“The news of the Titanic’s disaster came at noon while we were at luncheon. Did not seem serious until evening about 7:30.” – Irene Douglas, April 15, 1912

The Titanic sunk in the early morning of April 15, 1912. In Cedar Rapids, George and Irene Douglas learned of the disaster, but did not know the fate of their relatives on board. This month, we are exploring the Douglas’ personal experience of this international tragedy. You can visit the mansion during a tour to see artifacts related to this event, including Irene’s diary and a scrapbook of newspaper articles reporting on the sinking.

Tour tickets and details are available at brucemore.org/guided.

🪑 A Tale of Two Chairs

Did you know the Brucemore collection includes an original Charles II chair from the 1700s and its early 1900s reproduction?

George Bruce Douglas, Brucemore’s second owner, was the son of a Scottish immigrant. He was incredibly proud of his Scottish heritage — so much so that “Brucemore” is a nod to both the Scottish moors and his middle name. We know that Douglases took at least one trip to Scotland, and during this trip they purchased an antique Charles II chair, along with a matching reproduction. The original chair features a tag from James A. Butti, a fine art collector in Edinburgh active from 1871–1902.

Both the original and reproduction chair were conserved in 1995. This reveled further evidence about the history of the chair. The original upholstery material is unknown but based on similar pieces from the period was probably leather. This is supported by the nail pattern uncovered on the seat back and a scrap of leather found on a nail along the seat base. Later the chair was reupholstered in a beige colored fabric. The Charles II chair was originally made using a system of pegs however the presence of numerous nails serves as evidence not only of age but of repairs made during the course of years of active use. Modifications were made to the Charles II chair so that it would match the craftsmanship of the reproduction piece. This included both refinishing and reupholstering.

These chairs aren’t just furniture — they are a connection to the Douglas family’s legacy, their travels, and their design tastes. They were purchased as a souvenirs and demonstrate a trend of collecting meaningful objects during travel that continues today.

You can see these pieces in the study the next time you visit Brucemore!

“The boat was so luxurious, so steady, so immense, and such a marvel of mechanism that one could not believe he was on a boat – and there the danger lay.” – Mahala Dutton Douglas, Titanic survivor

The Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage on this day in 1912. On board were two members of the Douglas family, Walter and Mahala, and Mahala’s maid Berthe Leroy. After the voyage ended in disaster, Mahala gave a gripping testimony of her experience to the US Senate inquiry.

You can learn more about Mahala and Walter’s experience on the Titanic through a special collections feature at Brucemore this month. Never-before-displayed artifacts will help you discover the story in the rooms where Walter’s brother and sister-in-law learned about the sinking and grappled with its aftermath. These objects weave a human story of loss and resilience throughout the mansion, giving a unique perspective on this historic event that you will only find at Brucemore.

See these items during our April tours. 🎟️ Find tour tickets and details at brucemore.org/tickets-tours.

Have you ever wondered “what’s behind that door?” on a Brucemore visit? Nooks and Crannies Tours are you chance to find out! Join us Thursday evenings through May 29 for this behind-the-scenes look at the mansion.

🎟️ Get tickets at brucemore.org/nooksandcrannies.