Ragdale House Re-opens Following Renovation
The Ragdale House re-opened in June, 2012 after a year-long restoration, which has returned the historic structure to its 1926 elegance. Ragdale House was built in 1897 by Howard Van Doren Shaw, noted architect in the English Arts and Crafts tradition, as his Lake Forest summer home. “Operation Renovation” was a $3.2 million restoration project undertaken to preserve the structural integrity and functionality of the home, which included replacement of the heating, wiring and plumbing.
The Ragdale House serves as a year-round residence for artists. Writers, such as Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler’s Wife, and Nancy Horan, Loving Frank, have been inspired to write best-selling novels in these rooms. The re-opening of the Ragdale House allows the residency program once again to accommodate up to 200 artists a year.
Watch August 11, 2011 - Cultural Connections: Ragdale on PBS.
