The Lunts’ Wisconsin estate, Ten Chimneys, is an Official Project of Save America’s Treasures. The Lunts designed and decorated Ten Chimneys the same way they created their plays — one delightful detail layered upon another. The décor mirrors their lives, with its mementos from international trips and pervading theatrical references.

Ten Chimneys Dining Room.

Because the Lunts spent every summer at their beloved Ten Chimneys, the estate inevitably became a studio for artistic work. From the mid-1920’s through the 1960’s, Ten Chimneys was the spiritual home for many of the country’s leading theatre artists. Celebrated actors, writers, designers, and directors journeyed repeatedly to Ten Chimneys to relax, rejuvenate, and collaborate on projects that became milestones of American theatre. Frequent guests included Helen Hayes, Nöel Coward, Laurence Olivier, Alexander Woollcott, Katharine Hepburn, Carol Channing and many more. As Channing once said, "Ten Chimneys is to performers what the Vatican is to Catholics."

In 1996, Ten Chimneys came perilously close to destruction through commercial development. Following public opposition and some fortunate twists of fate, the estate was saved from this unacceptable outcome. Shortly thereafter, Ten Chimneys Foundation was formed and purchased the estate, thus saving it from immediate destruction.

Saving the estate from immediate destruction, however, was only the first step. The Foundation is now in the silent phase of a capital campaign to restore and preserve Ten Chimneys. Once this is accomplished, the estate will be open to the public as a world-class house museum and national center for theatre and arts education in the 21^st Century.

Ten Chimneys Foundation President and Founder, Joseph Garton explained that, "National exposure for Ten Chimneys is crucial at this stage of our development. Our status as an Official Project of Save America’s Treasures, short on the heels of a U.S. Postage Stamp, has made a real difference in our ongoing efforts to garner national enthusiasm and support."

A few months after Ten Chimneys’ official project designation, renowned actress Julie Harris gave a private performance at Ten Chimneys for a small group of supporters. Her passionate remarks summarize why saving America’s treasures — like Ten Chimneys — is so important for future generations, "Ten Chimneys should be preserved and taken care of for all time. It speaks of graciousness, of wonderful work, of extraordinary effort and beauty. We need those memories to spur us on into the 21^st century."

Related Resources

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne Take National Stage on U.S. Postage Stamp

February 23, 1999 United States Postal Service news release.

 

The Gallery of 1999 Commemorative Stamps

Learn more about the Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne stamp.

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