SWAN HOUSE (Mark)

In a residential suburb of Atlanta known as Buckhead, the Atlanta Historical Society has its museum, and on these grounds the Swan House is open for tours.

In 1924, Edward Inman and his wife Emily hired the architectural firm of Hentz, Reid, and Adler to build them a grand house and gardens.  The work was completed in 1928, just one year before the Great Depression.

I was only able to grab a few photos of the exterior of the house, as I was racing with raindrops.   I will have to go back to get the gardens and more exterior details.

Edward died suddenly at age 49, just three years after moving into the house.  Emily lived in the house until her death in 1965, at age 84.  The house was purchased the next year by the Historical Society.

This interior spiral staircase is exquisite.  I can imagine how much fun it was for children to play on.  After Edward died Emily asked her oldest son and wife to move in with her, bringing her two grandchildren.  Both grandchildren grew up and lived in the house, until marrying and moving out.

This is how the children’s room was set up when they were very young.I can imagine as a child growing up here all kinds of fun - read mischief - I would have gotten myself into.

This is how the children’s room was set up when they were very young:

The servant’s quarters were more sparse.  This room belonged to Elizabeth, "Lizzie" McDuffy:

She worked several decades for the Inmans before being hired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to work as a maid in the White House.

A detail from the bedside table of Lizzie Duffie.

Lizzie was politically active.  She advocated for racial equality, and she was instrumental in setting up the first workers' union for government employees.

A "modern" oven and stove.  The servants would have spent significant time here in the kitchen.

This is the bedroom of one of the family, not as sparse as the servant’s quarters:

The house is filled with incredible furniture. 

The hand carved details are hard to describe.  This is just one such detail:

If you are in the Atlanta area you need to spend a day at the Atlanta History Museum!