lora josephine knightlora josephine knight

Vikingsholm was completed in the fall of 1929. Mosquito Fire in Tahoe National Forest balloons to 5,000 acres, Burning Man aftermath leaves mounds of trash in Tahoe area, 'Don't be a hero': The bomb that nearly destroyed a Tahoe resort.

But the story of Mrs. Knight and her Vikingsholm stand apart from the rest. The sibling entrepreneurs eventually amassed quite a fortune with controlling interest in a number of large American corporations such as the Diamond Match Company, U.S. Steel and National Biscuit (Nabisco), the maker of Oreo cookies. Currently it is used as a hiking trail by those wishing to visit this remarkable castle. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. It was the first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory in the world and for nearly 10 years its telescope was the largest ever built. Her Vikingsholm Castle was completed in 1929 and reflected Scandinavian style of construction and architectural design. Tea was served in the afternoon on the terrace or in the library, and occasionally at the tea house on the island. In early 1916 they bought a home near Santa Barbara hoping that the mild Mediterranean climate might improve his condition, but he died on July 20, 1916, leaving Lora an estate worth $15 million. GPS locations now direct divers to a wide variety of wrecks at depths up to 60 feet with markers explaining the history of the vessel and details how they were used. [1][2][3][4], In 1884, the two had a son, Nathaniel Moore, who later married Helen Fargo, heiress to the Wells Fargo fortune. Louis. Her father was a corporate lawyer who partnered with two brothers, William Henry Moore and James Hobart Moore. Mrs. Knight enjoyed entertaining and invited many friends and family members to visit during the summer months. Finnish carpenters were then brought in to hew timber, while a Scandinavian craftsman was hired to create the intricate exterior wood carvings. WebIn 1928 Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight purchased the land that encompasses Emerald Bay and Fannette Island for $250,000. The barges were owned and operated by the lumber companies, who used them to haul wood part of the year and then employed them as car ferries during the summer months. With her first husband, she had a 27-room estate at Lake Geneva, a retreat for Midwestern tycoons, according to the Chicago Tribune. In the winter, Vikingsholm is quiet. Lennart Palme said: The problem of placing Vikingsholm without disturbing the trees was perhaps the trickiest I have had to solve either abroad or in these United States.. Lora and her husband, James, traveled extensively in California as to foreign countries. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Wisconsin Lake Geneva Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia that summer to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. A visitor's center adjacent to the main building is available for further information and the sale of tour tickets and other items. Loras Knights Wychwood Estate dining room overlooked Lake Tahoe. Her father Edward A. The owner, billionaire heiress Lora Josephine Knight bought the land to build a summer home similar to those she had seen on her travels to Scandinavia. [1][2] She hired Swedish architect Lennart Palme, who she was related through marriage, and chose a Scandinavian motif based on Palme's own home in New York. Despite its ancient motif, Vikingsholm had all the conveniences available in the 1930s, including electricity, modern fixtures and private baths in the bedrooms. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. In early 1916 they bought a home near Santa Barbara hoping that the mild Mediterranean climate might improve his condition, but he died on July 20, 1916, leaving Lora an estate worth $15 million. There have been countless sightings of the beast starting throughout the decades beginning in the 50's when divers reported finding a cave and spotted a creature exiting it, also in the 90's when kayakers saw a black hump in the water, a story that was repeated often including a crew member aboard the famed Tahoe Queen boat who photographed it. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. A curious man, Lick had always been interested in astronomy. Now part of Emerald Bay State Park, Vikingsholm was once the summer home for Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. In 1928, she purchased the property from them for $250,000. Live scanner feed here:Your browser does not support iFrames. Knight had become acquaintances with the Armstrongs through church affiliations and after the purchase she would build her majestic Vikingsholm the following year. WebFlickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "lorajosephineknight" Flickr tag. She then commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect to whom she was related by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. He was 25. As fate would have it, Lora married James and her sister Ada married William. Welcome! She hired architect Myron Hunt, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright. In order to preserve the natural environment of Emerald Bay, Knight insisted that local Tahoe materials be used with the exception of the leaded windows with pastel stained-glass panes imported from Sweden. The rest of the staff was brought from Mrs. Knights winter home in Santa Barbara and consisted of her private secretary, personal maid, cook, assistant cook, upstairs and downstairs maids, chauffeur, assistant chauffeur and laundry women. WebVikingsholm was built by Lora Josephine Knight as a summer home. Those wishing to know more can enjoy one of the daily guided tours from Memorial Day weekend until the end of September. WebLora Josephine Knight (1 May 1864 - 26 June 1945) was a philanthropist from California who was at one time one of the wealthiest women in America according to newspaper reports. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. You have permission to edit this article. At his 21st birthday party, all of the guests were given pearl necklaces. Knight loved Tahoe, and for 16 years she enjoyed her summers at Wychwood, hosting friends and family members, but in 1928, she sold her beloved lakeside Shangri-La to Robert Stanley Dollar Sr., a wealthy San Francisco businessman.

Lick leaned toward Von Schmidts recommendation, but the dying benefactor designated a committee to make the final decision. For 16 years she had enjoyed her summer home Wychwood, at Observatory Point, on the North Shore. After years of bickering, the Lick Observatory was finally constructed in 1888 on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose. Meals were sumptuous and occupied a good part of each day. WebLora Josephine Knights legacy is enshrined in the magnificent Scandinavian castle Vikingsholm that she had built at Emerald Bay in 1929, but her first property at Tahoe was actually located at Chinquapin, a sheltered cove just east of Dollar Point in Carnelian Bay. Unfortunately, they were not happy together and divorced after just a couple of years. Vikingsholm is said to be one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere, according to California State Parks, which manages the land today.

Emerald Bay reminded her of fjords she had seen on numerous travels to Scandinavia. Julie Brown is a freelance writer and former contributing editor at SFGATE. There is a single-lane dirt road that connects Vikingsholm with Highway 89. of nature's spectacular beauty and man's architectural ingenuity. Tours are given of the American Craftsman Vikingsholm museum home for a nominal fee. [5] Despite the divorce, Lora continued to use her ex-husband's last name. Lora and her sister Ada married two brothers, William and James Moore, who worked as partners in their fathers law firm. [2][7], In 1927, she divorced Harry Knight, charging him with "extreme cruelty. Emerald Bay State Park is one of the most popular destinations in Lake Tahoe. Vikingsholm can be reached by walking a one-mile trail from the parking lot on Highway 89, or by boat. (So next time you visit Vikingsholm for a picnic, consider bringing some Ritz Crackers or perhaps Oreos.). Currently it is used as a hiking trail by those wishing to visit this remarkable castle.

Lora and James Moore moved to Santa Barbara for the ocean air. But Vikingsholm is the house that Lora will always be known for.

The property on which Vikingsholm is built includes 232 acres of Tahoes most beautiful vistas, the only island in Lake Tahoe, and the only waterfall that flows directly into the lake. Lora Josephine Knight was a philanthropist who valued community and education. WebLora Josephine. It was there in 1914 that Moore built a charming lakefront estate that she called Wychwood. He grew up much like youd think the single heir to a fortune would, but his time was short. WebLora Josephine Knight constructed Vikingsholm in the Scandinavian style because Emerald Bay reminded her of the fjords she visited on trips to that region. For weekly updates, interviews and profiles from a Tahoe insider, sign up for our Tahoe newsletter here. Architect Palme estimated the projects total cost at $500,000. Some parts of the structure contain no nails or spikes, as a result of old-fashioned construction methods. I imagined they wore summer dresses, carried parasols and sipped tea out of fine china, while enjoying Emerald Bays glory all by themselves. Summer days at Vikingsholm were relaxed, with a bit of structure. It is now a part of the Harvey West Unit of the Emerald Bay State Park. A relaxed, unhurried atmosphere typified the style of life one experienced when visiting the home. Lindbergh approached the Knights about helping fund his effort to be the first to fly nonstop across the Atlantic at a St. Louis airfield where Harry, an aspiring aviator, was taking flying lessons. Lora Josephine Knight (1 May 1864 - 26 June 1945) was a philanthropist from California who was at one time one of the wealthiest women in America according to newspaper reports.

She also clearly had an eye for real estate. Mrs. Knight greatly admired some pieces seen in Norwegian and Swedish museums, which were not available for purchase. According to McLaughlin, Lora Knight was known for her hospitality and philanthropy. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. WebLora Josephine. Construction on the castle began in the spring of 1929 and proceeded quickly as 200 workmen and artisans, housed in temporary barracks, quarried nearby stone and cut lumber. Knight had derived design ideas from 11th century wooden churches in Norway and carvings from these ancient church entrances were incorporated into many Vikingsholm door entries. Furnishings were carefully chosen by Mrs. Knight to enhance and carry out the Scandinavian theme. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864. As recently as a few weeks ago, scuba divers found the body of a man who had drowned in the lake 17 years ago, still in his wetsuit. WebFlickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "lorajosephineknight" Flickr tag. Her Vikingsholm Castle was completed in 1929 and reflected Scandinavian style of construction and architectural design. It was the first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory in the world and for nearly 10 years its telescope was the largest ever built. The items she couldnt import she had replicated. Mrs. Knight had traveled Scandinavia with her architect where they were inspired by the architecture. Lora then purchased about 240 acres of land at the head of Emerald Bay, as well as Fannette Island, from the William Henry Armstrong family for $250,000. Mrs. Knight had traveled Scandinavia with her architect where they were inspired by the architecture. Birth. The foundation was laid in 1928, and the building was constructed in 1929 by around 200 workers. He subsequently sold it to Harvey West, a lumberman from Placerville, California. James Lick, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, first struck it rich in the California Gold Rush and then parlayed his luck into a fortune by investing in San Franciscos booming real estate market. Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA. It was there she decided to build a structure that would incorporate the atmosphere and design of an old Viking castle of stone construction. Loras marriage to Harry Knight didnt last for more than a couple of years before they divorced. Photographs taken on that trip show how faithfully Mr. Palme reproduced specific features of these Scandinavian buildings in the design of Vikingsholm. Search for: Browse by Date Lora Josephine Knights legacy is enshrined in the magnificent Scandinavian castle Vikingsholm that she had built at Emerald Bay in 1929, but her first property at Tahoe was actually located at Chinquapin, a sheltered cove just east of Dollar Point in Carnelian Bay. In 1873, engineer Alexis Von Schmidt recommended the site for the proposed James Lick Astronomical Observatory that would house the worlds most powerful space telescope. The brightly painted bridal table, which stands in the living room, represents the quality of these outstanding reproductions. In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. Brown grew up on Tahoe's West Shore. Knight loved Tahoe, and for 16 years she enjoyed her summers at Wychwood, hosting friends and family members, but in 1928, she sold her beloved lakeside Shangri-La to Robert Stanley Dollar Sr., a wealthy San Francisco businessman. [1] Knight often entertained guests such as her friend Charles Lindbergh at Vikingsholm. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia that summer to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. Thank you for signing in! It was there she decided to build a structure that would incorporate the atmosphere and design of an old Viking castle of stone construction. The figure the Armstrongs couldnt walk away from was $250,000, about $3.7 million when adjusted for inflation. Selma the clock, one of the most striking pieces, stands in the hallway. Small was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 to lawyer Edward Small. To build it, she hired Swedish architect Lennart Palme, her nephew by marriage. From the mountainside, you can see Fanette Island and just barely make out the box-like shape of a stone teahouse on top. The horse stable housed 60 thoroughbreds. Lora Josephine Knights legacy is enshrined in the magnificent Scandinavian castle Vikingsholm that she had built at Emerald Bay in 1929, but her first property at Tahoe was actually located at Chinquapin, a sheltered cove just east of Dollar Point in Carnelian Bay. Mrs. Knight is probably known best for the building of Vikingsholm, but many still remember her because of her generous contributions to youth groups in California and Nevada and the provision of educational opportunities for young people who otherwise could not have afforded them. It is located along the shores of Lake Tahoe and each Tahoe has a handful of historic mansions along its shoreline that date back to the late 1800s and first quarter of the 20th century. Astronomers suggested that a high-altitude mountain location above atmospheric dust and away from city light would be the best location. Whether its delightful dining options, fun things to do or amazing outdoor recreation opportunities, we have you covered. Timber was hand-hewn, though Mrs. Knight specifically demanded that the footprint of her house be built around the old-growth trees on the property. Stones were quarried from the back of their property, where Eagle Falls spills over granite cliffs. For a birthday present, his father wrote him a check for $100,000. Pieces of wood resembling spikes adorn the gutters in a nod to the Scandinavian custom people used to ward off evil spirits. But since then, the state park has preserved Vikingsholm, and Knights legacy, for hundreds of thousands of visitors who arrive every year.

EDITORS NOTE: This article was originally published in the Summer 2017 edition of Tahoe Magazine. Vikingsholm is administered by the California Park System. In order to preserve the natural environment of Emerald Bay, Knight insisted that local Tahoe materials be used with the exception of the leaded windows with pastel stained-glass panes imported from Sweden. Mrs. Knight had it graded in 1929 for $10,000 so that she and her guests could arrive by automobile. The locally quarried granite boulders were ferried by barge to the island where derricks lifted them stone by stone. Pieces of wood resembling spikes adorn the gutters in a nod to the Scandinavian custom people used to ward off evil spirits. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Vikingsholm is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States. After Edward Smalls death, William and James took over the firm and formed the Moore Brothers partnership. The house included stables for 60 horses and a bowling alley. Ben Holiday, stagecoach magnate and early-day transportation king, constructed a home there in the late 1860s. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. She had been impressed by the Nordic architecture of the home that Palme had designed for himself in Rye, New York. Harry met Charles Lindbergh on the St. Louis airfield, according to historian Mark McLaughlin. The owner, billionaire heiressLora Josephine Knight bought the land to build a summer home similar to those she had seen on her travels to Scandinavia. WebIn 1928 Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, purchased about two hundred acres of land at Emerald Bay in the Lake Tahoe region of California. In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. 26 Jun 1945 (aged 81) Fresno, Fresno County, California, USA. The sibling entrepreneurs eventually amassed quite a fortune with controlling interest in a number of large American corporations such as the Diamond Match Company, U.S. Steel and National Biscuit (Nabisco), the maker of Oreo cookies. In 1928, Mrs. Knight had her mind firmly set on Emerald Bay to build her castle of the sky. She gave the family who owned the land an offer they couldnt refuse. They agreed to be major supporters. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Wisconsin Lake Geneva

The foundation was laid in 1928, and the building was constructed in 1929 by around 200 workers. Lindbergh approached the Knights about helping fund his effort to be the first to fly nonstop across the Atlantic at a St. Louis airfield where Harry, an aspiring aviator, was taking flying lessons. Carved dragon heads are common as both interior and exterior decorations, as they were used in old Viking castles to divide the main room between the chieftain and his most honored guests from the women and children. Vikingsholm is administered by the California Park System. Mrs. Knights Emerald Bay castle, called Vikingsholm, is an homage to Scandinavian architecture. Although their marriage was short-lived, Lora and Harry Knight were among the small group of St. Louis, Missouri, businessmen who were the principal financial backers of Charles Lindberghs famed 1927 flight across the Atlantic from New York to Paris. Search. Her father, Edward Small, was a corporate lawyer who took on two brothers as partners in his law practice William Henry Moore and James Hobart Moore. Shes recalled some of those memories in a booklet and, more recently, as a park ranger. The house he created for her is called Cima del Mundo. There was a boathouse for Knights largest boat, a beautiful mahogany cabin cruiser named the Valkyrie. The boats were intentionally sunk in the 1950's when they outlived their usefulness. In the summer, when guests would visit her at her castle on the shore of Emerald Bay, called Vikingsholm, the butler would row her and her friends across the bay to the island for tea time.

She then commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect to whom she was related by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. 9 Mar 1997 26 Oct 2021 California's Gold. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. In early 1916 they bought a home near Santa Barbara hoping that the mild Mediterranean climate might improve his condition, but he died on July 20, 1916, leaving Lora an estate worth $15 million. I was lucky to have grown up in Lake Tahoe, an area surrounded by crystal clear water, stunning bays, sharply jagged peaks, and snow-covered ridges, and have always had a fascination with what we referred to as the bottomless Lake. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. As a child, we heard countless rumors from fishermen about floating bodies perfectly preserved from the cold that would float to the surface when the water would warm up, as well as the numerous sightings of a Loch Ness monster-style creature. By the 1870s Lick was in poor health, but still fiercely determined to build the observatory. Emerald Bay also reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with it steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. Knight. Mrs. Knight enjoyed entertaining and had a number of guests visiting during the summer months. Her first lakefront mansion was called Wychwood and was just north of Dollar Point, where the Chinquapin condominiums are today. Despite the expense and effort, the tea house was rarely used, even though Lora spent all her summers at Vikingsholm until her death in 1945. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Serving Truckee, Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Incline Village, Placer County ranks as one of healthiest counties in California, Cold temps set records at Tahoe; Warming trend, weaker storms in forecast, 7th annual WinterWonderGrass music festival entertains (Gallery), Pothole repair, road work to begin this spring on Incline Village highways, Wind, winter weather advisories issued for Truckee-Tahoe. Lora Josephine Knights legacy is enshrined in the magnificent Scandinavian castle Vikingsholm that she had built at Emerald Bay in 1929, but her first property at Tahoe was actually located at Chinquapin, a sheltered cove just east of Dollar Point in Carnelian Bay. The home is open daily for tours in the summer months from June to September. Finnish carpenters were then brought in to hew timber, while a Scandinavian craftsman was hired to create the intricate exterior wood carvings. 1 May 1864. Many communities were interested in Licks $2 million estate and several protested the Tahoe location insisting that they were better suited for an observatory than the snowbound lake. Mrs. Knight (right) with Lennart Palme and family. Mrs. Knight had traveled Scandinavia with her architect where they were inspired by the architecture. Widowed and then divorced, the newspapers at the time said Knight was one of the wealthiest women in America. Small.

[2] Before starting construction, Knight and her architect traveled to Scandinavia to gather ideas for the house. [2] Before starting construction, Knight and her architect traveled to Scandinavia to gather ideas for the house. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the home. During most of the Moores married life, James and Lora lived in Chicago, Illinois and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Theres A Breathtaking Castle Nestled In The Mountains Of Northern California. Support timbers were hand hewn and interior wallboard meticulously hand planed, while metal fixtures like fireplace screens, hinges and latches were hand forged on-site. Read More. He was a stockbroker in St. Louis, Missouri, and an aspiring pilot. Search for: Browse by Date They visited Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden as they inspected buildings dating back 1,000 years. This is a carousel.

Small. According to McLaughlin, Lora Knight was known for her hospitality and philanthropy. For the latest information on tour schedules, parking, special events, and directions to Vikingsholm, please visit: Vikingsholm Tour Information. Many communities were interested in Licks $2 million estate and several protested the Tahoe location insisting that they were better suited for an observatory than the snowbound lake. Those wishing to know more can enjoy one of the daily guided tours through the end of September. It has been called "one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in North America.". In the early 1950s, Mr. West, a noted philanthropist, negotiated with the State of California and said he would donate one-half of the appraised value of the land and the Vikingsholm outright, if the State would pay him the other half of the land value. In total, construction of Vikingsholm was estimated to cost $500,000. "The legacy of Lora Knight and why Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in North America", "The mysterious castle in Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay", "The History of Lora Knight and Her Vikingsholm", "Vikingsholm: A Brief History (Nordic Castle at Emerald Bay)", "The mysteries and stories of the Harry F. Knight House", "LORA J. KNIGHT; Former Wife of Stock Broker, Financed Lindbergh Flight", "GETS DIVORCE IN RENO COURT California Digital Newspaper Collection", "Clipping from Reno Gazette-Journal - Newspapers.com", "Historic Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay always in need of attention, support", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lora_Josephine_Knight&oldid=1101022867, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 July 2022, at 22:31. It is located along the shores of Lake Tahoe and each Helen Smith was a frequent guest. WebLora Josephine Knight constructed Vikingsholm in the Scandinavian style because Emerald Bay reminded her of the fjords she visited on trips to that region. The foundation was laid in 1928, and the building was constructed in 1929 by around 200 workers. As soon as the snow melted in spring 1929, some 200 craftsmen arrived to build Vikingsholm. Small, was a corporate lawyer who accepted two brothers, James and William Moore, into his law firm. A curious man, Lick had always been interested in astronomy. During construction of the main house Lora turned her attention to Fannette Island in the middle of Emerald Bay.

With the advent of new advanced submarines and underwater exploration teams, members of the Undersea Voyager Project have now made 58 submarine trips and 33 scuba dives below the waters of Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake. It was there in 1914 that Moore built a charming lakefront estate that she called Wychwood.