Nooks and Crannies Tours
Thursdays, September 10 – October 29 at 5:30 PM
Select Saturdays: October 17 and 24 at 5:00 PM
$18 for adults; $10 for students
Brucemore Supporters receive $5 off each ticket.
This 90-minute all-access guided tour takes you across the estate and inside rarely-seen rooms of the mansion. Peek inside typically closed buildings built for servant housing or hobby use, discover the curiosities and oddities of the mansion, and get the answer to a frequently-asked question – what is behind that door? As part of this tour, you will see the infamous mansion basement and experience the sights and sounds of a “rainstorm” in the Tahitian Room, which is an exclusive perk of the Nooks and Crannies tour!
Explore and Create Day
October 10 | 11 AM to 5 PM
$5 Self-Guided Tours | Free Art Activities and Lawn Games
Looking for a way to indulge your curiosity and your creativity this fall? Visit Brucemore on October 10 to enjoy free arts activities and lawn games on the grounds. The mansion will be open for self-guided tours for only $5 per person. This is the perfect chance to enjoy early autumn weather and see our current seasonal collections feature highlighting objects related to Cedar Rapids industries.
Mansion Mixer: Busts and Brushstrokes
October 16 | 6 PM to 9 PM
From ancient sculptures to modern paintings, the symbolism and controversy of women’s breasts in Western art is a constant thread. Despite that controversy, many large, turn-of-the-20th century mansions like Brucemore have depictions of feminine nudity in many of design elements. During this Mansion Mixer, bounce into a brief history of women’s breasts in Western art and discover why there are so many busts at Brucemore.
Art at Brucemore
This October, express your creativity with two Art at Brucemore workshops!
October 18 – Clay Art Deco Vanity Tray
October 24 – Wire Wrap Jewelry
Murder at the Carriage Cask
October 23 | 7:30 PM
Join us for a night of mystery that’s sure to hit on all sixes! In this interactive performance you’ll meet Herb Gardner, a groundskeeper who turned the Carriage House into the jazziest, most profitable speakeasy in the tri-state area. He’s ready to make an announcement, but will everyone live to see it? There’s only one way to find out!
Free for All Songwriting Workshop
Have you ever had an idea you wanted to turn into a song? Join Brucemore for a free beginner or intermediate songwriting workshop where you’ll explore your own creativity, find inspiration in the experiences around you, and connect with others through music.
October 24 – Intermediate Session
October 25 – Beginner Session
Frights by Candlelight
October 30, 31, and November 1 | Entry times start at 5:00 PM
This Halloweekend experience an evening of literary frights at Brucemore. As you explore the mansion after hours, discover local actors in select rooms ready to share haunting tales from the past. During your visit, take a moment to grab a drink from the cash bar and have your cards read in the study.
Pack a Lunch, Unpack History: Meet the Sinclairs
November 5 | 12 PM to 1 PM
Long before Brucemore became a landmark in Cedar Rapids, it was the dream of Caroline Sinclair — a young widow determined to build a new home and a future for her six children. Join Curator of Museum Collections Jessica Peel-Austin for a closer look at the Sinclair family story through newly uncovered archival research. Go beyond the stories shared on a typical tour to explore the experiences, challenges, relationships, and choices that shaped Caroline’s and her family’s lives before, during, and after their years at Brucemore. Through documents, photographs, and personal records, discover how historians piece together the stories of the people behind the places — and how one family’s choices created a legacy that continues to shape Cedar Rapids today.