Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum
4.5
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is regarded as one of the earliest and finest surviving Second Empire Style country houses ever built in the United States. The 62-room mansion was built by banker-railroad tycoon LeGrand Lockwood, who in 1864 began construction of his estate on the Norwalk River in Norwalk, Connecticut. Designed by European-trained, New York-based architect Detlef Lienau, the mansion, which was completed in 1868 at a cost of over $2,000,000.00 in 1868 currency, is considered his most significant surviving work. American craftsmen, along with many immigrant artisans, were employed in the construction of the house. Following Mr. Lockwood's financial reversal in 1869 and his untimely death in 1872, his wife, Ann Louisa Benedict Lockwood, lost the house in foreclosure to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad in 1874. At the time, Mrs. Lockwood owed one remaining mortgage payment of $90,000 - Mr. Lockwood had paid off $310,000 of his mortgage which he took out following the tragic financial disaster of Black Friday in 1869. After remaining unoccupied for two years, the mansion was purchased in 1876 by Charles Drelincourt Mathews, a wealthy provisions merchant who retired at an early age. The purchase price from the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad astonished many. The house, not even a decade old, along with its numerous outbuildings within the 30-acre compound, was sold for a fraction of its value: $90,000.00 - the last payment owed by Mrs. Lockwood. However, much work had to be done in order to occupy the now unfurnished mansion and the grounds, never completed, were commissioned to Fredrick Law Olmstead. Charles and Rebecca had 4 children: Lillie, Florence, Charles Thompson, and Harold. Lillie and Harold both married, had children, and summered at the Mansion; Florence and Charles never married and lived at their townhouse at 812 Fifth Avenue in NYC in the winter or when not traveling throughout Europe. Charles Thompson Mathews, a world-renowned scholar in the field of architecture, won an international competition for the design and construction of the Lady Chapel at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC in 1899. His two books on the subject were used as textbooks at Ivy League schools such as Columbia, Harvard, and Yale. Following his death in 1934, Miss Florence Mathews made Norwalk her full-time residence and passed away in her father's mansion in 1938. The house was first leased and subsequently sold to the City of Norwalk for "park purposes." Years of neglect along with use by City Offices and storage of heavy machinery severely deteriorated the once beautiful home. When the City announced their plans for demolition in the early 1960s in order to build a new City Hall near the mansion, 16 taxpayers, later incorporated into "The Common Interest Group", sued the City of Norwalk and following a lengthy court battle, the Mansion was saved in 1965. In 1971, the Mansion was officially declared a National Historic Landmark. Today, the Museum is being lovingly restored back to its original grandeur by a non-profit organization and is a cultural gem which highlights the lives, styles and technology of the Victorian Era. Tours are offered early April through early January, Wednesday-Sunday. Tours are conducted on the hour at 12, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Admission: $10 Adults, $8 Seniors, $6 Students 8-18, and Free for Children under the age of 8.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
107 reviews
Excellent
68
Very good
31
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Trudy21
3 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
Lovers of history and art will enjoy this interesting gilded age mansion tour with historical perspective. Norwalk natives who have never been to the LMMM should see and hear about it’s history. Fun and quirky too.
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flower in hair
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Family
Visiting the Lockwood Mansion was a wonderful experience. The beautiful decor in the mansion was impressive. Our docent Kathy was well educated in the history of the house, numerous items in the house (including the furniture and artwork), and the families that lived in the mansion. Small details such as the detailed carvings in rooms and the symmetry in the layout of rooms were explained. I was especially impressed by the “alarm system.” Visiting the Lockwood Mansion is an excellent opportunity for families with older children and teens or even just for adults. I learned something and had fun.
Written August 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Randolph K
1 contribution
Jul 2022
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Review
In July 2022 I was fortunate to be part of a private tour given by one of the docents of the Museum. I had visited the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in the same park many times but had never been in the Museum. It was a wonderful experience to hear the history of the Mansion and learn how it got to be built. Our tour guide brought the building to life for me. It is a story about a family in a very special time. I look forward to returning for special events.
In July 2022 I was fortunate to be part of a private tour given by one of the docents of the Museum. I had visited the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in the same park many times but had never been in the Museum. It was a wonderful experience to hear the history of the Mansion and learn how it got to be built. Our tour guide brought the building to life for me. It is a story about a family in a very special time. I look forward to returning for special events.
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debby S
Stamford, CT1 contribution
Dec 2022 • Friends
No matter how many times I tour the Lockwood Mathew’s museum, I enjoy each tour experience and look forward to the next time. The mansion is easy to get too, the docents are friendly and knowledgeable, the history is interesting and the architecture & decor is fabulous. I love making a ritual to stepping back in time and imagining life in this amazing structure!
Written January 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glenn L
1 contribution
Jul 2022
If you like History, Architecture, or Art this is an excellent tour of an early Gilded Age mansion. A little bit of Newport in Norwalk. Our guide gave us the details of the fascinating history of its ownership by the Lockwood and Mathews families, the fight to save the building from demolition, and ongoing restoration efforts.
There is so much to see in this house. Our guide did an outstanding job providing details and answering our questions. Hard to believe we had spent 90 minutes touring the building. So interesting! Definitely worth seeing.
There is so much to see in this house. Our guide did an outstanding job providing details and answering our questions. Hard to believe we had spent 90 minutes touring the building. So interesting! Definitely worth seeing.
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tina V
6 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
I spent a fun morning exploring Lockwood-Mathew’s Mansion in Norwalk, CT. Our group’s wonderful docent Kathy brought the mansion’s history to life! I have lived in Norwalk my whole life and have never done a tour of this historic gem, hidden in plane sight! I felt transported back in time learning the histories of the mansion’s families as well as details related to the special fashion exhibit currently underway. I especially enjoyed the hearing about the architectural details that went into the design and construction of the mansion. Also as a very pregnant visitor I was very pleased to find the Mansion was very accessible with elevator access to the second floor and chairs in each room for me to sit down and take breaks. I will definitely return for the holiday tour to see all the decorations and once the upcoming renovations are completed to bring the second floor of the mansion back to its full glory.
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa F
14 contributions
Dec 2022
Brought my parents (83 and 85) on a 'field trip' here for the Christmas decor. It was a wonderful tour and the decor was beautiful! Carl was an excellent docent and very informative. My father uses a cane and it was accessible except for the stairs into the mansion (I believe there was another accessible way in but he was able to manage the 3 steps with assist). Chairs were available in each room to sit and rest if needed. Carl was able to answer all questions and was entertaining in his presentation of the information. Truly a lovely experience!
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Theresa T
17 contributions
Sep 2020
Very small group due to COVID. We were only able to view the first floor, the the guide was amazing and the tour was 1 hour and 20 minutes (usually only 45) I appreciate his thoroughness and stories about the families which made up for not being able to see the whole house. Will definitely go back When it reopens fully.
Written September 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christa H
2 contributions
Jul 2022
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, a National Historic Landmark with easy access to Interstate 95, is a must see if you are anywhere near Norwalk, CT. We were visiting a friend in Norwalk and didn't know about the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum until we had the opportunity for a tour. The grounds, which feature separate art and children's museums, provide a bucolic respite from the surrounding Norwalk city area (Norwalk has its own charming downtown and waterfront area too). The Mansion is magnificent with a beautifully restored main floor. Our docent was very friendly and knowledgeable about the Mansion, its history and the surrounding Norwalk area. We highly recommend this experience!
Written July 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dianneandpete
Rock Hill, SC77 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
The guided 1 1/2 hour tour was well worth the price. Our docent was very informative and was able to answer all of our question. It’s a real shame the house was abandoned for so long and “modern technology” like cars and traffic, are taking its toll on the house.
Written August 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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