Towards Tahitian Room Assessment
National Trust for Historic Preservation Awards Brucemore Preservation Grant towards Tahitian Room Assessment
Brucemore was awarded a $ 5,500 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund. These grant funds were used for a condition assessment of the Tahitian Room located in the mansion.
In 1939, Howard Hall worked with local craftsmen to bring Tahiti to his basement in the Brucemore mansion by creating a “man cave.” The space included a system by which “rain” falls on the tin roof, Polynesian kitsch adorns the walls, and a linoleum map of the South Pacific covers the floor. Far different from the turn-of-the-nineteenth-century feel of the rest of the house, the Tahitian Room is always a visitor favorite. Despite consistent care, the memorable linoleum floor has slowly degraded over the decades. Brucemore hired a historic structures specialist to identify the cause of this deterioration. Preliminary findings confirm that moisture seeping through the north terrace of the mansion is causing the linoleum to flake and crumble. The specialist’s conditions assessment report will guide future conservation projects in this key interpretive space. Brucemore staff intends to remedy the moisture issue and restore the floor in 2017.
“Organizations like Brucemore help to ensure that communities and towns all across America retain their unique sense of place,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We are honored to provide a grant to Brucemore, which will use the funds to help preserve an important piece of our shared national heritage.”
Grants from the National Trust Preservation Funds range from $2,500 to $5,000 and have provided over $15 million since 2003. These matching grants are awarded to non-profit organizations and public agencies across the country to support wide-ranging activities including consultant services for rehabilitating buildings, technical assistance for tourism that promotes historic resources, and the development of materials for education and outreach campaigns. More information on National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Fund grants.
About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is committed to protecting America’s rich cultural legacy and helping build vibrant, sustainable communities that reflect our nation’s diversity. Follow us on Twitter @presnation.