Calling all curious minds looking for a unique night out!
Mansion Mixers are your chance to explore Brucemore after hours while diving into fascinating stories from history. Each program includes time for self-guided exploration of the mansion and the opportunity to enjoy an entertaining history presentation in the Tahitian Room! Your ticket includes a complimentary canned drink served from the mansion’s other quirky party space, the Grizzly Bar. If you’re looking for a fun, casual way to learn something new while connecting with other history fans, then this event is for you!
September 12 – Live, Laugh… Ludology?
What do you have in common with someone from Bronze Age Turkey? You both love board games!
From the ancient board games of Senet and the Royal Game of Ur to modern favorites like Monopoly and The Settlers of Catan, humans have played board games together for thousands of years. During this Mansion Mixer, get a crash course in your new favorite Scrabble word: ludology (ludus = game, logia = study)! Discover the folklore behind some of the most well-loved board games in history while you sip a complimentary drink.
During the social open house, you will find board games and card games distributed around the mansion to play with your friends and fellow gamers. You’ll also have time to explore the mansion (which may come in handy for the evening’s group activity). Once presentations are done, team up with friends new and old to compete in a special Brucemore board game activity.
Event Schedule:
- 6:00 PM: Doors Open
- 6:00 – 8:00 PM: Social Open House
- Self-guided mansion exploration
- Board games and card games available to play
- Light snacks and a cash bar serving canned beverages
- 7:15 PM: Presentation in the Tahitian Room*
- 7:45 PM: Presentation in the Tahitian Room*
- 8:15 PM: Brucemore board game activity
- 9:00 PM: Evening ends
* Each presentation is the same. Due to capacity limits in the Tahitian Room, attendees will be assigned a presentation time based on order of arrival.
Entry Time Note:
This event is designed to give you unstructured time to explore the mansion. You are welcome to arrive anytime after 6:00 PM and enjoy as much or as little of the social open house as you like. We do not have a space to wait inside before doors open. If you arrive before 6:00 PM, we encourage you to enjoy the grounds until the event begins.
Event Cost:
- $25 General Admission
- Brucemore Supporters receive $5 off per ticket
- A $4 processing fee is added to all online and phone orders
What’s included:
- Light snacks and a ticket for one complimentary drink. Additional drinks may be purchased throughout the evening.
- Self-guided access to the first, second, and third floors of the mansion
- An entertaining presentation in the Tahitian Room; this is not your mama’s history lecture!
- Activities connected to the evening’s theme
Important Event Information
To help make the most of your visit, we’ve prepared a few tips. If you have any questions that haven’t been answered here, our team is happy to help. Please email us or call 319-362-7375 to reach a Brucemore staff member.
What to Know Before You Go
- This event is designed for adults who want to enjoy a fun and social evening in a historic setting. If you are interested in making this a family night out, we recommend keeping your party ages 15 and up.
- Light snacks and a ticket for one complimentary canned drink will be provided. Additional hard and soft canned drinks will be available to purchase. Please do not bring outside food or drinks to this event.
- The historic mansion is not wheelchair accessible. There are several stairs to access the first floor, and several flights of stairs to see the other floors. Please make the best decision for the accessibility of your party with this knowledge or call with specific questions. If you need a seat during your visit, a member of our team can show you chairs that are available to use.
Navigating the site
- The entrance to the estate is on Linden Drive. Some GPS systems may try to take you to another gate. This video and this labeled Google Map can help you plan your route to the entrance before you arrive.
- When you arrive on the site, follow signs to the mansion. Parking is available a short walk from the entrance. If parking near the mansion is full, overflow parking is available near the Carriage House, which is a short walk from the mansion.
- Event check-in is inside the mansion. Please enter through the front door, located next to the circle drive.
Ticket and Photo Policies
- All ticket sales are non-refundable. Please read our ticket policy here.
- At this event, photography and videos may be recorded. By attending this event, you may be included in these photos and videos. Your attendance at this event grants your permission to be in these photos or videos, which may be used for educational, archival, or promotional purposes. If you have concerns about your likeness appearing in these photos and videos, please talk to a staff member when you check in for the event.
- Photography is allowed inside the mansion for personal, non-commercial use. Tripods, selfie-sticks, or other photography equipment are not permitted. Please read our photo policy here.
