Longue Vue
Greg and I played tourist again in Metairie/New Orleans. The house is located on the merging lines of the two parishes and there seems to be different opinions which one it’s located in.
It didn’t take long before Greg whispered to me, “Reminds you of Biltmore?” Yes, it did with the over the top decorations and so forth. We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the house.
The house is 36,000 square feet and host rooms such as the exhibit gallery, ladies powder room, ladies reception room, docent lounge, flower arranging room, library, blue room, art gallery, etc. In all the square footage, there are only ~ 4 ~ bedrooms.
Our tour guide very proudly stated that “No guests were allowed to stay in the main home.” There was a “guest” house where guests could sleep. Children were only allowed in certain rooms to play. And if you wanted to take a nap, you weren’t allowed to mess up your bed, so they had little day beds you could rest on… If the family saw a particular wall in a home or building, they didn’t try to imitate it. Golly no, they BOUGHT the wall and had it taken down and added to their home! They lady of the house didn't like that the home was so far away from the gardens. She had the original house rolled on logs to get it out of the way to build a new home.
Greg said, “Looks like another family who didn’t know what to do with all their money.”
Yet, the tour guide was quick to point out that the owners of Longue Vue were philanthropists because they gave money to people who had talent but needed financial assistance. But there was a catch ~ if they gave you money, you had to prove you were worthy of it and then after you’re accomplishments, you were required to show your talents to them. For example, if you had a good voice, they would send you to expensive schools, but you would have to give them performances and bring back proof that you had jobs afterwards. I thought, "Hmm, what if they paid all that money, say, for a person to go into painting or writing, but then you don’t sell a painting or can’t get published? What happens to the proof then?”
The “proof” part rubbed me the wrong way, maybe it was the tone of the tour guide. We were also told that the “lady of the house” was nicknamed RAU “Right As Usual” because it was her way or the high way. One time the chauffeur was five minutes late picking her up from a department store and she told him, “You were five minutes late. It will NOT happen again.” What abit.. snob! 
I thought the gardens were lovely, though we came during the summer, the hottest time of the year and not a lot of things were in bloom. I liked the yellow daisies and the bird of paradise blooms.
To be honest, I preferred the Metairie Cemetery to the Longue Vue House and Gardens. Never thought I’d say that! Lol.
It didn’t take long before Greg whispered to me, “Reminds you of Biltmore?” Yes, it did with the over the top decorations and so forth. We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the house.
The house is 36,000 square feet and host rooms such as the exhibit gallery, ladies powder room, ladies reception room, docent lounge, flower arranging room, library, blue room, art gallery, etc. In all the square footage, there are only ~ 4 ~ bedrooms.
Our tour guide very proudly stated that “No guests were allowed to stay in the main home.” There was a “guest” house where guests could sleep. Children were only allowed in certain rooms to play. And if you wanted to take a nap, you weren’t allowed to mess up your bed, so they had little day beds you could rest on… If the family saw a particular wall in a home or building, they didn’t try to imitate it. Golly no, they BOUGHT the wall and had it taken down and added to their home! They lady of the house didn't like that the home was so far away from the gardens. She had the original house rolled on logs to get it out of the way to build a new home.
Greg said, “Looks like another family who didn’t know what to do with all their money.”
Yet, the tour guide was quick to point out that the owners of Longue Vue were philanthropists because they gave money to people who had talent but needed financial assistance. But there was a catch ~ if they gave you money, you had to prove you were worthy of it and then after you’re accomplishments, you were required to show your talents to them. For example, if you had a good voice, they would send you to expensive schools, but you would have to give them performances and bring back proof that you had jobs afterwards. I thought, "Hmm, what if they paid all that money, say, for a person to go into painting or writing, but then you don’t sell a painting or can’t get published? What happens to the proof then?”
The “proof” part rubbed me the wrong way, maybe it was the tone of the tour guide. We were also told that the “lady of the house” was nicknamed RAU “Right As Usual” because it was her way or the high way. One time the chauffeur was five minutes late picking her up from a department store and she told him, “You were five minutes late. It will NOT happen again.” What a
I thought the gardens were lovely, though we came during the summer, the hottest time of the year and not a lot of things were in bloom. I liked the yellow daisies and the bird of paradise blooms.
To be honest, I preferred the Metairie Cemetery to the Longue Vue House and Gardens. Never thought I’d say that! Lol.
Comments
:D
Having said that, the house is splendid. And it just beats me as to how many men and women and the many hours of labour it takes to put up 'monuments' !
Glad you had a fun vacation time !