Bring your class to Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum for a unique opportunity to explore and learn about a historic country estate on the shores of Narragansett Bay. Our tours are a wonderful way to enhance your curriculum by introducing children to our collections and exposing them to the natural world and to history with hands-on, experiential learning.
Blithewold is a vitally rich teaching resource, with:
- Over 2000 trees representing 250 different varieties, most of which are labeled, some native, some rare, some
one-of-a-kind
- Several different habitats including gardens, a pond, a woodland, a rocky shoreline, and open spaces
- A 1908 English Manor-style mansion filled with period furniture and decoration and an intact archive collection
BRIEF BLITHEWOLD HISTORY
Pennsylvania coal magnate, Augustus Van Wickle and his wife Bessie, purchased the 70 acre property in the mid-1890s and built the first Blithewold mansion, stables, a dock and boat and bathhouses. Working with landscape architect John DeWolf, Bessie and her elder daughter Marjorie Van Wickle Lyon proved to be talented and innovative horticulturists. Marjorie carried on her mother’s gardening legacy until her own death in 1976, when she bequeathed Blithewold and its remaining 33 acres for the enjoyment of the public forever.
GUIDED TOURS
Tours are available throughout the school year for student groups and can be tailored to your group’s age and interests.
A. Grounds Tour: Trees and Landscapes—Our Living Legacies (One hour)
Students are introduced to the major areas of Blithewold including the Enclosed Garden, Bosquet, Bamboo Grove, Water and Rock Gardens, and Great Lawn. Along the way, Guides will place a special emphasis on the nature and value of trees and their effect on the environment and on people. Students will learn about the various parts of trees and how they can be used in tree identification, why trees are important, and a miscellany of amazing plant facts and concepts, including a basic plant vocabulary.
B. House Tour: History of an American Family (45 minutes)
Your students will learn about a way of life enjoyed by a family in the early 20th century. Our experienced guides will point out the classic architectural features such as columns, dentils, and volutes, and period pieces such as a Breton Bed Box, a victrola, a Chinese temple gong, and an antique linen display. During the tour, guides will share interesting stories about the children who grew up at Blithewold.
(House and Grounds tours together: 1½ hours)
SCHOOL GROUP ADMISSION
Guided House and Garden Tour: $4.00/student, $7.00/adult
Guided House OR Garden Tour: $3.00/student, $5.00/adult
Self-Guided Garden Tour: $2.00/student, $3.00/adult
Group rates are based on a minimum of 10 students with advanced reservations. One adult chaperone (complimentary admission) for every 10 students is required. Any additional adults will be charged at a discounted rate. Adjustments will be made in the case of special needs groups. Our staff is ready to assist you in arranging your visit and welcoming your students to Blithewold.
Please have your students dress appropriately for the weather as the temperature by the shore can be cold and windy.
To arrange a group visit please contact:
Kathy Humm
Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
101 Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809
401-253-2707 ext. 24
401-253-0412 (FAX)
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