The Grant Wood Sleeping Porch is turning 100, and we’re throwing a party to celebrate! In August of 1925, Irene Douglas hired Iowa’s most famous artist to create a decorative mural on the wall’s of the sleeping porch outside her youngest daughter’s room. Today, that mural remains a beautiful example of Wood’s interior design work. You are invited to join us in celebrating the 100th birthday of this Iowa treasure.

Schedule of Events

In the Mansion

• 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM – $5 Self-Guided Tours
  • Enjoy the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors of the mansion. The check register showing Irene Douglas’ payment to Grant Wood will be on display exclusively during this event. The basement will not be open during these tours.

On the Grounds

• 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM – Food for sale from The Street Food Fighter food truck
• 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM – Painting activities – Use Brucemore’s grounds as inspiration for your art!
  • If you own art supplies, we encourage you to bring your preferred materials. Some water color supplies will be available to borrow throughout the day. Tile painting kits will be available to purchase from Brucemore.
  • 30-minute water color painting instruction from Crystal Hird from the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM – All experience levels are invited to participate!

In the Carriage House

• 11:30 AM – Documenting Grant Wood’s Life and Artwork:  The Catalogue Raisonné Project (free presentation by Ranelle Knight-Lueth, Grant Wood Catalogue Raisonné Project Manager)
• 1:30 PM – Shared Palettes: The Art of the Douglas Family and Grant Wood (free presentation by Jessica Peel-Austin, Brucemore Curator of Museum Collections)
• 3:00 PM – Flora, Fauna, and Finishes: Conserving Grant Wood’s Sleeping Porch (free presentation by Maura Pilcher, Grant Wood Art Colony Director)
• 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Celebrate the Grant Wood Porch’s Birthday Party with free cupcakes and snacks!

Art supplies for this program are generously provided by BLICK Art Materials.