Tudor art, Historical homes and Butterflies: Celebrating birthdays in Ohio

First stop, the Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, Ohio

Every spring, Pam (great friend/BTS team member) and I plan something big for our shared birthday. Our celebrations in the past have included an elegant trans-Atlantic cruise on the Queen Mary and a jazzy week in New Orleans.  This year we decided to combine a bit of England and a journey south (well, south of Michigan) and spend a few days exploring Tudor art and architecture in -  *dramatic pause* - Ohio!  

Our "suite accommodations" at Cleveland's Glidden House

In keeping with "discovering gems in our own backyard theme" (recent blogs on the treasures of Detroit), we continued this journey of close-to-home finds in Akron and Cleveland. In these cities, we visited the Stan Hywet Hall, the Glidden House, the Cleveland Art Museum and, for a slight diversion, the Botanical Gardens and all their many butterflies.

Butterflies at Cleveland's Botanical Gardens

Tudor exhibit at Cleveland Art Museum

We enjoyed suite accommodations at the Glidden House and sweet desserts at L'Albatross - an amazing French restaurant a  short walk from our hotel and a stone's throw from Cleveland's Gilded Age "Millionaire's Row".

Desserts and charcuterie at L'Albatross

The Glidden House was built in 1910, the home of Francis K. Glidden and his wife Mary. Francis K. was the eldest son of Francis H. Glidden, founder of the Glidden Paint Company. Today, the home-turned-hotel is in the heart of Cleveland's Cultural District and the Case-Western college campus. 

Edward Glidden, Francis K.'s cousin, designed the Glidden House in the French Gothic Eclectic style of architecture, inspired by the Richard Morris Hunt mansions of the late 19th century.  (Hunt was the renowned Gilded Age architect who designed the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina as well as many of the Newport, Rhode Island "cottages").

The Glidden Suites are named after family members

Headboards feature family monograms

The home remained in the Glidden family until 1953 when it was sold to the University (known at the time as "Western Reserve University").  Almost a quarter of a century later it was purchased by a group of investors who turned the historic home into a Bed and Breakfast Inn, offering guests a variety of choices from modern hotel rooms to charming suites which bear the names of Glidden family members.

The Glidden House, perfect hub for birthday vacay

Fast forward to April, 2023, and it became the perfect hub for a few days of birthday celebration.

Stay tuned for future blog stories on Tudor art and Tudor-inspired architecture in our border state, Ohio.