In the rolling hills of the Berkshires stands a house that tells two stories: one of a pioneering woman author, the other of her radical ideas about design and living spaces.

Welcome to The Mount, where Edith Wharton didn't just write about beautiful spaces, she created one. This striking white estate in Lenox, Massachusetts, represents something unusual in literary history: a house designed by the author herself, applying principles from her first book, "The Decoration of Houses."

Here, Wharton put theory into practice, crafting a home that reflected her beliefs about order, scale, and harmony. Today, visitors walk through rooms where one of America's greatest novelists lived, worked, and entertained during her most productive years.

A Writer's Vision Realized

Edith Wharton and her husband Edward built The Mount in 1902, drawing inspiration from England's Belton House and classical Italian architecture. Wharton collaborated with architect Ogden Codman Jr., her co-author on "The Decoration of Houses," to create the structure. Her niece, Beatrix Farrand, the only female founder of the American Society of Landscape Architects, designed the kitchen garden and drive.

The Whartons called The Mount home until 1911. After their departure, the property served various purposes: a private residence, a dormitory for Foxhollow School, and the home of Shakespeare & Company theatre troupe. In 1971, it earned National Historic Landmark status. Edith Wharton Restoration has since returned much of the estate to its original splendor.

Walking Through Wharton's World

The Mount's three-story west entrance gives way to a two-story garden side that opens onto a raised stone terrace. White stucco walls contrast with dark green shutters, while the roof features distinctive cupolas and balustrades rising above clusters of gables.

Interpretive exhibits throughout the house explore both upstairs and downstairs life, revealing stories of Wharton's servants alongside her own literary achievements. The restored Lord and Burnham greenhouse, Colonial Revival gatehouse and stable, and period-appropriate interiors let visitors experience the spaces as Wharton intended. Unlike many house museums, guests can sit in the rooms and interact with the spaces without barriers, creating an intimate connection with the author's domestic world.

More Than a Historic House

What makes The Mount special is how it bridges Wharton's literary and design legacies. The estate's 49.5 acres include restored gardens: an Italian walled garden, formal flower garden, alpine rock garden, lime walk, and sweeping grass terraces that demonstrate Wharton's landscape vision.

Today, The Mount functions as a vibrant cultural hub hosting over 40 partner organizations. The calendar features dramatic readings, theatrical performances, music, literary panels, outdoor sculptures, and author appearances. Recent guests have included Billy Collins, Adam Gopnik, and other contemporary literary voices, keeping Wharton's spirit of intellectual engagement alive. The estate welcomes over 50,000 visitors annually who come to experience this unique intersection of American literature, architecture, and garden design.

The Mount Highlights & Tips

• The Author's Architectural Vision Experience the only surviving house designed by Edith Wharton herself, where she applied principles from her book 'The Decoration of Houses' to create spaces embodying order, scale, and harmony.
• Barrier-Free Tours Unlike many house museums, The Mount invites you to sit in the rooms and interact with the spaces, offering an unusually intimate experience of how Wharton actually lived and worked.
• Beatrix Farrand's Gardens Explore gardens designed by Wharton's niece, Beatrix Farrand, including an Italian walled garden, alpine rock garden, and formal terraces that showcase early 20th-century landscape design.
• Upstairs and Downstairs Stories Interpretive exhibits reveal both Wharton's literary life and her servants' experiences, providing a complete picture of early 1900s household dynamics.
• Literary Events Year-Round Check the events calendar for author readings, theatrical performances, and literary panels. The Mount hosts contemporary writers and cultural programs that continue Wharton's legacy of intellectual engagement.
• Plan for the Grounds Set aside time to explore the 49.5-acre estate. The restored gardens, greenhouse, and terraced landscapes are as much a part of Wharton's vision as the house itself.
• Berkshires Location The Mount is located in the culturally rich Berkshires region of Western Massachusetts. Consider combining your visit with other area attractions for a full day of exploration.

The Mount offers something rare: a chance to step inside the mind of a great author through the physical spaces she created. Here, Wharton's ideas about beauty, proportion, and domestic life took concrete form in stucco and stone, in garden paths and window placements.

Whether you're drawn by literary history, architecture, landscape design, or simply the story of a pioneering woman who shaped her own world, The Mount delivers. It stands as both monument and living cultural center, a place where Wharton's legacy continues to inspire new conversations about art, literature, and the spaces we inhabit.