<em>Hall, The Cupola House</em>, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_transp00265c001_yr1982_installation_parlor_IMLS_SL2.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_transp00265c001_yr1982_installation_parlor_IMLS_SL2.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_installation_exterior_front_door_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_installation_interior_front_door_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg1637_installation_sitting_room_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg231082_yr1968_installation_sitting_room_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-11_yr1975_installation_entrance_hall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-14_yr1975_installation_hall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-15_yr1975_installation_hall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-16_yr1975_installation_hall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-17_yr1975_installation_hall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-18_yr1975_installation_parlor_west_wall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-19_yr1975_installation_parlor_north_wall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-21_yr1975_installation_parlor_south_wall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-22_yr1975_installation_bedroom_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-23_yr1975_installation_bedroom_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-24_yr1975_installation_bedroom_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-25_yr1975_installation_bedroom_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-26_yr1975_installation_bedroom_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-27_yr1975_installation_bedroom_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23110-30_yr1975_installation_parlor_east_wall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23131-23_yr1976_installation_parlor_fireplace_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23131-26_yr1976_installation_sitting_room_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23131-31_yr1976_installation_exterior_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23131-32_yr1976_installation_stairhall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23131-35_yr1976_installation_exterior_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg23131-39_yr1976_installation_hall_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_neg9853_yr1938_in_situ_exterior_cropped_acetate_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_yr1930_installation_sitting_room_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_yr1960s_in_situ_stairhall_reconstruction_cropped_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_yr1976_installation_hallway_above_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_yr1976_installation_hallway_door_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_yr1983_installation_fireplace_center_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_yr1983_installation_fireplace_left_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_yr1983_installation_fireplace_right_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_yrbefore1940_installation_sitting_room_print_bw_IMLS.jpg)

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Would this dining room really be painted blue when it was built in 1758?

Yes, that blue, known as "Prussian Blue," was the most expensive color used in 18th century woodwork paneling. While this color is a modern reproduction, it is true to the color it would have been.

If you look in the parlor, the walls there are also Prussian Blue, and the furniture is bright yellow - it was in fashion at the time to have high contrast colors in home decor.

You can also see the Prussian Blue in the "Nicholas Schenck House," another period room located on the 4th floor.

Is the furniture original to this house?

The Brooklyn Museum purchased the downstairs woodwork of the Cupola House on February 11, 1918. There is no record of furniture being purchased from the house at this time. The rooms are now furnished with individual pieces from the Brooklyn Museum's collection that would have been appropriate to an American home of the early- to late-18th century, primarily in the Queen Anne and Chipendale styles. If you are interested in a period room with original furnishings, see the 20th-century Weil-Worgelt Study or the 19th-century Milligan House parlor and library rooms.

What is that?

That is actually a type of piano/harpsicord called a "Spinet."

Is that a real piano?

That type of piano is actually called a 'spinet,' it is just a smaller version of a piano or harpsichord and yes, it is real! It is not original to the home, though.

It is original to the time period! It is often hard to get items original to the rooms because the architecture was collected after the time of the original owners. The Milligan Parlor and Library (also on view on the 4th floor) have many of the original furnishings, we even have some receipts on display. But what curators try to do when they cannot get the originals of the rooms is to furnish them in ways that they would have been in that time period.

Isn't this bed a little short for an adult?

To be honest, although it may seem shorter, it is not considerably shorter than a modern bed! It may be the bed-hangings giving you that illusion.

How difficult is it to move an entire room from a house into a museum?

Very difficult! It's done by a whole team of curators, conservators, and technicians. Rooms are disassembled, pieces are labeled and numbered, and everything is very carefully packed for the move.

Then, once the room arrives, it has to be re-assembled, and decisions are made about things like new wallpapers or upholstery, of the old ones are too worn to be displayed. Oh, and lighting has to be installed, and labels need to be researched and written. It's a really laborious and time-consuming process, but fascinating and well-worth the effort!

Yup, definitely worth the effort!

Yes indeed! And we're lucky to have so many good historic interiors here.

Are the windows in he Cupola House original? The glass has that watery effect you often see on older windows.

We only have the original woodwork to the house, we do not have the windows, the exterior or the staircase, interestingly. In this case, the glass in the window is not original, it was fabricated by the Museum. The original staircase was left in the home and the Brooklyn Museum hired Frank E. Muth, a contractor from Edenton, to recreate the staircase. During the 1960s renovations of the home in Edenton, it was discovered that the house likely had a curved staircase and the staircase there was re-created but was not changed in the museum installation.

Ok, thanks so much for all of that information!

My pleasure!

Hey there. My girls want to know if the furniture is original?

Hi! Nice photo. You're looking at a room from the Cupola House from North Carolina. The woodwork (the mantel, panels, etc.) was purchased by the Brooklyn Museum in 1918. The furniture you see did not originally belong to this house. However, the furniture dates to the same time period (the early- to late-1700s) and it's the kind of furniture that a family like the original owners of this house would have owned. These pieces are mostly examples of the Queen Anne and Chippendale styles.

Barns and old homes often have robust paint colors like turquoise. What were the base of such paints from so long ago? How did they make the colors?

It is pretty shocking to think about how much brighter these colors may have been during their time of application. I recall reading about how visitors didn't like the more historically accurate restorations of Mount Vernon. because they were too bright.

Colonial paints had many different bases. The most expensive part of paint was the huge amount of pigment needed to make vibrant colors! The blue color you see in the Cupola House can also be seen in the Nicholas Schenck house, and is called 'Prussian Blue.' It is a modern paint, the Museum did not attempt to recreate the original surface.

Cool, thanks!

You're welcome!

What is a mixing table?

A mixing table or 'slab table' would be used for holding candles in the evening, or perhaps flowers. Unlike card tables (used for playing cards) or dining tables a mixing table could serve a variety of purposes.

Do you know what you call these window treatments? Like the name of the style?

These are called 'balloon curtains.' Curtains were available only to the most affluent families in the 18th century American colonies. They were most commonly made from wool and they were often color-coordinated with the rest of the room.

These aren't the original curtains from the Cupola House, of course, they're a curatorial re-construction of something that's accurate to the period.

I like how they are bunched up and gather as they are pulled up. I appreciate these details in the rooms.

I agree, and they're so full. They require lots of material! The curators have put so much research and thought into installing these rooms, it's amazing.

For real! Kudos to them, and to you for looking these things up.

Did all the beds having hangings just for decoration or to serve some purpose?

That's an excellent question. Bed hangings were definitely aesthetic and decorative while also serving the purpose of keeping the cold out. Like curtains, bed hangings showed your wealth and status and were often fashioned out of expensive luxury fabrics. And, before people had good heat sources, bed warmers were placed under the mattress to heat it and bed hangings would keep the cold air away from the sleeping person!

What are the red things in the glasses?

They are faux-cranberries. That set of glasses were for jellies or other sweets. This dining hall is set up as if an afternoon "rout" were taking place. A rout was an afternoon party where liquor would be served, you can see a punch bowl to the right.

Fancy! I do, it's a huge punch bowl!

So was this all part of the Cupola House originally?

The Brooklyn Museum purchased the downstairs woodwork of the Cupola House on February 11, 1918. The rooms are now furnished with individual pieces from the Brooklyn Museum's collection that would have been appropriate to an American home of the 18th-century. This is a common practice as it is actually pretty rare to acquire original furnishings along with a room! It's more likely that a museum will have individual pieces from various acquisitions to use.

When you say purchased the woodwork, are those original rooms?

They are, indeed. The woman who owned the house could no longer afford it and at the time, in the early 20th-century, museums were sending curators out all over the country to acquire period rooms for their collections.

The owner of the Cupola House sold the downstairs woodwork of her home (the paneling on the walls and floors) to a dealer and the Brooklyn Museum then bought the woodwork from that dealer. I should mention though that the staircase is not original, it is a reproduction created by a contractor from Edenton, the town where those rooms came from.

That's a pretty cool touch. It felt like I was really there.

I agree, it makes it feel so much more authentic.

Is the piano cut intentionally or is that how it was made?

Musical instruments were considered a status symbol of the wealthy in the late 1800s. The keys and cords portion of it were made in London, but the stand is American made.An alternative to more grandiose pianos, this smaller version, known as a spinet, was usually found in parlor rooms for entertaining small groups of people or family members. It's small size also makes it portable.

I like the yellow couch!

The yellow furniture in the Cupola House parlor is coordinated with the window treatments, did you notice that?

This was something popular in the 18th century, to coordinate bright colors in the same room. It is called 'en suite' design.

Interesting, didn't know that.

It's not common to see anymore, that's for sure! The yellow and blue are in such contrast.

This room looks cozy!

Doesn't it? I love those floral bed-hangings (they also match the window treatments!)

The person sleeping there likely would have been cozy. Along with being stylish, bed-hangings were used to keep the sleeper warm.

I'm wondering if any of the period rooms/historic houses deal with slavery?

While our more well known rooms are from New York Dutch settlers, they certainly had slaves in their home so definitely make your way to the blue Nicholas Schenck House. If you're more interested in the South and deep South you can find The Cane Acres Perry Plantation House and the Cupala House, also on the 4th floor. If you need more details about any of the homes, the rooms or the residents while there, please feel free to ask further questions.

I am in the Cupola bedchamber. Do you have any info about the quilt? Is it original or reproduction?

It is a reproduction. Modern museum practices discourage the use of historical textiles in period rooms. Textiles that old are rare to find (especially in such nice condition!) because they are hard to conserve.

I will say that the patterning on the quilt is likely based off of a period-pattern. While museums don't always have period items they need or want for rooms like this, they will do their best to recreate what would have been used and seen in that time.

I should also mention that in the Cupola House, the only original pieces from the home is all of the woodwork that surrounds you. If you would like to see a period room with original furnishings, I recommend checking out the Weil-Worgelt Study, the Worsham/Rockefeller Room, and the Mid-Nineteenth Century Parlor and Library, which all feature original objects and furnishings.

Is this an original staircase from the Cupola house or a replica?

The staircase is a reproduction of the original staircase, which was left in the home. The Cupola House still stands in North Carolina and is in the care of a local historic society. The Brooklyn Museum acquired the downstairs woodwork of the home.

Are the furnishings original to the house?

No, but the furnishing all date to the period of the woodwork and are in the same style of that in the original Cupola house.

Which class of people lived in this house?

In the eighteenth century, the house was inhabited by upper-middle class families. The house was first built for Richard Sanderson Jr., a wealthy seaman and trader. In 1777 the house was purchased by a doctor named Samuel Dickinson, whose descendants would live in the house for the following 141 years.

Is the Cupola House original?

The only original parts of this house that you see at the museum are the interior moldings: the decorative woodwork inside the home, like the baseboards and the crown molding up near the ceiling. Everything else was reconstructed based on careful measurements taken of the house. The curators tried to acquire the bulk of the house in 1918, but the people of the town it is in wanted to keep the house there.

Can you tell me about the object in front of the fireplace?

This is a firescreen. It would be placed in front of the fireplace when not in use, to conceal the sooty grill. The painted flowers were a way to inexpensively brighten up the interior. It also served to deflect direct heat, making it possible for someone to sit closer to the fire without being too hot.

What are the curtains on the bed for?

Those would have been pulled shut when people went to bed, to keep the warmth in! That was important in a time before central heating. It was also an opportunity to use beautifully printed cotton textiles, which were an expensive luxury in this period.

Would this be the porcelain imported from England?

Yes, almost all decorative objects would have been imported from England in this period. Porcelain was not produced in the United States until around 1765! Most furniture, however, was made locally, because wood was found in abundance.

Can you tell me more about floor cloths?

In a lot of ways floor cloths acted the same way that a linoleum floor might today. They were easy to clean, which was especially valuable over wooden floorboards! The design of the floorcloth you see in the Cupola House Dining Hall, which mimics stonework or marble floor, was designed by Londoner John Carwitham in 1739. Floor cloths like this were popular in both America and England during the 18th century.

How is it made so durable to withstand being under tables and chairs?

Canvas is a thick, durable fabric. The paint was likely oil paint, which is inherently water resistant, which also helped! I'm sure that wear and tear did happen, but like any tarp or rug, it helped to protect the floors, keep them thickly varnished and maintain the appearance of the home.

Are these the original windows to the Cupola House?

These are not the original windows, but they were meticulously recreated based on measurements from the original Cupola House in North Carolina. I am not sure of the glass's source, that is, whether it's old or just made to look that way. In the case of this particular house, only the wood trim is from the original house itself. Everything else was recreated based on measurements and notations made on site.

Why were oilcloths such a popular floor covering? Was the waterproofing from the oilcloth needed for some reason?

Waterproofing can come in handy in any room, but especially in dining rooms where spills are inevitable! Oil cloths were an affordable and durable way to introduce color and pattern to the home.

Ah, that makes sense. I now feel better about how often I spill.

Dime más.

Las "bed hangings" elaboradas y caras fueron una parte importante de la decoración de interiores en los siglos XVII y XVIII. De hecho, en este período, el término "cama" se refería a tapicerías, adornos y decoración, en lugar del bastidor.

How long does an installation like all of the period rooms take? I love literally stepping back in time down to the very last detail....like the creaky floors, is that part of it?

The creaky floors are an inevitable part of it! While the museum did not specially engineer the creaks, they are a result of incorporating the original flooring from some of these homes! I agree it really adds to the ambience!

How long does it take to install period rooms?

The exact length of time may vary, but the process is usually the same: first, each piece is labeled and numbered when they are removed from their original location, then they are reassembled here like a puzzle.

Of course, a single room doesn't take as long as a whole house. Some installations also require more actual construction than others.

The Weil-Worgelt Study and the Gilded Age Reception Room, for example, are both entirely original.

In the Cupola House, on the other hand, only the wood trim in original. The rest of the house was recreated based on meticulous notes and measurements from the original building.

Amazing! Thank you!

Do you know why the walls in the Cupola House were painted blue like this?

This color is called "Prussian blue" and is a synthetic chemical color developed in the early 18th century in Berlin (then the capital of Prussia).

Prussian blue was one of the most stylish and expensive paint colors available in the early eighteenth century, made popular because it is easily made, and cheaper to produce than previously used blue pigments (although still expensive).

Tell me more.

This room was at the back of the house and was therefore less accessible and more private making it perfect for beds and finer furniture. It is also one of the smaller rooms here. There would have been more bedrooms upstairs; the Museum only acquired the first floor of this house.

Why does the chest have such high drawers? Wouldn't it have been unreachable for people in the 18th century?

The high chest was meant to store objects and linens. It was so tall to allow more storage space. Probably a step stool would be used to access the top drawers.

Is this blue color authentic?

Would it actually have originally been this color?

It certainly was! Curators had the house's trim repainted this Prussian blue color when the house was installed in the museum to recreate the color it would originally have been painted in 1758.

Scientific analysis of the wood showed that it had been painted Prussian blue which was a common status symbol in the 18th century due to the price of the pigment.

Are the walls and objects in the period rooms original to the houses?

The answer to that is, it depends! Some rooms, like the Weil-Worgelt study are entirely original, in the walls, floors, and furniture. Most are a combination of original elements and objects from our collection appropriate to the time period.

An extreme example in the other direction would be the Cupola House. Only the wood trim is from the house itself. The rest of the architecture was meticulously recreated based on measurements and the furniture comes from our collection.

Hall, The Cupola House

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Cupola House, Pantry and Dining Decorative Art, Hall, 4th Floor

DATES ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758

DIMENSIONS 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 18.170

CREDIT LINE Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Cupola House, Pantry and Dining Decorative Art, Hall, 4th Floor

CAPTION Hall, The Cupola House, ca. 1725; woodwork 1756-1758., 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ft. (5.9 x 4.7 m). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 18.170. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 18.170_transp00265c001_yr1982_installation_parlor_IMLS_SL2.jpg)

IMAGE installation, 1980s installation, 18.170_transp00265c001_yr1982_installation_parlor_IMLS_SL2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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