There was a boathouse for Knights largest boat, a beautiful mahogany cabin cruiser named the Valkyrie. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the . . Von Schmidt chose a site 300 feet above Lake Tahoe on the Chinquapin point, renaming it Observatory Point in anticipation. Louis. In fact, Vikingsholm was commissioned by Mrs Lora Josephine Knight who had been in love with Scandinavian fjords. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. . She then purchased 240 acres of land at the head of Emerald Bay, as well as Fannette Island, from the William Henry Armstrong family for $250,000. And, as a friend of Charles Lindbergh, she provided financial support for his flight across the Atlantic Ocean. She was born Lora Josephine Small in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 - one of a family of four daughters and one son. Unfortunately, they were not happy together and divorced after just a couple of years. In 1873, engineer Alexis Von Schmidt recommended the site for the proposed James Lick Astronomical Observatory that would house the worlds most powerful space telescope. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. Afternoon Hike in D.L. In 1884, Lora gave birth to their only child, a son Nathaniel, who later married Helen Fargo, heiress to the Wells Fargo banking dynasty founded in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. It was there in 1914 that Moore built a charming lakefront estate that she called Wychwood. Hunt also designed the Rose Bowl. After years of bickering, the Lick Observatory was finally constructed in 1888 on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose. She exhibited Indian baskets, including some by the noted Washoe weaver Dat-So-La-Lee, also known as Louisa Keyser. She married James Hobart Moore, who she met while he worked with her father in his law practice, and who along with his brother became rich by gaining controlling interests in a large number of companies such as the Diamond Match Company, U.S. Steel, Union Pacific, and Nabisco. Everyone heads for Emerald Bay, with its waterfall, beach and famed Scandinavian mansion, Vikingsholm, built in 1928 by Lora Josephine Knight and open for tours. Add to your scrapbook. Vikingsholm Castle was build as the summer home of millionaire heiress Lora Josephine Knight in 1929. During the summer months she would take guests to the island for high tea. Inside the decor is a collection of original and replica antiques. The locally quarried granite boulders were ferried by barge to the island where derricks lifted them stone by stone. Finnish carpenters were then brought in to hew timber, while a Scandinavian craftsman was hired to create the intricate exterior wood carvings. Eight years before her marriage to Harry Knight, Mrs. Josephine Moore purchased the land at Chinquapin from descendants of Lake Tahoe timber baron Duane L. Bliss. Emerald Bay State Park is one of the most popular destinations in Lake Tahoe. $1,225,000 120 Island Green CIR Penhook, VA. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight built a tea house at the top of Fannette Island in Emerald Bay State Today, Lora Knights Viking castle is considered perhaps the finest example of Scandinavian architecture in North America. According to McLaughlin, Lora Knight was known for her hospitality and philanthropy. GREAT NEWS! But the story of Mrs. Knight and her Vikingsholm stand apart from the rest. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. LORA J. KNIGHT. The house he created for her is called Cima del Mundo. In 1928, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight bought land on the western shores of Lake Tahoe on which to build her home. This account has been disabled. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Nathan Moore apparently knew how to have a good time, dying at the age of 25 of natural causes after spending the previous night at Chicagos most famous and expensive house of prostitution. Small, was a corporate lawyer who accepted two . Burial. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Knight had derived design ideas from 11th century wooden churches in Norway and carvings from these ancient church entrances were incorporated into many Vikingsholm door entries. Failed to delete memorial. In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. Astronomers suggested that a high-altitude mountain location above atmospheric dust and away from city light would be the best location. Lora and her husband, James, traveled extensively in California and to foreign countries. By the 1870s Lick was in poor health, but still fiercely determined to build the observatory. [1][2] They also owned homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. Lora then purchased about 240 acres of land at the head of Emerald Bay, as well as Fannette Island, from the William Henry Armstrong family for $250,000. A curious man, Lick had always been interested in astronomy. There was a problem getting your location. Lora Josephine Knight's legacy is enshrined in the magnificent Scandinavian castle "Vikingsholm" that she had built at Emerald Bay in 1929, but her first property at Tahoe was actually She had a single-lane dirt road constructed to the property so her and her guest could arrive by car. Unfortunately, they were not happy together and divorced after just a couple of years. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. There was a boathouse for Knights largest boat, a beautiful mahogany cabin cruiser named the Valkyrie. In 1928, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight bought the Armstrong's land with the desire to build a summer home that would compliment the magnificent natural surroundings. The castle was commissioned by Lora Josephine Knight in 1928, as her summer home in an area that reminded her of Scandinavian fjords. I often visit Emerald Bay to go hiking. Stones were quarried from the back of their property, where Eagle Falls spills over granite cliffs. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia that summer to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. Architect Palme estimated the projects total cost at $500,000. Your email address will not be published. After traveling to Scandinavia Mrs. Knight along with her architect returned to the Lake Tahoe area and started construction on the Castle with ideas they gathered on their European tour. In 1928 Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, purchased about two hundred acres of land at Emerald Bay in the Lake Tahoe region of California. The horse stable housed 60 thoroughbreds. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism. Mrs. Knight had it graded in 1929 for $10,000 so that she and her guests could arrive by automobile. . They visited Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden as they inspected buildings dating back 1,000 years. They traveled across Scandinavia for research and inspiration before laying the foundation in the late summer of 1928 for Vikingsholm. I've heard stories about the wealthy woman who built the teahouse on the island. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Find the . Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Vikingsholm, Lake Tahoe, California, built from 1928 to 1929 as a summer home for Lora Josephine Knight. It was there in 1914 that Moore built a charming lakefront estate that she called Wychwood. Thankfully this rich white man was a philanthropist and he donated his castle house and land to the state of California in 1953 and thus was born the Harvey West Unit of the . Please reset your password. The 38-bedroom castle was constructed between 1928 and 1929 for Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, who used it as a summer retreat. Death 26 Jun 1945 (aged 81) Fresno, Fresno County, California, USA. Laura Josephine "Lora" Small Knight Birth 1 May 1864. Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Lora was the only heir to his estate, which was rumored at the time to be worth as much as $100 million (though Lora told the San Francisco Chronicle in 1921 that it was "nearer one-tenth that sum"). The estate is also considered to be one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture on the continent. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight later constructed Vikingsholm, an exquisite 38-room castle on the Emerald Bay shores, in 1928-1929. Nathaniel later married Helen Fargo, of Wells Fargo Bank. Since this is my blog and I get to say whatever I want, I think Morris would've approved of . [4][10], "The legacy of Lora Knight and why Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in North America", "The mysterious castle in Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay", "The History of Lora Knight and Her Vikingsholm", "Vikingsholm: A Brief History (Nordic Castle at Emerald Bay)", "The mysteries and stories of the Harry F. Knight House", "LORA J. KNIGHT; Former Wife of Stock Broker, Financed Lindbergh Flight", "GETS DIVORCE IN RENO COURT California Digital Newspaper Collection", "Clipping from Reno Gazette-Journal - Newspapers.com", "Historic Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay always in need of attention, support", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lora_Josephine_Knight&oldid=1101022867, This page was last edited on 28 July 2022, at 22:31. Her first lakefront mansion was called Wychwood and was just north of Dollar Point, where the Chinquapin condominiums are today. The widowed heiress is Lora Josephine Knight. Those wishing to know more can enjoy one of the daily guided tours from Memorial Day weekend until the end of September. Lora Josephine Knights legacy is enshrined in the magnificent Scandinavian castle Vikingsholm that she had built at Emerald Bay in 1929, but her first property at Tahoe was actually located at Chinquapin, a sheltered cove just east of Dollar Point in Carnelian Bay. The property had a boat house constructed for her mahogany cabin cruiser named Valkyrie and a teahouse constructed on Fannette Island made from bricks cut from local granite. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the house. Burial Details Unknown. For great images click the Photo Gallery just above the map below. I imagined they wore summer dresses, carried parasols and sipped tea out of fine china, while enjoying Emerald Bays glory all by themselves. A system error has occurred. Lora Josephine Knight (1 May 1864 - 26 June 1945) was a philanthropist from California who was at one time one of the wealthiest women in America according to newspaper reports. [2], In 1922, she married stockbroker Harry French Knight of St. var obConfig = { footer: '' }; What is your prediction for precipitation totals this winter season? In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. His body was taken to the Moore home, to Lora, in a private ambulance. Her father Edward A. To build it, she hired Swedish architect Lennart Palme, her nephew by marriage. There is a single-lane dirt road that connects Vikingsholm with Highway 89. The late owner, Lora Josephine Knight also commissioned the building of tea house in Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe's only island. They agreed to be major supporters. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference. Many remember her because of her generous . Architect Palme estimated the projects total cost at $500,000. In the early 1920s, Lora Small Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker from St. Louis. Vikingsholm was built by Lora Josephine Knight as a summer home. Mrs. Knight had Vikingsholm built for her as a summer home in 1929. She hired architect Myron Hunt, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright. Lora had a life-long reputation for her generous hospitality, philanthropy and numerous financial contributions to youth groups in California and Nevada. There is a problem with your email/password. Each day blended into the next, relaxed and unhurried, Smith told the Press Democrat, and began with the sound of swishing sprinklers set up by yardmen in the early morning hours to water the wildflowers that grew in the grasses on the bay side of the house.. Emerald Bay reminded her of fjords she had seen on numerous travels to Scandinavia. And let's face it, if you were as rich as she . Knight had become acquaintances with the Armstrongs through church affiliations and after the purchase she would build her majestic Vikingsholm the following year. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 of English descent. -- Tahoe's Hidden Castle. Knight had derived design ideas from 11th century wooden churches in Norway and carvings from these ancient church entrances were incorporated into many Vikingsholm door entries. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. Eight years before her marriage to Harry Knight, Mrs. Josephine Moore purchased the land at Chinquapin from descendants of Lake Tahoe timber baron Duane L. Bliss. The history of the castle and its visionary, Lora Josephine Knight, is fascinating. It's a steep . In the summer, when guests would visit her at her castle on the shore of Emerald Bay, called Vikingsholm, the butler would row her and her friends across the bay to the island for tea time. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight built a tea house at the top of Fannette Island in Emerald Bay State Park. The bottom of the daily guided tours from memorial day weekend until the end of September Highway! 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