Chapin Mansion to host open house Saturday
Published 10:19 am Tuesday, May 2, 2017
The Niles History Center is hosting its Annual Spring Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The program will take place at the Chapin Mansion and Fort St. Joseph Museum, located at 508 E. Main St. in Niles.
Families are invited to tour the Chapin Mansion and celebrate the opening of the 2017 season with a fun scavenger hunt, craft and other activities.
Henry and Ruby Chapin constructed their home between 1882 and 1884.
Donated to the City of Niles in 1933, it served as City Hall for more than 50 years and is now maintained and curated by the Niles History Center.
The Chapin Mansion is a stunning example of the American aesthetic style, which emphasized art for art’s sake. Ornate stained glass windows, beveled mirrors, extraordinary brass chandeliers, beautiful hand-carved woodwork and nine fireplaces transport visitors back to this ornate period of the 1880s, curators said.
Guests are invited to explore the first two floors of the Chapin Mansion and take a look inside this Niles landmark.
Docents will be stationed throughout the rooms to provide more insight into the history of the building. Re-enactors portraying Henry and Ruby Chapin will greet guests to their home.
Visitors are invited to discover recent changes to the Fort St. Joseph Museum, which will be open to the public during the open house. The museum features exhibits that tell the community’s story, from the prehistoric era to the 1691 founding of Fort St. Joseph to the modern business and industrial age. Interactive elements offer an engaging environment for both children and adults, curators said.
All are invited to this free event. The Niles History Center consists of the Chapin Mansion and Fort St. Joseph Museum, both located at 508 E. Main St. in Niles.
For more information, call the Niles History Center at (269) 845-4054.