Photo courtesy of Evergreen Museum and Library
The large yellow mansion on N. Charles St. known as Evergreen House is an impressive sight on its own. But inside the doors of this mid-nineteenth century home is a vast world of art and learning. Built in 1857 by the Broadbent family, it was purchased in 1878 by John W. Garrett, then president of the B&O Railroad, as a family home for his son T. Harrison and his wife, Alice. As soon as they moved in, they began renovating and adding on to the architecture, including a new entryway and a large state-of-the-art gymnasium. The interior was further renovated in the 1920s by their son, John Work Garrett, and his wife Alice Warder, most of it designed by Laurence Hall Fowler.
While living at Evergreen, the Garretts amassed a large collection of art, books, and objets d'artes from all over the world, much of it collected during John Work's tenure as a diplomat for the US government. Over 50,000 artifacts remain in the residence. The Garrett family has been a major contributor to philanthropic causes for over a hundred years, and they remain both a charitable organization as well as patrons of the arts.
Today, visitors can see many of the 48 rooms as they once were, while some have been transformed into display exhibitions. The house is certainly worth a visit, if only to view the extensive Rare Book Library, which holds, among the 8,000 priceless volumes, a collection of rare bibles, an illuminated gospel manuscript, Shakespeare's four folios, and documents containing the signatures of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Also worth seeing is the Bakst Theatre, which the gymnasium was transformed into, and was decorated by Leon Bakst of the Ballet Russe. He used stencils in the rustic Russian style to turn it into a performance area for Alice's many dance recitals, as well as designing sets and costumes for her.
The house is also littered with ceramics and fixtures in the Art Nouveau style, as well as original paintings by such artists as Picasso, Rodin, and Degas, most collected before the artists became famous or important. Another impressive collection is the many Oriental artifacts, such as Ching Dynasty ceramics and Japanese pieces from the Edo period.
Walking through the Evergreen house, the Garrett family's constant pursuit of art and knowledge is evident in every nook and cranny. From John Work's boyhood bedroom, with its own library and collection of natural history, to the drawing room, where the family could sit together surrounded by priceless art, the passions of the people who lived there are palpable. Stepping into the home is like stepping into another time, where only the exploration of the world and enjoyment of its beauty is all that matters.
The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 11-4 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12-4pm. Tours are available on the hour. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $3 for students and children six and up. The rare books are available for perusal by appointment only with Earle Havens, curator of rare books.
Coming soon the Bakst Theatre on March 7 at 3pm is a concert by the Amedeo Modigliani Quartet. March 13 from 8-10 pm features Laure Drogoul at the Bakst. Reservations are required.
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