoying our beautiful grounds. To make a reservation call 515-274-1777. For more information visit http://bit.ly/2Q48INv.
Several of our volunteers and many of our guests have said one of their favorite pieces of art in the house is the Doves at Drinking Bowl mosaic. This piece is located upstairs on the wall next to the Porch Room. It is a micromosaic using small pieces of tile to create the image dating back to the late 18th or early 19th century. When you look closely you can see the tiny individual tiles placed with great precision to create the image. Next time you are visiting Salisbury House, stop by this mosaic to take a close look and admire the technical skill used to create this work of art.
Salisbury House will be closed for tours on Saturday, May 11th. Normal tour hours will resume on Sunday, May 12th.
Looking for something to do on this rainy day? Visit us for one of our guided tours at 10:30, 1:30 or 3:15.
For the month of May, the book on display will be our 1896 edition of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Kelmscott Chaucer. This 1896 Kelmscott Chaucer is a rare edition, one of 48 copies bound in pigskin and includes signatures from Morris, Edward Burne-Jones, William Harcourt Hooper and T. J. Cobden-Sanderson.
In the 1940’s, Carl diligently sought to attain a copy of a Kelmscott Chaucer and through the help of his rare book dealer and friend, Philip Duschnes, he was finally able to secure one of his own. The story goes that Carl reached out to Duschnes regarding the purchase of his first copy of Chaucer, a limited edition run consisting only 425 volumes of Kelmscott Press’s Chaucer, printed on hand-made paper for $600. Two years later, Carl negotiated a deal to trade in that copy for an even rarer copy bound in pigskin and signed by Morris, Edward Burne-Jones (wood cut illustrator), William Harcourt Hooper (engraver), and T. J. Cobden-Sanderson for $650. The book is beautifully done and includes 87 wood-cut illustrations.
To see this book on display visit us Tuesday though Sunday for a guided tour. For tour times visit our website at www.salisburyhouse.org.
For this year's Shakespeare on the Lawn Iowa Stage Theatre Company will be performing Macbeth. This annual event is a one-of-a-kind experience where the audience is immersed in the performance on the lawn surrounded by our beautiful gardens. Get your tickets now at www.salisburyhouse.org.
Don't miss the opportunity to see this month's featured book, the Gutenberg Bible Leaf, in the library at Salisbury House.
Most scholars believe that Johannes Gutenberg produced around 180 Bibles through the early 1450s. Of the existing complete Gutenberg Bibles, each book contains around 1,286 pages and is bound in two volumes. Out of approximately 180 original Bibles, only 49 still exist, and less than half are complete (countries with the most Gutenberg Bibles include - 13 Germany, 11
United States, and 8 United Kingdom). 1978 was the last recorded time that a complete Gutenberg Bible sold at auction, the book's final sale price was $2.2 million, this would equal approximately $25-35 million in today’s currency.
Visit us for a guided tour Tuesday through Sunday through the 30th to view the Gutenberg Bible Leaf in our library.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We are currently looking for volunteers to help us put on this year's Shakespeare on the Lawn event running June 12-16. Volunteers receive one free admission ticket for every shift they work. If interested, email [email protected] or call 515-274-1777.
Shakespeare on the Lawn will be here before we know it! With last year’s increased attendance we have added a Wednesday night performance this year. To purchase tickets visit www.salisburyhouse.org.
The Scottish Play begins with our noble leader Brad Dell at the helm! M*cbeth begins on the lawn at Salisbury House & Gardens on June 12.
Tickets available at Salisburyhouse.org!
#iowastage #salisburyhouse #shakespeare #thescottishplay
We are closed today for Easter. We will reopen at our regular hours on Tuesday at 10am. Happy Easter!
Many of our volunteers and guests have said the painting by Sir Anthony van Dyck of Cardinal Rivarola is their favorite piece in the house. Painted in 1624, it remains one of Salisbury House's most signature works of art. Here are three things you might not know about the painting:
1. Van Dyck painted two portraits of Cardinal Rivarola about three years before the cardinal's death. One painting was purchased by the Weeks family and the other hangs in the Portland Art Museum. The paintings are almost identical.
2. Cardinal Rivarola was 50 years old at the time of the portrait.
3. Salisbury House's painting hangs in its original frame.
#salisburyhousedsm #VanDyck #arthistory
We are so honored to be included as one of the top wedding venues from coast to coast! For more information on our wedding venue rental opportunities call 515-274-1777.
Incredible places to get married in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
As we come to the end of #NationalVolunteerWeek we want to thank our volunteers who lend their time to support a historical and cultural resource in their community. To join our amazing team of volunteers please call 515-274-1777.
Thank you Jim and Pat for donating your time to Salisbury House and for continuing to share our story with our visitors. #nationalvolunteerweek
Tour guides are at the heart of the Salisbury House experience. They tell the story of Salisbury House and its creation to our guests; leading people of all ages on public and private tours of the historic mansion while sharing the history of the family who built it. Tour guides become experts in topics of fine arts, architectural styling, and Salisbury House lore. Training instruction is provided by veteran tour guides and covers the history of Salisbury House, its distinct architecture, the Weeks family and the unique collections. We are so grateful for the time our tour guides donate to create a unique experience for our guests. #nationalvolunteerweek #thankyou #salisburyhousedsm
Thank you Jana for 15 years of volunteering! #nationalvolunteerweek
Thank you Jacquie for your 30 years of volunteering! #nationalvolunteerweek
This week is #NationalVolunteerWeek and we would like to recognize our volunteers at Salisbury House. We are so fortunate to have volunteers that are passionate about Salisbury House, its history and the collections. They are each truly unique in how they tell our story and why they love working here. We will be sharing some of these interesting perspectives this week while we recognize our volunteers for all the time they have spent here at Salisbury House and have generously given us over the years.
This month we are featuring the Gutenberg Bible Leaf in the library at Salisbury House. The leaf is a page from the Old Testament, specifically Leviticus. It was produced in Mainz, Germany by Johannes Gutenberg between 1450-1455. The Gutenberg Bible was the first book printed with movable type in Europe and the start of the mass production of books. Our leaf was part of the “Noble Fragment” collection issued by a New York dealer, Gabriel Wells, in 1921. Wells bought a damaged copy of the Gutenberg Bible, took it apart, and sold individual leaves and sections. These originally sold for prices ranging between $150 and $500. Visit us for a guided tour during the month of April to see this leaf on display.
Thank you We Are Iowa Local 5 News for your continued support and for having our Executive Director, Kit Curran on today to talk about our 2019 annual campaign. Our annual campaign goes through May with a goal of $320,000 to raise. To show your support visit www.salisburyhouse.org/donate.
Donate to Various Aspects Of The Salisbury House
We are currently looking for this year's presenting sponsor for Shakespeare on the Lawn running June 12-16, 2019. With such a successful turnout last year we have added an additional performance on Wednesday evening. Iowa Stage Theatre Company will be performing Macbeth. To support or request more information call 515-274-1777.
Summer will be here before we know it and we can't wait for some of the beautiful events planned here at the Salisbury House. Our gorgeous garden bordered by pristine woodlands is available to rent for your summer parties creating an idyllic setting right in the heart of Des Moines. For more information or to book your event email [email protected] or call 515.274.1777.
The most eye-catching piece of the breakfast room is definitely Joseph Stella's Apotheosis of the Rose painting. This painting, one of three commissioned by the Weekses, originally contained a small image of Salisbury House just behind the lotus blossom. The Weekses, however, felt that the painting should not be so intimately connected to the house and Stella painted over the image, though the road to the house can still be seen just above the lotus.
There are very few homes of Salisbury House’s caliber in the US that still maintain original collections, and fewer still open to the public. We cannot take advantage of this unparalleled educational and cultural resource right here in Des Moines. Your support is necessary to the vitality of the Salisbury House for future generations. Please consider donating to our 2019 annual campaign. Visit our website to donate: www.salisburyhouse.org.
Today we are celebrating the woman who was crucial to the existence of Salisbury House, Edith Weeks. Edith Van Slyke Weeks was born on August 2, 1882, in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1899 enrolled at the University of Michigan, where she earned her bachelor degree in art history. Edith married Carl Weeks on February 27, 1907. Edith was an influential and dedicated member of the community, serving as president of the Garden Club of America, a member of the Des Moines Women’s Club, President of Des Moines Founders Garden Club, and with Carl, spearheaded the construction of Drake Stadium and the Des Moines Art Center. From all of us here at Salisbury House, Happy International Women’s Day!
Salisbury House and Gardens
We need your help! If you are interested in joining a team of passionate volunteer tour guides who share the unique history of Salisbury House, please email [email protected] or call us at 515-274-1777.
The book of the month on display during the month of March is an Illuminated Book of Hours- France, 15th Century. This Book of Hours came into the collection of Carl Weeks Christmas of 1927. Carl had expressed interest in the book earlier in July of 1927 to the classic book dealer, Andre Clevi (storefront located at 34 Rue Le Peletier, Paris, France), whom he had an established purchasing history. Carl’s staff at Armand knew of Carl’s interest in the book and gave it to him as a Christmas present.
The significance of this book relates to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, when Book of Hours were created to aid with personal devotion. Books were personalized for the individual and included religious passages, prayers, and psalms. The level of decoration and illumination varies between books, with most having decorated capital letters at the start of prayers and psalms. Lavishly decorated books, like the one on display here in the Salisbury House Library, were created for wealthy patrons. Visit us for a guided tour Thursday through Sunday to view this rare book from our collections.
We have officially kicked off our 2019 annual campaign with a goal to raise $320,000 by the end of April. Please consider supporting our Foundation to continue preserving the history and maintaining the property to offer a cultural resource within our community for future generations. Make a donation at www.salisburyhouse.org/donate.
An aerial photo of Salisbury House in the 1960's. If you look closely Hud and Ellen Weeks’ Lustron home can be seen in the bottom left corner of the house. A lot has changed, but at Salisbury House we also strive to preserve the history of the house, the grounds and the neighborhood.
It’s always great to see the Salisbury House from the perspective of our guests. Thank you @3zs_studios for sharing these photos of your visit. #salisburyhousedsm
#Repost @3zs_studios with @get_repost
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Visited the #salisburyhouse in #desmoines #iowa today!! So cool!
We had a great time last night with the Des Moines West Side Chamber of Commerce hosting their annual Victory Celebration. Great food, great drinks and good times had by all!
We need your help! If you are interested in joining a team of passionate volunteer tour guides who share the unique history of Salisbury House, please email [email protected] or call us at 515-274-1777.
Happy Presidents Day! Throughout the rest of this month we will have two presidential letters to Carl Weeks on display at Salisbury House. Carl Weeks was a wealthy and influential personality during the 20’s and 30’s and he rubbed elbows with many important people. The two letters featured for the month of February are evident of the range of his relationships. Visit us for a guided tour to view these letters on display.
UPDATE: due to weather conditions, Salisbury House will be closed today.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the union that made Salisbury House possible! This week Salisbury House features photos of Carl and Edith Weeks on their wedding day. Visit us for a guided tour through Sunday to view these photos.
“The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough of is love.” —By Henry Miller
Today we are looking back at all the beautiful moments at Salisbury House celebrating love. Happy Valentine's Day!
📷: Maddie Eckert Frees Frame Photography & Design
Do you love William Shakespeare? Do you love Salisbury House and Gardens? Do you love attending our annual Shakespeare on the Lawn event? We are currently looking for this year's presenting sponsor for Shakespeare on the Lawn running June 13-16, 2019. This year Iowa Stage Theatre Company will be performing Macbeth. To support or request more information call 515-274-1777.
We love to see beautiful moments like this that are captured at @salisburyhousedsm weddings. #bride #weddingday #salisburyhousedsm
#Repost @laurenkonradphoto with @get_repost
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this bride, this room & this day. pure magic.
Two features within Edith's bedroom that stand out are the chandelier and the silk-covered walls. The chandelier dates back to 1850 France and is positioned just above Edith's bed. Fashioned as a whimsical birdcage, it was crafted in brass and glazed porcelain with a ceramic parrot in the center. The lavender silk panels with cotton backing were installed on the walls to soften noise from outside the room. Visit us for a guided tour to see this beautiful room.
We're hiring a Director of Sales & Events! Are you an energetic, motivated, highly-organized, detail-oriented, creative, and hardworking go-getter who loves a challenge? Do you thrive on the fast-paced activity of pursuing leads and closing sales? If this sounds like you apply today! https://salisburyhouse.org/
Start planning your fairytale wedding with us on February 24th at the West End Salvage Open House. Visit our table to see photos of some of the beautiful weddings that have taken place at Salisbury House and learn more about booking your wedding at our one-of-a-kind venue.
For the month of February we have pulled out two presidential letters to Carl Weeks from the collection:
1. From President Herbert Hoover to Carl Weeks
2. From First Lady Edith Woodrow Wilson
Presidents Day for 2019 will be on Monday, February 18th. Established in the 1800’s, Presidents Day was originally a celebration of George Washington’s birthday (February 22nd), but later, as Lincoln’s birthday was also in the month of February (February 12th), one Monday in February was set aside to remember not only Washington and Lincoln, but all American presidents.
Visit us for a guided tour Thursday through Sunday at 1:30pm to view these letters on display.
Be sure to check us out on GIVEdsm.org! The Community Foundation recently launched this online giving resource to the public. The site provides an opportunity to be part of solutions by supporting the pressing needs of nonprofit organizations. It’s a simple online tool where you can select your areas of interest and see profiles of available projects in need of support. Each profile provides the opportunity to learn more and then grant directly from your Community Foundation charitable giving fund or give directly to the organization. Salisbury House Foundation has posted a project to raise funds for a new database to better engage with our donors, members, sponsors, event attendees and visitors. To learn more and show your support visit GIVEdsm.org, search for the Salisbury House project and submit your donation.
GIVEdsm, powered by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, provides the opportunity to learn about local causes you care about, give to support their needs and make our community better together.
4025 Tonawanda Dr
Des Moines, IA
50312
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 - 17:00 |
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As we come to the end of #NationalVolunteerWeek we want to thank our volunteers who lend their time to support a historical and cultural resource in their community. To join our amazing team of volunteers please call 515-274-1777.
Salisbury House is closed today and tomorrow with winter hours starting in January. Winter hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 pm with guided tours at 1:30 pm each day. Have a safe and happy NYE!
Thank you Van and Bonnie at WHO Radio for having us on today to talk about our annual Holly & Ivy event going on this Friday and Saturday. It’s always fun being on your show!
We still have goosebumps from last night's Winifred M. Kelly Music Series event. Thank you to all that attended and thank you to the Iowa State University Department of Music and Theatre for a fantastic performance. Be sure to watch for more events at the Salisbury House and Gardens on our page and website.
Tomorrow is Mysteries of the Castle!! Join us for this fun children’s event and enter for a chance to win one of these freaky spectacular balloon hats provided by Nobbies in Clive! Your Halloween costume could be complete! Due to the weather all activites will be held inside the historic mansion. Tickets are $5; children ages 2 and under are FREE. Tickets are available at the door!
Don’t miss your chance to view Iowa Public Television’s brief documentary about Vincent Price’s visit to Salisbury House in 1982. The film contains vintage footage of some of Price’s horror films and footage of him literally inside of Salisbury House. The documentary can be watched on a regular tour through the end of the month.
This month we have series of “spooky books” on display in the Library. These books include an edition of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and a book of Witchcraft, Magic, & Alchemy. You can see them during a regular guided tour of Salisbury House through the end of the month. #HappyHalloween 🎃
Sneaking up on a family of butterflies and a some bees in a flower bed. These butterflies are called painted ladies. They look similar to monarch butterflies but vary more in color and pattern on their ventral side. They have spots of orange, white, black, brown, and taupe. They are some of our most common visitors this time of year. 🦋🐝
Good morning, September ⛅️
Don't miss your chance to see the exhibit, Lillian Genth: "For the Good of My Soul" in The Garage. This exhibit displays the entire collection of paintings by Lillian Genth in the Salisbury House Permanent Collection. It is accessible on a regular tour of the house through Sunday, August 20.
TONIGHT check out the opening reception of our latest art exhibit, Lillian Genth: "For the Good of My Soul" in The Garage from 5:30-7:30 pm. It's FREE to attend. #ArtWeekDSM
Salisbury House's Curator & Chief Historian, Megan Stout Sibbel gives us a sneak peek 👀 into what we can see on our next Treasures Tour coming up on Tuesday, May 23. You won't want to miss this exclusive tour! Get your tickets today: http://bit.ly/2qwerii
Have access to the Library at Salisbury House with an exclusive Treasures Tour led by Salisbury House's Curator & Chief Historian, Megan Stout Sibbel on Tuesday, May 23. Megan will show you specific treasures in the collection that are seldom on display including rare books and manuscripts. Spots are limited! Tickets are on sale at salisburyhouse.org.
We invite you to The Steinway Experience! You can now play the custom-made 1930 Steinway piano at Salisbury House by appointment. Piano sessions are $50 for one hour. Proceeds benefit Salisbury House Foundation. We are booking sessions now through July 2, 2017. To book your session, please call 515-274-1777. Davis Ross, Salisbury House Interpreter, shares with us this new opportunity...
David Ross, Salisbury House volunteer & Interpreter, gave us a special treat today as he played Beethoven's "Fur Elise" on the Steinway piano. Stay tuned next week as we announce a new opportunity that will give you a chance to play this incredible instrument...❤️🎹
Are you looking for a romantic and charming outdoor venue for your wedding ceremony & reception? Look no further. Salisbury House has the following dates available for the 2017 season: July 8, 15, 22, 29 August 5, 19, 26 September 2, 30 October 21 If you book your wedding ceremony & reception on one of these dates by July 28, 2017, you'll receive $500 off your rental fee. To book your date, please contact [email protected]. #ThePerfectVenue
Cocktails in the courtyard and dinner on the terrace at Salisbury House creates the idyllic outdoor reception with the details of your choosing. We have a select number of dates still available this year for ceremonies and/or receptions. To find out if your date is available, please email [email protected]. Photos by Aly Carroll Photography
Happy Frolicking Friday! 🦌
How many times can you listen to this instrument? Countless. Here is pianist, David Lilijedahl playing the #Steinway piano. Happy #NationalPianoDay 🎹❤️
Don't stand in the rain. 🌧Come inside for a tour and see what you'll discover. 🔍 We are open this Saturday from 10:00 am-5:00 pm and Sunday noon-5:00 pm. For more information about our tours, please visit salisburyhouse.org. #getcultured #exploreSalisburyHouse
We love a good #deersighting 🦌
The host of the evening, "Lance Romance" enters the garage during cocktail hour.
It's such a treat to hear David Lilijedahl play the Steinway piano.
Deck the halls it's Holly & Ivy! We have live holiday music being performed in the Common Room at Salisbury House throughout the weekend. 🎹 #HollyandIvy2016
"Salisbury House is a wonderful place to come to work on a daily basis. I learn something every day..." Kit Curran, Executive Director, shares her favorite place inside Salisbury House. Help preserve this Des Moines treasure by making a donation to Salisbury House Foundation. Donations can be made at salisburyhouse.org/donate.php. #GivingTuesday ❤️
Take a peek into the Library as Megan Stout Sibbel, Curator and Chief Historian, shares with us two significant pieces that illustrate the depth of the collection at Salisbury House. Help preserve these pieces so they may be shared with future generations by making a donation. To donate, go to salisburyhouse.org/donate.php. #GivingTuesday ❤️
"It is such a pleasure to share this gem with the public." Dale Lewis, Salisbury House Interpreter, shares her favorite piece in the Salisbury a House collection. To make a donation and help preserve this Des Moines treasure, please visit salisburyhouse.org/donation.php.
"I encourage you to come to Salisbury House and take a tour so you can see this magnificent home yourself." -Emily Kist, Salisbury House Marketing & Guest Experience Manager. To make a donation and help preserve this Des Moines treasure, please go to salisburyhouse.org/donation.php.
"Salisbury House is truly a treasure for Des Moines and people from all over the country come to visit us."-Judy Ford, Salisbury House Interpreter & Volunteer. Today is #GivingTuesday. Please consider making a donation to Salisbury House Foundation to preserve this Des Moines treasure. Stayed tuned as we share further testimonials by Salisbury House staff members and volunteers throughout the day. To make a donation, please go to salisburyhouse.org/donate.php
In light of #GivingTuesday tomorrow, we asked our staff to describe Salisbury House in one-two word phrases and this is what they came up with…
In preparation of #GivingTuesday coming up on November 29, we are asking our volunteers and staff members to share why they feel Salisbury House special and why it is an important part of our Des Moines community. David Ross has been leading visitors on tours of Salisbury House for over seven years. Here he shares his thoughts on why he does it:
SNEAK PREVIEW: John Winninger (cello) and Diane Rivera (piano) are rehearsing for their recital tomorrow night. Their concert features music by Russian Masters. You won't want to miss this fabulous duo! Tickets will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance at:http://salisburyhouse.org/event.php?event_id=583_0
Thank you to the smooth jazz stylings of The Max Wellman Quintet for bringing the party to Gatsby Gala this past Saturday. The evening was a blast!
When you spend hours doing maintenance work on a 1929 Steinway piano you have to try it out. Here is piano technician and musician, Mr. David Lilijedahl playing the piano at Salisbury House after he repaired it. #SalisburyHouseDSM
We have a guest in our Common Room. David Lilijedahl from Rieman Music is cleaning and repairing Salisbury House's 1929 custom Steinway piano. This is a long and detail orientated process in which parts of the piano are taken apart and reassembled. David tests each key to be sure it is working properly. The piano is regularly tuned by David but it has been almost ten years since it has had special maintenance such as this.
Our current art show, Le Garage Hermetique, considers the ancient synthesis of science and magic. It features the work of fourteen local artist and can be seen on display in The Garage as part of regular paid tours. Pictured is the work of Michael Van Dyke, Jeffrey Thompson, Jeff Ashe, Tom Rosborough, Chris Haines, Joel Herron, and Scott Sjobakken. #SupportLocalArt
Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or wedding. Host an elegant dinner party. Salisbury House has rental spaces available this spring and summer for your special event. Contact: [email protected]. Photo credit: Todd White Photography
Drake University Campus Historic District
2701 Carpenter AveAnderson Gallery, Drake University
2505 Carpenter AveAnderson Gallery, Drake University
1310 25th St.South Des Moines Sculpture Park Art Festival
SW 8th St & McKinley AveRaccoon Valley Centre for the Arts / www.RVCA
Urbandale 50322