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. A sprinkler system was even included on the roof. 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. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Specifically: Private Memorial, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110560461/lora-josephine-knight. Lora and her husband, James, traveled extensively in California as to foreign countries. Lick leaned toward Von Schmidts recommendation, but the dying benefactor designated a committee to make the final decision. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. Please reset your password. And let's face it, if you were as rich as she . First, Huell . 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. It was originally constructed to be the summer residence of Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight who had been impressed by her architect nephew's Nordic-inspired home in New York. The locally quarried granite boulders were ferried by barge to the island where derricks lifted them stone by stone. "[8] She risked losing her entire fortune from her first marriage as part of the divorce. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Together, they designed, built, and decorated the castle with authentic materials shipped in from Northern Europe. The figure the Armstrongs couldnt walk away from was $250,000, about $3.7 million when adjusted for inflation. Nearly all of the materials were sourced on site or nearby. According to McLaughlin, Lora Knight was known for her hospitality and philanthropy. Visitors can hike down to the home and tour it. It was there she decided to build a structure that would incorporate the atmosphere and design of an old Viking castle of stone construction. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. He grew up much like youd think the single heir to a fortune would, but his time was short. Despite its ancient motif, Vikingsholm had all the conveniences available in the 1930s, including electricity, modern fixtures and private baths in the bedrooms. It was the first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory in the world and for nearly 10 years its telescope was the largest ever built. Search. Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Over 200 artisans, some from Scandinavia, and workmen constructed the estate by hand hewing the timbers, carving the intricate designs, hand planning the wood for the interior walls, and forging the hinges and latches. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Their Wisconsin chateau boasted 27 rooms, a wine cellar and a two-lane bowling alley. 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. She exhibited Indian baskets, including some by the noted Washoe weaver Dat-So-La-Lee, also known as Louisa Keyser. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Her "Castle in the Sky" features intricate . After years of bickering, the Lick Observatory was finally constructed in 1888 on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Her Vikingsholm Castle was completed in 1929 and reflected Scandinavian style of construction and architectural design. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Brown grew up on Tahoe's West Shore. 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. 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. It is known as 'Tahoe's Hidden Castle' and draws thousands of curious visitors each year. His award-winning books are available at local stores or atwww.thestormking.com. Your email address will not be published. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Not a lot to do there, except hike up to the Tea House and take some photos. Come summer, the hiking trails are full of visitors, and state parks rangers open the castle for guided tours. Vikingsholm, Lake Tahoe, California, built from 1928 to 1929 as a summer home for Lora Josephine Knight. Architect Palme estimated the projects total cost at $500,000. It was first published on this website in August 2018 and is presented in its original form. It was the first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory in the world and for nearly 10 years its telescope was the largest ever built. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Her parents were good friends with Knight, and Smith spent 14 summers visiting Vikingsholm as a child. Astronomers suggested that a high-altitude mountain location above atmospheric dust and away from city light would be the best location. She made financial contributions stretching from Santa Barbara, CA, to Reno, NV, and went toward youth groups, community centers, and college scholarships. Learn more about merges. . There is a problem with your email/password. The 38-bedroom castle was constructed between 1928 and 1929 for Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, who used it as a summer retreat. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. In 1928, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight purchased Armstrong's land with the need to construct a summer house that may praise the magnificent pure environment. Try again. . Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA. Verify and try again. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism. Find the . And if you're visiting in the summer, you can take a tour of the property. The roof of the north and south wings is topped with sod where grass and flowers grow each spring. Bliss . To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. Newspapers reported that Nathaniels death had a devastating impact on his parents, especially his father, who grew ill soon after. . Work on the home ceased at first snowfall in the winter of 1928 and was started up again in the spring of 1929. Lora Knight died in 1945 and Lawrence Holland, a Nevada rancher purchased the Vikingsholm from her estate. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. In 1914, the Moores built a lakefront estate in Lake Tahoe at Chinquapin which they called Wychwood. But the story of Mrs. Knight and her Vikingsholm stand apart from the rest. In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. Summer days at Vikingsholm were relaxed, with a bit of structure. 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. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Von Schmidt chose a site 300 feet above Lake Tahoe on the Chinquapin point, renaming it Observatory Point in anticipation. In Santa Barbara, Knight built a 22,000-square-foot villa on the hillside of Montecito. 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 and James Moore moved to Santa Barbara for the ocean air. Harry was an amateur pilot and Harry and Laura were among Charles Lindberghs major donors for his solo Atlantic flight. 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. Shes recalled some of those memories in a booklet and, more recently, as a park ranger. The Moore brothers had a controlling interest in a handful of large corporations, including United States Steel, Union Pacific, Rock Island Railroad and National Biscuit, or Nabisco. 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. 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. EDITORS NOTE: This article was originally published in the Summer 2017 edition of Tahoe Magazine. [1][3] She also built a small teahouse on Fannette Island inside the bay. In the 1960s, the property was vandalized, especially the teahouse, which is now only four rock walls and empty squares for windows. 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We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. It was built in a single summer. She also happened to have a Swedish architect for a nephew. The items she couldnt import she had replicated. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight later constructed Vikingsholm, an exquisite 38-room castle on the Emerald Bay shores, in 1928-1929. During the summer months she would take guests to the island for high tea. It's a steep . With her first husband, she had a 27-room estate at Lake Geneva, a retreat for Midwestern tycoons, according to the Chicago Tribune. After Lora's father passed, the brothers took over the law firm and together, they became incredibly wealthy businessmen based in Chicago. Today, Lora Knights Viking castle is considered perhaps the finest example of Scandinavian architecture in North America. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Lake Geneva, Walworth County, . Mrs. Knight had Vikingsholm built for her as a summer home in 1929. Since this is my blog and I get to say whatever I want, I think Morris would've approved of . Vikingsholm's design includes mortar-embedded granite boulders, hand hewn timbers, church entrance-like hand carvings, roof ridge carvings with dragon heads crossing at roof peaks, and a sod roof. 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. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Burial Details Unknown. Nathan was an avid golfer and a participating member of the American Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1904 Summer Games in Missouri. She had a granite teahouse that resembled a small castle built on the crest of the island. Work on the home ceased at first snowfall in the . Year should not be greater than current year. She and her friends would take a motor boat from her mansion on the shore out to the island in the afternoon. Tahoe has a handful of historic mansions along its shoreline that date back to the late 1800s and first quarter of the 20th century. Creator of Vikingsholm, Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe. Mrs. Knight insisted that the natural environment of Emerald Bay be protected and so no trees were cut in the vicinity of the estate and the home was built around several large trees. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. She spent 15 summers in the house and, along with her numerous guests, enjoyed the nature, wildlife and peaceful tranquility of the estate until her death in 1945. We have set your language to In later years, Lindberg frequently visited Lora at her various estates including Vikingsholm. -- Tahoe's Hidden Castle. He was a stockbroker in St. Louis, Missouri, and an aspiring pilot. Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. Rocks in Water - California's Gold (803) We're talking about rocks in the water! The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Emerald Bay also reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with it steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. Those wishing to know more can enjoy one of the daily guided tours through the end of September. Inspired by 11th century Nordic churches and castles, Knight commissioned detailed wood carvings to be placed throughout the interior and exterior. The house had modern fixtures, electricity, and each bedroom had a private bath. Mrs. Knight had it graded in 1929 for $10,000 so that she and her guests could arrive by automobile. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. In 1884, Lora gave birth to their only child, a son Nathaniel, who later married Helen Fargo, heiress to the Wells Fargo banking dynasty founded in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. Astronomers suggested that a high-altitude mountain location above atmospheric dust and away from city light would be the best location. She loved Scandinavian architecture and Emerald Bay reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with its steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Her father was a corporate lawyer who partnered with two brothers, William Henry Moore and James Hobart Moore. [5], In 1924, the Knights hired Myron Hunt to build a home they named Cima del Mundo in Santa Barbara, California on the Montecito hillside.

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