Be prepared to be awed as you enter the 50 acre estate and sanctuary of the famous author Edith Wharton, named The Mount, it is a rather remarkable example of the magnificent oasis she created in 1902, during the height of the Gilded Age. The Mount located in Lenox, MA, served as her primary sanctuary when she was in her 40s, and at the peak of her fame as a Pulitzer prize winning Author, which was extremely rare for a woman at the time. Wharton penned literary classics such as, 'The House of Mirth' here. Today, the property operates as a vibrant cultural center featuring guided house tours, art exhibitions, and sprawling formal gardens which are oft rented for large weddings. We were thrilled to get a glimpse of the vast well-maintained garden grounds and mansion. It is definitely worth a visit whilst in the Berkshires. Entry is $20, which includes a one hour guided tour, but do stay to linger and explore the magnificent grounds of this stunning estate that was refurbished to its glory after millions of dollars were donated in the 1990s, and are continued in the present. Please enjoy my photos, and thank you for reading. read more

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Took the tour. It feels like you are rushing through - so much information is given. The tour lasts and hour and it hardly seems enough to cover three floors of house. After the tour we were free to wander at our leisure. The gardens are well manicured. A video in the house shows the history of the property and photos of restoration inside and out. Gives a real appreciation of the restoration work done here. Amazing. The woodland path is lovely, shaded and serene. There were childrens programs going on along the path during our wander. There is also a sculpture event happening with pieces scattered along the paths. Park in the dirt lot by the stables where you can purchase tickets and watch an orientation video. It's about a five minute walk to the house from here. A book walk begins here too-a series of signs, each one page of a childrens book. If you need handicap parking, buy tickets online, drive past the stable and park near the house. Very informative tour. An abunfance of information throughout the house. Cafe with prepared food on the terrace overlooking the grounds. Plan to spend two to three hours. read more

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Checked out the grounds while staying in the area. This is a beautiful and relaxing spot to walk around. There's also a trail system behind the main house, which is well worth exploring. Plenty of benches to stop and enjoy the gardens. Look forward to returning here to tour the interior. read more

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This is a fantastic stop in the Berkshires. It is free to walk around the estate grounds/gardens. You can also purchase drinks and snacks on their terrace. We had a lovely and peaceful time sipping tea while overlooking the beautiful gardens. Everyone working here was so kind and helpful. We peaked into the mansion while using the restrooms and it looked to have great exhibits! read more

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We go to the Mount every chance we get. Wonderful gardens to walk in with plenty of shade for hot days and fun sculptures to entertain. And the house is a gem. read more

I really enjoyed the 90 minutes I spent here. Not only was the tour guide engaging and very knowledge, but I genuinely appreciated learning about Edith. Prior to the visit, I never heard of Edith Wharton, but I developed so much respect for her after attending this tour. The house and grounds are also both gorgeous. Highly recommend! read more

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This is a really cool house where much of it is open for touring. You can do a self-guided or guided tour, and since much the furniture is reproduction, you can sit on them, which is really uncommon in old houses. So it's just like sitting on fancy old furniture. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable in explaining Edith Wharton's personal and professional life. There was also quite a bit of the history after Wharton moved out and before it became a museum. The tour goes a little quickly, but you're allowed to go read signs and look around more after the tour. There is also a cafe and gardens on sight. On a nice day, it's perfect to walk around. It's a bit out in the country, but it's a nice site to visit. read more

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The grounds alone, with sculptures, vistas and gardens are worth seeing. We took the 1 hour guided tour of the house which was very interesting. They do have free audio tours. read more

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Well worth the visit. Guided tour through most of the house with stops along the way coupled with good narration about Ms Wharton and her family and friends. Gardens were beatiful to tour as well, with a guide to narrate. Giftshop was good and had a bookstore with a great selection of books. read more

Lovely home and grounds. It's a nice day trip and lunch at the cafe was amazing! There is also a gift shop and several different gardens to wander through. read more

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I came to the Mount with my dad and our dog for a leisurely, winter stroll on the day after Thanksgiving. Can you believe it's free to walk these magnificent grounds?! And that they're dog friendly?! We took our time going from the main entrance all the way to the back where the forest paths begin and really took in the sites. I get my love for photography from my pops so we had a grand ol' time snapping photos of all the cool sculptures and breathtaking views. There is so much variety here that you really can find some incredible angles without even trying. We got a chance to see the preliminary setup for their upcoming Nightwood light show, which is dubbed "A fantastical journey through sound & light." I anticipate that it will be absolutely fantastical indeed and hope to make one evening! read more

Review #550 is on the wonderfully ethereal experience of NightWood at the Mount! Looking for something other than the the typical Christmas Lights display and this definitely fits the bill. Tickets were reasonable, parking plentiful and staff was helpful, stationed at many points during the walk. The path was well maintained but definitely wear weather appropriate footwear. The combination of the natural setting with theatrical style lighting accompanied by specially composed music was incredible. This event was far better than I could have anticipated! Hard to describe, just see it for yourself! We cannot wait to come back to this property in the warmer weather to see these gardens in bloom and tour the Mount! read more

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Spent a lovely day at the Mount with my dear friend. If you've never been, you are in for a treat! She became a best-selling author and the first woman awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction... And she also designed and built the mount in 1902. We enjoyed touring this historic site and will definitely go back again. Favorite parts were the kitchen and scullery, along with the sunken flower garden and Italian walled garden. Last but not least definitely go and check out the pet cemetery! read more

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What a beautiful and interesting museum. The Mount was restored after years of neglect starting in 1998. As you walk through this astounding home each room gives the history of the era and Edith Wharton and her husband and dogs. When you leave you tour the grounds which I can only imagine are beautiful in the summer. We went back in the evening and took advantage of the seasonal light show! Great visits! read more

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My family recently visited the Berkshires and we enjoyed a frigid masked walk through the beautiful grounds of The Mount. While the house itself is currently closed to visitors the grounds are open. It's free to visit and there's ample parking. Even in mid March the property is stunning. We reflected in the pet cemetery and remarked at how incredible it must be to visit when the gardens are in full bloom. We are already planning a summer escape to the Berkshires in order to see The Mount and other attractions in all their glory. read more

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We happened to be driving through the area and found this beautiful respite. We enjoyed a walk through the grounds which included many gardens, pathways and a trail in the woods. All was free, and a perfect way to get a little exercise after being on the road for several hours. Next time, we hope that the house itself is open for tours. read more

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The Mount represents the life and writings of a great American novelist , Edith Wharton. Beautiful restoration and knowledgeable staff. We did the self guided tour and really enjoyed reading all the information. Would actually go again because I'm sure there are things we missed. Unfortunately it rained heavily the day we went and only got to enjoy part of the sculpture gardens . read more

The Mount - Sculpture garden serpent. - Cultural Center Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

What a beautiful place to visit! I highly recommend going to The Mount. The grounds are lovely, which are free to roam around, but the inside of the house is worth the money as well. The museum committee has done a great job providing facts and tales about Edith Wharton's life. read more

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Beautiful grounds all-around. We arrived early to a wedding and walked pretty much everywhere we could within reason. If only I were in hiking clothes and not my suit, because there were plenty of little trails around that were worthy of exploring. The inside of the house is a great space. It's both a museum and a sitting area if you want to use it as such. read more

The Mount - Congrats Eric and Cathy! - Cultural Center Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

This was our third visit to Edith Wharton's early 20th century home and the very best from the standpoint of weather. With mild temps and no rain, the gardens surrounding the mansion are exquisite for strolling and looking, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time outdoors. Some of the contemporary statuary seems rather out of sync with this old-fashioned house, but others may disagree. Whatever, the walking paths are simply wonderful. And so is the house, of course. We opted not to take a guided tour because we've done that (we do recommend it for first-timers here), so we took our time and peeked here and there and had a marvelous time at our own pace. That also enabled us to sit down on the terrace and have some coffee and admire the news over the estate, which are pretty much spectacular. We would urge others to make a stop here; you'll be happy you did. All in all, a fabulous Saturday visit. We're delighted the house has re-opened so everyone can enjoy its splendors. read more

The Mount - Cultural Center Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

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We visited The Mount, Edith Wharton's Mansion recently. It's really a great experience and quite beautiful. If you're just going to walk the grounds and the gardens (and not enter the mansion), it is free. You can park at the main parking lot in front of the admissions area or you can drive all the way back to the main mansion and park to the right of the house. If you enter and explore the house there is admission that is required (sticker placed on shirt). Although it looks quite large from its exterior shots, the actual mansion is just 16,600 ft.². You can go to the Terrace Café on the front porch overlooking the Italian flower garden as well as the Walled garden. Very impressive views and a nice place to get something fresh. There are quite a few modern art sculptures on the walk from the stables up to and around the main mansion. If you appreciate this type of art, you will want to park in the main parking lot as you enter before the ticket booth. Certainly a great experience and some neat Insight to Edith Wharton and her life at The Mount as well as her intellectual ambitions and literary accomplishments. read more

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We made a visit on Fourth of July- arriving after brunch. The grounds are free to roam and we saw a good dozen interesting art exhibits on the quarter mile trek to the house. It was gorgeous! We decided to pay the $20 pp for the self guided tour of the home. With 3 floors, there was a lot to see and I'd guess 85% of the house was open to visit. Lots of "posters" to learn about Edith- very interesting stuff- scandalous even for those days. I can't wait to read up on her. After the home, we walked around the garden- just stunning! I could have spent a long while there! The only place we didn't check out was the woods. Paths allowed you to walk thru the woods but we didn't see many people going back there and with numerous CAUTION OF BEARS signs on the perimeter, we decided against it. It was a great way to spend the day! read more

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Sadly, I didn't know who Edith Wharton was until I stepped into her home, and had my family not booked a tour here I may never have had given it a chance. I strongly recommend waiting and joining a group tour through the house. My tour guide was Nathan, and although it was only his 10th tour, he was extremely knowledgeable of her life and presented it in a very entertaining, content-packed way. If it wasn't for him, there would've been a ton of detail in the house I would've simply glossed over. Every tiny piece of that house was built with a purpose and unless you're into architecture, you may need a bit of assistance to truly recognize the mind behind it. The gardens out back as well as the abstract artwork along the trail were also just as captivating as the architecture of the house. I'm not one for abstract art, but then again, I could be wrong. Nathan did his job very well. Through the content, passion, and beauty I got from the entire experience, I not only gained knowledge of Edith Wharton's life, but several sparks of interest and extra curiosity. Even maybe diving into a book or two of hers? In my opinion, that tells a lot about how the museum was organized. Definitely a huge success on their part! read more

The Mount - View from the garden behind the house. - Cultural Center Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

Once upon an blustery Eve, I set upon a haunted walk with ease An estate so grand to hold a thousand serfs We went forth to find the spectral house of Mirth... That is my poetic way of saying I went on the Edith Wharton house ghost walk last Friday. It's been something ive always wanted to do since I found out they have ghost walks, so another bucket list item down! The tour starts in the stables, which are nicer than most places I could hope to live. The tour guide (and his assistant who was in charge of wrangling stragglers) introduced us to photos of the family and examples of spirit photography (so many orbs) that had been taken over the years. In short summary the tour progressed to the second floor of the stables, the pet cemetery, and finally the house. Lots of walking and lots of dark - although limited flashlights are provided, bringing your own is a good idea. The tour guide was a good story teller with a flair for the dramatic, he had excellent use of flashlight lighting to enhance his "gotchas" on his tales. There was a moment out front when he was reading an except of Wharton's thoughts on the paranormal when the door creeked open behind him. Uber spooky - except it turns out there was another person in the house manning the gift shop, using the side stairs to close doors behind the group. Makes the front door a touch suspect. Even in the dark you can appreciate how beautiful the house is. I didn't know anything about Wharton before the tour (yes, it does make it an odd bucket list goal then, thank you for noticing!) but now want to read her books... at least the ghost stories. Suspect trick aside, it was a beautiful creepy house with a great atory-teller, and I can't wait to do a day tour! Definitely worth the trip to Lenox! Final advice - hope for a small group. Ours was at least 13 people and it was hard to huddle in some of the smaller rooms. (And the gift shop employee kept reprimanding people to keep up with the group, so no lagging behind...) read more

The Mount - Teddy Wharton and Jules, the dog inexplicably shaved like a lion - Cultural Center Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

Besides being the summer home of Edith Wharton. I believe the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize, they have an enchanting evening of Jazz on the back terrace overlooking the gardens a On Friday nights from 5-8. It is a covered area, so rain or shine you are .... Covered !!! If you are in the area, go. I promise you will fall in love. read more

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Awesome badass house my first time here I can't wait to post the videos to the Valley Paranormal YouTube channel please subscribe . The staff were really cool I enjoyed my time here more then Ventfort Hall recently. I can't complain to much it was free with EBT but the one issue was the people to many people in one house I enjoyed my time with my family but you couldn't get one second to yourself with someone in the volunteer group snooping around thinking your doing something wrong when only you got a EMF in your hand talking to the dead I don't think that's wrong. I was able to paranormal investigate a little bit but people were always curious if people wanted to ask they could of asked me what are you doing I would have no problem explaining what I was doing one lady in a blue dress asked me by the pet cemetery what's the device in your hand that's all people have to do is ask I mean one dude had a smart comment and was like why is someone walking around gravestones and flimming it has to be for attention I wanted to turn around and tell the guy to fuck off but figured no because that's what people like him look for from people that are investigating one thing I can say it's staff friendly but if people wanna run there mouths they need to put 2 face mask on to keep the mouth shut when all I was doing was walking around and making a paranormal Investigating video I mean the house is history too who wouldn't wanna film that for a YouTube video. I'm more of a classic guy virtual tours aren't my thing I like in person so I can see the history in person for myself. Future reference if your worried someone is doing something there not supposed to either ask what are you doing or mind your own business the staff were cool I had no issues with anyone that works there. read more

Thank you, Edith Wharton, for creating this serene and manageable garden far away from the Lenox scene yet close enough to be accessible. Happy to spend a late summer afternoon in your aura admiring how your gardeners have tended the asters and pink turtleheads. Topped off by a glass of rose at the Terrace Garden with a fruit and cheese platter that could feed a family of 6! (Took home the leftovers.) I forgive you for writing that tearjerker Ethan Frome, which we were forced to read in 7th grade. read more

Beautiful grounds. Self guide tour. Unfortunately they don't have a lot of signs around so it was really difficult to know where we could go and where we couldn't...assuming that there was no limitation. Entrance was reasonably priced but the one experience was watch Twelfth Night in the shaded area right outside of the Mount. The cast did a great job. Really entertaining and I was surprised to know that they travel to different places to perform but this location they really incorporated their surroundings to their act. read more

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Perfect idea on a rainy day! We did a self tour which also had a student discount. You can walk around her home and read blurbs in each room that tells a progressive story of her life as well as the area around Lenox. You can also walk for free around the garden. I wish there had been more film to watch or maybe headphones accessible to hear the guided tour. The house had a mapped pathway due to COVID and restrictions on the number of people per room and I felt very safe. read more

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Although there were no tours the grounds were spectacular in autumn. We look forward to tours and viewing Edith Wharton's home read more

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The tour was wonderful! Anne knew so much and really made the experience enjoyable! We loved the gift shop, the gardens, and the sculptures. I wish we could have had lunch at the cafe but everything was sold out by the time we got up there after the 12:30tour. Next time, we visit it will be the self guided tour to plan for a lunch!! Thank you for the amazing experience! read more

The Mount itself is magnificent! One can't help appreciating the care and extreme attention to detail throughout Edith Wharton's opulent home, and the overall effect is incredibly authentic. Each room has been painstakingly renovated to reflect Wharton's exquisite style and individual taste. The gardens are impeccably maintained, and one can almost picture Edith and her various guests sitting on the terrace, sipping their lemonade, and taking in the spectacular greenery all while discussing the latest news and gossip of their day. It surely can bring a smile to one's face! If I were to criticize, it would be the numerous, modern-day sculptures scattered about the grounds that unquestionably detract from the natural beauty of the 113 acres that Wharton worked so hard to create. While walking the gardens, one may actually imagine being transported back to Wharton's time period and reflect on all that she meticulously designed. And while the artists of today are undoubtedly gifted, I feel their talents would be better received and appreciated if their sculptures were placed in a modern art gallery rather than on the grounds of The Mount. Wharton's home has been carefully renovated and furnished to showplace her unique style where authenticity and impecable, historical representation are paramount. It's a real shame that these modern sculptures have been allowed to blemish The Mount's carefully designed landscape and so boldly detract from the splendor and authenticity for which Wharton's home is known. read more

Beautiful gardens and beautiful setting. The guide we had was super enthusiastic and nice. The house is pretty neat on the inside but not super historic. They have restored some of it but not necessarily the way Edith had it. For example, they have installed leopard print carpets going up the stairs (eeek!). I think if they continue to add correct period furnishings and inject some more history to the inside of the house it could be fantastic. Go on a beautiful day because the gem is really the outside. What my ratings mean: 1 star: Horrible. I'm annoyed I wasted my time and/or money here. 2 star: Not bad but nothing special. A decent place if you can't find something else. I'd equate this to something like McDonald's. 3 star: I enjoyed my experience there and would go back to try or do more things there. 4 star: I loved it and would be excited to go back. I'd also recommend it to a friend. 5 star: A real gem of a place. A must on anyone's list. read more

The Mount - View from the gardens - Cultural Center Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

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Historic homes can be revelatory, mildly interesting, or deadly dull. I've seen my share of the good, bad, and ugly. It is rare that a home reveals the life, talents, and aspirations of their owners. Fortunately, Edith Wharton's Berkshire home, The Mount, is one of those places that make it all worthwhile. Having read several of her books, I knew she was talented, providing her readers keen insights to the stifling social conventions and stratification of the Gilded Age. Little did I know how driven, smart, single minded, and revolutionary she truly was. The house reveals many sides to the author. Okay, full disclosure. Working as a curator at a historic site, I can be fairly biased and bitchy about what I see and hear. My experience at The Mount was quite good. Although you can walk through the 'cottage' on your own (with a rather sparse brochure), I chose to take a guided tour. The young docent was earnest, chatty, and seemed relatively knowledgeable on Ms Wharton and her home. The nonprofit that runs the place seems to have weathered their financial storm; the house looked great and the gardens magnificent. The two temporary exhibits in the second floor bedrooms provided further insight into the talents, activism, and legacy of Wharton and her work. Upon leaving The Mount I felt imbued with the spirit of Edith. This is the power of place; this is what a historic house SHOULD provide: insight, awe, and appreciation...an emotional response of WOW rather than 'why the hell did we come here.' read more

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Amazing!!! Adults and older teens loved it equally. Such a great day spent inside and outside!

Decided to visit based on the bank free weekend event. Look it up. Worth it! Honestly worth the admission too. Opted for a self guided tour, which consists of walking through the house on your own. I had a toddler with me. No way was I doing a guided tour. The little one would never last. Didn't learn as much I'd like to, but my little one enjoyed the scavenger hunt, visiting all of the rooms, and of course climbing the stairs. I was surprised how interested my little one was. The grounds are beautiful. We hiked a few trails and checked out the sculptures. Turned out to be a great place to spend the morning. read more

This is the loveliest house with the nicest staff. The grounds are open for people to walk around for free. There are trails and you can check out Edith Wharton's pet cemetery. Sometimes there are contemporary art installations outside as well. During the early days of Covid, the grounds were open for people to walk at--even when public state parks were closed. The whole restoration, preservation, and scholars at The Mount are all motivated by their love of Edith Wharton, literature, and this era of American history. It's sad to think that this mansion almost did not make it--after being a girl's school and theater company headquarters, funding allowed for restoration of the house to bring it back to period. The books in Edith's library all belonged to her! There are hundred year old books in there that are underlined by Edith herself, and others given to Edith by the likes of Henry James, inscribed. The gift shop has a lot of great gems to bring home. Another great thing about this historic house is that it's accessible! There is an elevator, and handicapped parking right by the accessible entrance. This organization is all about continuing to preserve and restore the house. It's a literary treasure and an important architectural site representative of the Gilded Age in American history. So many other mansions and buildings from this time, from all across the country, have been demolished. It's really amazing that The Mount exists in this state. I love Edith's bedroom, where she would write in bed, and you can go up and see a recreation of her bedroom, as well as her boudoir. The Mount is like a museum. Edith was such a prolific writer, and the first woman to win a Pulitzer. She wrote a book a year! There aren't many places left like this in America. The Mount is a national treasure. They should really get more public, government, and grant funding to continue the preservation of the house. read more

We toured, with a large group, the beautiful mansion and gardens. The staff is welcoming, friendly and organized. There is a wonderful terrace overlooking the beautiful gardens with a snack bar. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the tours and the stories. A step back in time to the Guided Age. read more

I've been to The Mount twice now. The first time, I did a self-guided tour and the second time, I ponied up the $2 for the guided tour. Hands down, you must do the guided tour at least once. Our tour guide, Wendy, was simply excellent. You can get a lot out of a visit if you do the self-guided tour, but the guided tour just really adds an extra layer of information about the house itself, Edith Wharton's life, the beautiful grounds--everything. Our guide pointed out details that I never would have noticed, and she knew the answers to every question that was asked. I honestly don't even like Edith Wharton's writing, but I still like her house very much, and she lived a very cool and interesting life. It's heartening to know that even though she had the means to never work a day in her life and just be socialite, she sought out education, traveled, volunteered for the war effort, wrote the authoritative work on interior design and took care of herself at a time when women didn't really have that choice--or it was unfashionable. She's a cool broad, so even if you had to read Ethan Frome in 8th grade and the memory still pains you, you should still go see her house. The cafe on the terrace is reasonably priced, everything I've had there has been delicious, and even if you're not hungry, it's worth getting a coffee to sit there and look down over the amazing gardens. In the gardens, there are little benches dotted throughout so you can sit and bask in perfectly cultivated nature. There are fountains, tiles, walking paths, a cemetery for dogs, manicured hedges and even on the hottest days you can find shade. read more

The grounds are exquisite and full of beautiful engaging art, culture and gardens. The home is absolutely a masterpiece and must see location in The Berkshires! The staff is warm and inviting with greetings and wonderful stories about the home and original owners. It's well worth a trip and spending the time to take all the tours offered. read more