MANITOGA: READ ALL ABOUT US
There was good cause to toot our own horn in 2006, and we had widespread help from the media. The prestigious designation of Manitoga as a National Historic Landmark early in the year set the stage for a steady stream of extraordinary press coverage.
Most notably, given the unique Modernist restoration that we have undertaken, Preservation, the magazine of The National Trust for Historic Preservation, devoted an 8-page cover story to Manitoga in the November/December issue, coinciding with the Trust's National Preservation Conference. In addition to the eye-catching photograph of Dragon Rock's Mezzanine on the cover, the article by Jane Roy Brown included a 2-page photo spread of Russel Wright's Studio and dramatic, contrasting shots of the dining area before and during restoration work.
In May, The New York Times featured Manitoga as a day trip destination in "A Country Retreat Where Good Designed Flourished." The flood of calls for tour reservations began before staff was even aware the story had run.
Also in May came announcement that Manitoga had been awarded a coveted spot on the Landslide 2006 list. Cosponsored by The Cultural Landscape Foundation and Garden Design magazine, the list calls attention to endangered landscapes whose protection is critical to America's heritage. Charles Birnbaum, The Cultural Landscape Foundation President and coordinator of the National Park Service's Historic Landscape Initiative visited Manitoga for a press conference to announce the designation.
Garden Design showcased Manitoga in its June/July issue, including a striking full-page image of Dragon Rock from across the quarry pond. House & Garden devoted three full pages to Manitoga in August with "Field Trip: Arranging Nature" which includes seven photographs.
In November, Period Homes identified Manitoga as one of "three of the country's most successful house museums," detailing ongoing restoration efforts and underscoring current steps toward becoming a professionally-run museum. At year-end, the British World of Interiors, the ultimate in high praise for interior design, showcased its Manitoga among its choices for the world's 25 top interiors in its 25th anniversary commemorative edition.
Manitoga also found a place in Historic America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2007 engagement calendar.