Naumkeag, a Beautiful Estate in the Berkshires, Massachusetts

Side Views of the House. The sun was too bright to take other house pictures.

Plenty of places to sit and chat with a friend.

Oh the views. Can't wait to go back in the Spring.

Information about this beautiful estate, a summer retreat, was taken from the Trustees of Reservations website. Being a member, we frequently receive information about some of their many holdings. This one intrigued me, so one late September day we went to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It didn't disappoint. Since we are members, our tour of the house was free, no interior photos allowed. I learned Naumkeag is the native American name for the people who lived in Salem, and is the original name of Salem, Massachusetts, where the Choate family lived.

"What makes Naumkeag a special place?

With its gracious house, magnificent gardens, and panoramic views, Naumkeag is a quintessential country estate of the Gilded Age.

This architectural masterpiece is, at its heart, a family home. Joseph Choate, a leading 19th-century attorney, hired the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, & White to design the 44-room “cottage,” Naumkeag, which would serve as a summer retreat for three generations of Choates.

With its views of Monument Mountain, its stunning collection of gardens created by Joseph Choates's daughter, Miss Mabel Choate, and Fletcher Steele over 30 years, its original artwork, and its shingle-style house, Naumkeag creates an unforgettable experience for visitors. Don't miss the self-guided audio tour of the Naumkeag gardens, including the Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools, flanked by four flights of stairs and a grove of white birches. Walk through the equally beautiful Afternoon Garden, Tree Peony Terrace, Rose Garden, Evergreen Garden, and Chinese Garden to encounter the playful, inventive spirit of Miss Choate and Mr. Steele."

For additional information see Wikipedia HERE.