Ten Chimneys, the restored estate of actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in Genesee Depot, is now a world-class museum and center for the arts, theater and arts education. From the mid-1920s through the 1960s, Ten Chimneys was the home of one of the most revered acting teams in American theater, as well as a retreat for the country's leading actors, playwrights and artists. Frequent guests included famous actors such as Katharine Hepburn, Helen Hayes, Laurence Olivier, Alexander Woollcott and Noel Coward. The estate was an important site for artistic creation, discussion, education and leadership.
Visitors can tour the historic three-story, 18-room main house nestled on 60 acres of scenic countryside, as well as a newly constructed program center. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and nearly all of the historic furnishings, hand-painted murals, personal mementos and diverse collections are intact.
Two types of tours are available. The two-hour Full Estate Tour includes the three main buildings and estate grounds. The shorter Main House Tour lasts an hour and a half. Tours of the estate are offered May through mid-November, and reservations are highly recommended.
For additional information Ten Chimneys call 262/968-4110.