Brucemore Cutting Gardens - (319) 362-1004

Brucemore is a jewel in Cedar Rapids. This is a really grand old house. Tours are offered and special events are held on the grounds during the year. Brucemore sits on 1st Ave but you cannot enter there. You must follow the signs to Brucemore to park in the back. The tour is wonderful! The house is beautiful and has amazing vintage wallpaper. Don't miss the basement! The basement is fun and kooky but I don't want to spoil the surprise. There is a small museum area by the Brucemore store. It has alot of the information about the families of Brucemore. Definitely worth the price of admission.

My personal favorite at the Brucemore mansion was visiting during Christmas season. The mansion is decorated as the Douglas' may have done it. Do not go expecting tons of decorations. It is sparsely decorated in pine and bows. The tree is not anything like you would see decorated at the mall. We forget what the times were like during that time frame. PROS: CONS: limited touring times

This is a really neat mansion to visit that was once owned by the Sinclair family and then the Douglas family. The guided tours start on the hour, so dont expect to go in the house at 15 after or quarter til. The gift shop is in the carriage house and that is where you go to purchase entry into the main house. The history of the house and each of the rooms is interesting. Not really a good place for toddlers because there are a lot of items they prefer you dont touch. Be sure to check out their website for events that are held on the grounds. A lot of good information there. http://www.brucemore.org/scripts/about.asp