Ruthmere Mansion in Elkhart, Indiana is a 1910 estate offering visitors a glimpse into the lives of the rich and influential of early 1900s Indiana. On February 17, Ruthmere will celebrate the popularity of the PBS Masterpiece Classic show “Downton Abbey” with a event designed to please any fan of the show.
Ruthmere Mansion (above) makes a perfect setting for a Downton Abbey tea and lecture.
Participants will gather at the mansion at 5 p.m. to enjoy tea, wine, tea sandwiches and scones. The experience will be enhanced with music from the Edwardian era and commentary on the culture of 1920′s Europe by Indiana University South Bend professors Gabrielle Robinson and Mike Keen. Downton Abbey-inspired clothing is encouraged, so if you aspire to be Lord Grantham or the Dowager Countess, now is your chance to at least dress the part. The cost to attend is $25 per person, $20 for Ruthmere members.
This is also an opportunity to explore the first floor of Ruthmere Mansion, which includes the library, drawing room (how Downton-esque!), kitchen, entryway, foyer and dining room. The tea will be held in the Game Room on the lower level.
The evening’s events will be over at 6:30 p.m. — plenty of time for you to make it back home in time to watch the season three finale of Downton Abbey. Out-of-towners wanting to make a weekend of it should visit AmishCountry.org to choose accommodations that range from bed and breakfasts to country inns to more traditional hotels.
To reserve your spot at the Ruthmere Downton Abbey celebration, call Abby Huff at (574) 264-0330 or e-mail ahuff@ruthmere.org.
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