Crosby Mansion Brewster MA
The Crosby Mansion overlooks the famous Brewster Flats on Cape Cod Bay. Owners Albert and Matilda Crosby travelled to Europe in the mid-1870s
The Crosby mansion in Brewster is a monument to an earlier time, a time of opulence, grandeur and painstaking craftsmanship.
Standing tall on a rise of land with sweeping views of Cape Cod bay, the three-story mansion is also a monument to romance. It is the legacy of a man who went west to make his fortune and returned to the cape with a bride 20 years his junior, for whom he built the mansion called Tawasentha.
Albert Crosby was born in 1823 and raised in a modest cape house in Brewster that still stands where the mansion is, as he had the mansion, in effect, wrap around his old family homestead. Albert moved to Chicago and made his fortune producing distilled alcohol . He sold this to the army during the Civil War, and sales of this non-taxed medicinal alcohol made him a wealthy man.
Albert spared no expense for the three story, 35 room home overlooking the Bay. Completed in 1888, the home was named “Tawasentha”, probably after Longfellow’s poem, “Song of Hiawatha”. It was built in the grand style of Chicago’s Gold Coast Mansions and featured a 60 foot viewing tower, 15 fireplaces with imported tile, hand carved mahogany and oak walls, a parlor fashioned after one at the Palace of Versailles, an entrance duplicating one at Buckingham Palace, a two-story billiard room, marble sinks and floors in the baths, and gas lighting and heating throughout.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MANSION
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1876 – 1888 – The mansion build is completed by the Hinckley Co.
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1928 – After the passing of Albert and Matilda, the property passed to her two grandnieces. Unable to maintain the large mansion, they had to sell… more on that at our live tours!
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1930s – Martha Atwood bought the property and formed the Cape Cod Institute of Art.
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1950s – The property became the Gold Coast Inn and Restaurant.
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1970s – Dr. Spago ran a successful summer camp for young women.
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1985 – The state acquired the property as part of a bayside adjunct to Nickerson State Park. It fell into advanced disrepair.
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1992 – The Friends of Crosby Mansion petitioned the state and began its massive restoration.
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2023 – The Town of Brewster and the Friends of Crosby continue the fastidious upkeep for its unique history, character, and the public’s enjoyment. In the spirit of Matilda and Albert we move progressively forward with the activities of the mansion, motivated by the living energy that it continues to exude.
SUMMER OPEN HOUSE TOURS
Will return for 2024
EVERY Sun. & Wed. ALL SUMMER
Self-guided with a map. Explore at your leisure.
Live docents throughout the mansion!
A $6 donation is kindly appreciated per adult.
Kids 12 and under enter for FREE.
We recommend allowing at least one hour to explore all three floors of the mansion and grounds.
Crosby Mansion is handicap accessible on the first floor, grounds, and restrooms. Please call 508-896-1744 for more information or specific arrangements.
Proceeds go to the upkeep of the property
Upcoming Special Events
SPOOKTACULAR SHOW!
THRILLS
THRILLS AND CHILLS FOR AGES 5-105!
Suitable for kids, teens, and adults
MAGICALLY MYSTIFYING AND SPOOKY FEATURING the high-flying acrobatics of Teddy & Eleanor, the
Prince of Mystery Jonathan Daniels, and spooky juggling by Trevor the Juggler!
SEATS $14
B
SHOWTIMES:
FRI. OCT. 25-7PM
SAT. OCT. 26-3PM & 7PM
SUN. OCT. 27-3PM
TIX and INFO online at
www.crosbymansion.com
Crosby Mansion. 163 Crosby Lane, Brewster, MA 02631
