David Davis Mansion

One word for the David Davis Mansion, «AMAZING!» The Mansion was featured in the «Christmas at the Mansions Tour. This was the third location on the tour and as the saying goes,“the best was saved for last.» Walking into the mansion is a step back in time made more interesting by the docents in period clothing and very knowledgable history of the manor. Each room was more beautiful than the last. My favorite story was about the love Sarah had for her politician husband who frequently traveled. He was a big man and she had a big love for him. When he was away, she found it unbearable to sleep in the bedroom they shared, so she took another room in the mansion for a bedroom while he was away. She had a large portrait commissioned of him and it hangs prominently over the fireplace in the room today. She wrote each love letter to him by saying, «As I gaze upon your smiling face…» He always knew she was looking at his portrait…

My husband and I really enjoy architecture and history, so this was the perfect place to explore! Start at the visitor’s center! There, they show you a short film about David Davis, when he built the house and about the architecture of the time. After that, we had a nice tour. There were only four of us, so we felt very comfortable asking questions along the way! The house is beautiful and even more so because the Christmas decorations were up! The tour guide had a great amount of information about each room and how it was used and why it was designed the way it was. We probably only spent a little over an hour here, but in that time we learned and saw so much!

Definitely worth the $ 5 donation fee, but they earned the $ 20 I dropped in their box.
This mansion should remind us all the importance of what the past truly is and should be. Three generations of David family members lived here and donated the dilapidated and crumbling structure to the city of Bloomington, this is when restoration took over. As much integrity of the original structure was done. Most of the furnishings are original and I am totally humbled to witness this beautiful story.
This elegant and yet sound Victorian Style home has seen many years of hurt and pain, but has withstood the beautification of what it is today. This last generation included David Davis, Sarah his wife and also Abraham Lincoln who was a friend of the family and who helped Mr Davis rise in the political arena.
Although the structure now has electric lighting and some more «modern» touches, still you can’t see it unless you pay close attention. I was amazed at the actual size of this mansion, looks can be quite deceiving from the outside. The fact that people can care enough to restore really touches a cord in me. I am humbled as I said before to see and walk through what this prominent family once walked thru. Stop by and check out the mansion, its closed on Monday and Tuesday, but the rest of the days its up.
But please, don’t touch the vintage structures and furniture, that is a disrespect to the integrity of the Mansion.