The Van Benthuysen-Elm's Mansion and Gardens
Introduction
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Images
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The Elm’s Mansion was built in 1869 for Watson Van Benthuysen II. Van Benthuysen moved to New Orleans in the 1840s and was an officer in the Confederate Army. He was also a relative of Jefferson Davis by marriage. When he retired from the army, he became a prominent New Orleans businessman by becoming a wine and tobacco merchant. Van Benthuysen was also the president of the St. Charles Streetcar Company. He died in the home in 1901.
From 1931 to the end of World War II the Elm’s Mansion served as the German Consulate. From the basement of the mansion, U-boats in the Gulf were informed of ship departures from the New Orleans docks. In 1952, John Elms purchased the home. John Elms was the owner of the largest coin-operated amusement company in the South. Upon Elm’s death in 1968, his family began using the home for private functions and is currently being operated by the third generation of the Elm’s Family.
The Garden District of New Orleans was added to the National Historic Landmark Register because of the architecture and engineering of the buildings. The architecture style of the Garden district is mid-19th century Revival and late Victorian. The European style architecture of the Elm’s Mansion and its southern charm added a beautiful touch to the district. The mansion is surrounded by live oaks, magnolias, lush gardens, and a terracotta fountain. Currently, the mansion hosts weddings, rehearsals, welcome parties, anniversaries, and corporate dinners.
Sources
History, Van Benthuysen-Elms Mansion. Accessed August 17th 2020. https://www.elmsmansion.com/history.html.
The Elms Mansion and Gardens, Here Comes the Guide. Accessed August 17th 2020. https://www.herecomestheguide.com/wedding-venues/louisiana/the-elms-mansion-and-gardens.
Elm's Mansion , Wedding Wire. Accessed August 17th 2020. https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/elms-mansion-new-orleans/56ba20b0dd50e067.html.
Louisiana - Orleans County - Historic Districts, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed August 17th 2020. https://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/la/orleans/districts.html.