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Gabby Seyfer Background Photo Credits: UMD archives
Introduction
Glensheen is a famous historical site located in Duluth, Minnesota. It specifically is located near Duluth's eastern end of the city as Duluth today (2025) spans around 80 square miles. In the early days of Glensheen while the Congdon family still resided in the residence, they had nearly 22 acres of land they owned on the property. Today about 9 acres remain in ownership of the estate and the rest was sold or donated to Duluth. For Duluth natives, the property touched Tischer Creek, which many know is quite a ways away from where the main house is located. When going to experience Glensheen mansion many notice the beautiful trees located on the property, but many may not know that the Congdon family is who placed many of those trees, as they did not exist prior to them owning the residence. Glensheen now is around a 9 acre estate which is maintained by the University of Minnesota Duluth. Tours are now offered, as well as events held on property such as in the summer there are concerts near the boathouse open to the public for anyone to attend. Some may come by land to experience these concerts and some may come by boat to be in the bay to experience as well.
Photo Credits: Personal Tour at Glensheen
Photo credits: UMD archives
About the Property
When it comes to the gardens on the property, the Congdons wanted to not only have formal gardens where they could stroll though and use to entertain, but they wanted to be sustainable and have the ability to provide for themselves on their own. The Congdons hired a New York landscape professional, Charles Leavitt, he was asked to keep the space as undisturbed as possible so residents of the estate and their guests could enjoy the beauty of what was already there in nature. Duluth, at the time, was not as evolved as it was today, so the location of the estate was further out of town so it made sense to have these grand gardens filled with many items. I think, as well that, the Congdons wanted to have their own fruit and vegetable gardens to help keep themselves sustained when it was maybe harder to access main stores in town.
While going through the archives provided by the University of Minnesota Duluth, which the Congdons had donated to, and, in looking at receipts from the early days of Glensheen, we learned that, on the property, there were nearly 270 different types of plants. Something to know about some of the plants on property is that in the greenhouse, at one point they had a banana tree! Many of the trees on property were placed after the Congdon family obtained ownership of the estate, the trees you can see from outside the house looking at the lake and boathouse were planted after they moved in.
About the Property...
When experiencing the estate, they had two entrances. One from the lake and one from the road. Mr. and Mrs.Congdon loved Italian and Japanese styles and design, so not only noticing the interior design but seeing how they incorporated it on the exterior in the gardens is interesting when paying more attention to detail. When entering from the lake you would experience the formal gardens and come alongside the gorgeous fountain displaying Italian dolphins. Mrs.Congdon loved Italian influences when it came to detail and design so it was naturally fitting that there were Italian dolphins placed into the fountain. In also looking at design of the garden it has some more Italian influences when it comes to design and influence of the actual structure of stone work and placements. There were many types of roses, poppies and lilies as well which have Italian heritage. Mr.Congdon was more interested in Japanese style and design, so it is no surprise when looking at archive records of finding some plants that are maybe more oriental. Some such as Japanese Privet also botanically known as Ligustrum Ibota, Japanese Lilac aka Syringa Japonica, Chinese Larkspur aka Delphinus Grandiflorum, Japanese Iris aka Iris Ensata and many more beautiful botanicals. When it comes to the more undeveloped areas of the property there were paths to walk along, a bridge to cross the creek and an access point to Lake Superior which Duluth is built along the tip of the lake. To the west of the property if you are at the main road entrance, past the house is the more maybe you could call undeveloped areas in nature where there are still paths today to walk along, they are not nearly as long as they were in the estates prime and ownership of the Congdon's but still an amazing experience for all.
Photo Credits: Glensheen Tours
More about the Property and its Maintenance
When it comes to keeping Glensheen sustainable, there was an amazing grounds crew throughout the years. When looking at archive records near the early 1900's there seemed to be maybe some generational employees on property whether they were in the house, on the grounds or a combination. In doing some deeper dives in the archives doing a quick read on the gardeners journals was pretty amazing. Seeing their day to day tasks and how meticulous they were in perfecting each detail was amazing. They kept detailed notes and records for where items may have been placed or adjusted to make it be the most perfect and ideal viewing experience for the residents or guests they may have accompanying them. Some gardeners noted even turning a potted plant around so the more admirable side could be shown.
On the property there was an immaculate greenhouse that was run year round to keep maybe some of the more annual plants. When in the early years of the estate, the Congdon's went through many trees and other plants trying to see what would survive best in the Duluth area as it is known to have hard winters that follow beautiful summers. Each year the gardeners reported on what trees did well over winter and which ones did not, the Congdons would either decide to replace said trees with the same one or find a new tree to be in its place. I think Mr. and Mrs.Congdon were impatient sometimes because they were complaining to gardeners about how apple trees were not producing but they did not know that the tree was in its infant stages still and needed to grow a few more years before producing any fruit. I think it is important to note that the gardeners were also the grounds crew, they were helping maintain the estate as well as keeping gardens pristine. They were helping repaint areas of the mansion, clearing path ways, doing the gardening but letting Mrs.Congdon maintain her own flower beds she chose to do herself. Gardeners did seem to get some down time in the winter as there was not as much upkeep, some in journals noted "Gone fishing" days which I thought was fun and generous of the Congdons to provide as you don't hear that often back in that time period.
Photo credits: UMD archives
Conclusion
I think Glensheen is an amazing estate to visit with many interesting facts and a wonderful place to experience. When on property it may take time to notice the nature and what is surrounding you and not just the mansion and its experience it gives those visiting. I think whether you go experience the estate in spring, summer or fall it is amazing the different things you may notice about the property. I would say winter is harder to experience nature and landscape as most of it is covered in snow or not many plants are in season. For all my nature lovers who know types of plant species, take note of what may have been added to property and what may be native to the state or area. I think it is interesting how they curated the space to be so put together while having different things you may not have thought that go together well. It may spark inspiration.
Works Cited:
University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Public Gardens of Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/glensheen-mansion-gardens
UMD Archive records Gardeners Journals
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