Sitting on a lush, green bend of the bayou in Houston is an extraordinary house and collection: Bayou Bend, once home to the inestimable Ima Hogg, whose collection of American furniture and decorative arts rivaled that of the Duponts. The Spanish Colonial revival mansion, oak trees, and verdant gardens seem right at home in Texas. But step inside and one feels transported back East ~ to old Boston, Newport, New York, and Philadelphia. The house showcases some of the best American craftsmanship from the 17th through the 19th century. You may see a few of the rooms here, but for a more in-depth study, there are two wonderful publications: America's Treasures at Bayou Bend (with gorgeous color illustrations), and American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection (a full scholarly catalogue of the collections). 
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6 comments:
I am so very envious of you.
(I wish all historic site museums knew who you were already and let you take some pictures inside . . .) KDM
Oh, so jealous! On my short-list most definitely.
Both of you would be in Hogg heaven!!! So many woderful things. The tour takes about an hour and a half and it barely scratches the surface.
And K...I know, I know....
Beautiful photograph of that hand.
So her money came from oil...I am always fascinated by the origins of these fortunes that get turned into beautiful houses and works of art.
Emile ~ thank you! American collectors are fascinating that way...sometimes turning the humblest of commodities into gold.
Janet - glad you saw Bayou Bend. I loved private tour there while still at Monticello - was there to give talk on "The 'Eye' of Thomas Jefferson." Isn't it wonderful inside and out?!?
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