Eugenie & John Anderson Guided Walking Tour with Mary Dupont
Join author Mary Dupont as she shares stories, anecdotes, and memories of her grandparents, Eugenie & John Anderson, on a one hour guided outdoor walking tour of the Tower View estate on Saturday, June 27th at 1:00 p.m. Register now as space is limited in order to ensure physical distancing. A second tour is also being offered earlier the same day at 11:00 a.m. Tour groups meet in front of Tower View Barn 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the tour.
Daughter. Sister. Wife. Mother. Diplomat. Eugenie Anderson played many roles in a life that virtually spanned the twentieth century. She cherished her family but purposefully sought a larger stage, one on which she could affect world events and contribute to a brighter future. Anderson achieved historic diplomatic status when President Harry Truman appointed her the first woman ambassador for the United States with a post to Denmark in 1949. She went on to also serve as U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria. Beginning in 1965, Anderson served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations and became the first woman to sit on the Security Council. Tirelessly advocating for human rights, Anderson pushed against expectations set by society and the media and in the process demonstrated that diplomacy’s requisite skills – intelligence, poise, determination – are held by women and men alike.
Her husband John P. Anderson, son Alexander P. Anderson, was an artist and photographer. In 1932, the East Residence at Tower View (which, in 2020, is currently wrapping up an interior renovation project) became John and Eugenie’s home. The couple lived in the home for decades and raised their family there. On this walking tour, DuPont provides insight and commentary on the historic setting of Tower View through the lens of her grandparents’ personal and public lives.
Mary Dupont is a writer and photographer specializing in midwestern social and family history and photo preservation efforts. She lives along the Mississippi River bluffs near St. Paul; she and her husband have three children. She is the author of Mrs. Ambassador The Life and Politics of Eugenie Anderson (2019, Minnesota Historical Society Press)
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Thanks to this funding, the Anderson Center is able to offer tickets on a pay-what-you-can basis. All ticket sales will go to support work offering artistic programming in the Red Wing community.
The use of face masks is strongly encouraged! ASL interpretation is available upon request. To request interpretation, please contact Stephanie at stephanie@andersoncenter.org or 651-388-2009 at least two weeks prior to the event. Tour guides will be using a personal portable voice amplifier. While steps can be avoided on the tour, be advised that the tour route takes participants off paved trails and across uneven ground. If the weather is severe or there is heavy rain, the Anderson Center will announce cancellations prior to the tour’s departure via e-mail and social media.