The Mystic River Historical Society invites members and the public to join them on a bus tour of The Mount in Lenox, MA and Naumkeag in Stockbridge, MA. On Wednesday, October 3, 2012, we will depart from the Olde Mistick Village parking lot at 7:15 a.m. and be on the road to the Berkshires to visit two historic homes and gardens, and enjoy the changing leaves of New England.

The first stop will be author Edith Wharton’s home, The Mount, in Lenox, MA. Designed by Ms. Wharton in the classical revival style, The Mount reflects Wharton’s architectural and landscape theories as outlined in her books, The Decoration of Houses (1897) and Italian Villas and Their Gardens (1904). Having been born into New York society, she wrote over 40 books, many of them a reflection on the lifestyle in which she was raised. She was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for The Age of Innocence (1921). It has been owned by various individuals and organizations since 1912, and beginning in 1997, has been fully restored.

After a gourmet lunch at Chez Nous in Lee, MA, the group drives a short way to Stockbridge, MA to visit Naumkeag, a rare Berkshire “cottage.” Built for Joseph Choate, a leading 19th-century attorney, and designed by McKim, Mead & White, this 44-room estate was home to three generations of Choates. It was bequeathed in its entirety, including the furnishings and fine art, to The Trustees of Reservations, and has been open to the public since 1959. The magnificent house and garden, with the breath-taking view over the Housatonic River Valley, is a glimpse into a brief, and now vanished, period of American History. We will return to Mystic by 7:00 p.m.

The cost of the trip is $125 per person which includes transportation, admission fees, guided tours of both properties, snacks, lunch, and all gratuities. A $25 deposit is due by August 15, 2012. The full amount is due by September 15, 2012. We must have a minimum of 20 people for the trip to run. Checks may be made out to MRHS, PO Box 245, Mystic, CT 06355. Please note “Bus Trip” on your check. For more information, call Sally Halsey (860) 271-3980 or email info@mystichistory.org.