She was a major promoter and financial backer of Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis; and donated to a number of other causes and funded various building projects including her own summer retreat Vikingsholm, for which she is most known. [5] As president of the St. Louis Flying Club, Harry Knight knew Charles Lindbergh, and the Knights were major financial backers of Lindbergh's 1927 solo flight from New York to Paris in the Spirit of Saint Louis. WebLora Josephine. There is dramatic history in the Emerald Bay area of Lake Tahoe where the new dive trail is located. 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. But since then, the state park has preserved Vikingsholm, and Knights legacy, for hundreds of thousands of visitors who arrive every year. Before starting construction of the summer home late that year, Mrs. Knight and her architect traveled to Scandinavia to gather ideas for the construction of the house. It was there she decided to build a structure that would incorporate the atmosphere and design of an old Viking castle of stone construction. The William Henry Armstrong family acquired the property in 1892 and they used the cabins as their summer residence for over 32 years. 1 May 1864.
They worked diligently throughout the summer and by the end of the season the house was completed. [2], Vikingsholm has been called "one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in North America. He was a stockbroker in St. Louis, Missouri, and an aspiring pilot. The roof of the north and south wings is topped with sod where grass and flowers grow each spring. On your next view you will be asked to log in or create an account to continue reading. Brown grew up on Tahoe's West Shore. Search for: Browse by Date Hunt also designed the Rose Bowl. She had been impressed by the Nordic architecture of the home that Palme had designed for himself in Rye, New York.

After Edward Smalls death, William and James took over the firm and formed the Moore Brothers partnership. But Vikingsholm is the house that Lora will always be known for. After years of bickering, the Lick Observatory was finally constructed in 1888 on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 of English descent. 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. Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA. 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. During the height of its popularity in the 20's and 30's, a fabulous Nordic castle was built called Vikingsholm. It is located along the shores of Lake Tahoe and each Knight had become acquaintances with the Armstrongs through church affiliations and after the purchase she would build her majestic Vikingsholm the following year. Timber was hand-hewn, though Mrs. Knight specifically demanded that the footprint of her house be built around the old-growth trees on the property. WebFlickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "lorajosephineknight" Flickr tag. Von Schmidt chose a site 300 feet above Lake Tahoe on the Chinquapin point, renaming it Observatory Point in anticipation. Breakfast was at 8 a.m. sharp, but afterwards, time was for the taking to read, hike up to the waterfalls or go fishing off the dock, Smith said. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the home. [2][7], In 1927, she divorced Harry Knight, charging him with "extreme cruelty. In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. Add that to thenumerous drowning victims from boating and swimming accidents that have never been discovered, and the mystery only deepens. I swear I saw it once at a distance while fishing as a pre-teen but would never admit that publicly (wink.) She then commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect to whom she was related by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. "[8] She risked losing her entire fortune from her first marriage as part of the divorce. Construction on the castle began in the spring of 1929 and proceeded quickly as 200 workmen and artisans, housed in temporary barracks, quarried nearby stone and cut lumber. I imagined they wore summer dresses, carried parasols and sipped tea out of fine china, while enjoying Emerald Bays glory all by themselves. It was there in 1914 that Moore built a charming lakefront estate that she called Wychwood. Lora Knight filled her castle with original antiques she picked up in Scandinavia. 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. Astronomers suggested that a high-altitude mountain location above atmospheric dust and away from city light would be the best location. Currently it is used as a hiking trail by those wishing to visit this remarkable castle. Promotional Rates were found for your code. Helen Smith was a frequent guest. Her father, Edward Small, was a corporate lawyer who took on two brothers as partners in his law practice William Henry Moore and James Hobart Moore. McLaughlin says the replicas were so exact, Knight even had the ages of the wood matched and scratch marks on the original copied. [2] Before starting construction, Knight and her architect traveled to Scandinavia to gather ideas for the house. Now part of Emerald Bay State Park, Vikingsholm was once the summer home for Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. In 1928, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight bought the Armstrongs land with the desire to build a summer home that would compliment the magnificent natural surroundings. WebIn 1928 Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, purchased about two hundred acres of land at Emerald Bay in the Lake Tahoe region of California. While you can now scuba dive to explore sunken boats and wrecks, there is still a lot of mystery of what lies deep below the surface in Lake Tahoe, many of which are only rumors, including dramatic spottings of a Loch Ness Monster-style creature. Lora had a life-long reputation for her generous hospitality, philanthropy and numerous financial contributions to youth groups in California and Nevada. Knight had already spent 16 summers in Tahoe before she built Vikingsholm. Her father Edward A. Her father, Edward Small, was a corporate lawyer who took on two brothers as partners in his law practice William Henry Moore and James Hobart Moore. Check out their video of the exploration below. 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. One of their most unusual underwater discoveries was an ancient forest at the bottom of Fallen Leaf Lake, adjacent to Lake Tahoe, where 80-foot tall trees, more than 2,000 years old are still standing upright. Emerald Bay State Park is one of the most popular destinations in Lake Tahoe. Vikingsholm can be reached by walking a one-mile trail from the parking lot on Highway 89, or by boat. WebLora 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. After Lora's father passed, the brothers took over the law firm and together, they became incredibly wealthy businessmen based in Chicago. Outstanding features of the Vikingsholm exterior include: granite boulders embedded in mortar, typical of Swedish stone churches and castles built in the 11th century, massive hand hewn timbers, characteristic of those used by the early Norsemen, carvings around the doors adapted from those bordering old church entrances; carvings extending along roof ridges with dragon heads crossing at roof peaks, and a sod roof with wildflowers.

We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. They visited Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Their Wisconsin chateau boasted 27 rooms, a wine cellar and a two-lane bowling alley. Now part of Emerald Bay State Park, Vikingsholm was once the summer home for Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. [4] She died at Vikingsholm in 1945 at the age of 82. She then commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect to whom she was related by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. Mrs. Knight had it graded in 1929 for $10,000 so that she and her guests could arrive by automobile. In the early 1920s, Lora Small Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker from St. Louis. Mrs. Knight had it graded in 1929 for $10,000 so that she and her guests could arrive by automobile. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Wisconsin Lake Geneva [9] Vikingsholm eventually became part of Emerald Bay State Park.[4][10]. Tours are given of the American Craftsman Vikingsholm museum home for a nominal fee. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. 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. [2] Her $3 million estate went mostly to relatives and church and educational organizations. According to McLaughlin, Lora Knight was known for her hospitality and philanthropy. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. Read More. These tours are conducted by guides employed by the Sierra State Parks Foundation. Lora Knight filled her castle with original antiques she picked up in Scandinavia. Astronomers suggested that a high-altitude mountain location above atmospheric dust and away from city light would be the best location. She was born Lora Josephine Small in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 - one of a family of four daughters and one son. It was built in a single summer. WebLora 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. In early 1916 they bought a home near Santa Barbara hoping that the mild Mediterranean climate might improve his condition, but he died on July 20, 1916, leaving Lora an estate worth $15 million. WebVikingsholm was built by Lora Josephine Knight as a summer home. WebLora Josephine Knight purchased the property encompassing the head of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island in 1928 for $250,000. Von Schmidt chose a site 300 feet above Lake Tahoe on the Chinquapin point, renaming it Observatory Point in anticipation. Stones were quarried from the back of their property, where Eagle Falls spills over granite cliffs. 26 Jun 1945 (aged 81) Fresno, Fresno County, California, USA. Lora and her sister Ada married two brothers, William and James Moore, who worked as partners in their fathers law firm. 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. For 16 years she had enjoyed her summer home Wychwood, at Observatory Point, on the North Shore. 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Located in Emerald Despite the expense and effort, the tea house was rarely used, even though Lora spent all her summers at Vikingsholm until her death in 1945. Although their marriage was short-lived, Lora and Harry Knight were among the small group of St. Louis, Missouri, businessmen who were the principal financial backers of Charles Lindberghs famed 1927 flight across the Atlantic from New York to Paris. She then commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect to whom she was related by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. It was the first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory in the world and for nearly 10 years its telescope was the largest ever built. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia that summer to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. Currently it is used as a hiking trail by those wishing to visit this remarkable castle. In early 1916 they bought a home near Santa Barbara hoping that the mild Mediterranean climate might improve his condition, but he died on July 20, 1916, leaving Lora an estate worth $15 million. WebLora Josephine. The legacy of Lora Knight and why Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in North America. The Moore brothers had a controlling interest in a handful of large corporations, including United States Steel, Union Pacific, Rock Island Railroad and National Biscuit, or Nabisco. Lora Josephine Knight was a philanthropist who valued community and education. He was 25. Emerald Bay Overlook: In 1928, Lora Knight purchased Emerald Bay for $250,000. The widowed heiress is Lora Josephine Knight. Many communities were interested in Licks $2 million estate and several protested the Tahoe location insisting that they were better suited for an observatory than the snowbound lake. There is a single-lane dirt road that connects Vikingsholm with Highway 89. Lindbergh approached the Knights about helping fund his effort to be the first to fly nonstop across the Atlantic at a St. Louis airfield where Harry, an aspiring aviator, was taking flying lessons. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864. After years of bickering, the Lick Observatory was finally constructed in 1888 on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Wisconsin Lake Geneva It was the first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory in the world and for nearly 10 years its telescope was the largest ever built. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 of English descent. Pieces of wood resembling spikes adorn the gutters in a nod to the Scandinavian custom people used to ward off evil spirits. Those wishing to know more can enjoy one of the daily guided tours from Memorial Day weekend until the end of September. Utilizing 200 workers the home was constructed during the Summer of 1929. Construction on the castle began in the spring of 1929 and proceeded quickly as 200 workmen and artisans, housed in temporary barracks, quarried nearby stone and cut lumber. Fortunately many of Mrs. Knights original furnishings remain in the home today. Newspapers reported that Nathaniels death had a devastating impact on his parents, especially his father, who grew ill soon after. Vikingsholm was completed in the fall of 1929. It was built in 1928 and is now one of the treasured historic landmarks of Northern California. In 1928, Mrs. Knight had her mind firmly set on Emerald Bay to build her castle of the sky. She gave the family who owned the land an offer they couldnt refuse. The year before she purchased land in Emerald Bay, she was one of the primary financial backers to Charles Lindberghs first flight across the Atlantic, from New York to Paris. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. Carved dragon heads are common as both interior and exterior decorations, as they were used in old Viking castles to divide the main room between the chieftain and his most honored guests from the women and children. 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 horse stable housed 60 thoroughbreds. Nathan was an avid golfer and a participating member of the American Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1904 Summer Games in Missouri. The locally quarried granite boulders were ferried by barge to the island where derricks lifted them stone by stone. Their Wisconsin chateau boasted 27 rooms, a wine cellar and a two-lane bowling alley. Lora Josephine Knight was a philanthropist who valued community and education. Vikingsholm is administered by the California Park System. Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. The property on which Vikingsholm is built includes 232 acres of Tahoes most beautiful vistas, the only island in Lake Tahoe, and the only waterfall that flows directly into the lake. Mrs. Knight is probably known best for the building of Vikingsholm, but many still remember her because of her generous contributions to youth groups in California and Nevada and the provision of educational opportunities for young people who otherwise could not have afforded them. According to McLaughlin, Lora Knight was known for her hospitality and philanthropy. Nearly all of the materials were sourced on site or nearby. Death. In order to preserve the natural environment of Emerald Bay, Knight insisted that local Tahoe materials be used with the exception of the leaded windows with pastel stained-glass panes imported from Sweden. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. Lora and her sister Ada married two brothers, William and James Moore, who worked as partners in their fathers law firm. [1][2][3][4], In 1884, the two had a son, Nathaniel Moore, who later married Helen Fargo, heiress to the Wells Fargo fortune. Lick leaned toward Von Schmidts recommendation, but the dying benefactor designated a committee to make the final decision. Unfortunately, they were not happy together and divorced after just a couple of years. Those wishing to know more can enjoy one of the daily guided tours from Memorial Day weekend until the end of September. 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In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. Vikingsholm is a 38-room mansion on the shore of Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe, in El Dorado County, California, U.S., and on the National Register of Historic Places. Wildlife have several strategies to endure Lake Tahoes winters, Steeped in old town Truckee history, Moodys serves up innovative cuisine, Earn your turns: Tahoe Backcountry Alliance encourages stewardship, accessibility to backcountry, The art of charcuteski: Craft an on-mountain dining experience with the skis that got you there. Apparently, she chose the Scandinavian motif because she had admired Palmes own Scandinavian-designed home in New York. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. They visited Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden as they inspected buildings dating back 1,000 years. Birth. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia that summer to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. Knight. Knight also built a remarkable tea house on the tiny neighboring Fannette Island in the middle of the bay which is said to be haunted by aprevious resident of the island, a hermit named Captain Dick Barter who ultimately drowned in the Lake. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. 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. Hopefully, someday we will have more absolute proof of what is actually at the bottom of Lake Tahoe but until then our imaginations can run wild with dreams of further explorations and discoveries. Emerald Bay also reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with it steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. Mosquito Fire in Tahoe National Forest balloons to 5,000 acres, Burning Man aftermath leaves mounds of trash in Tahoe area, 'Don't be a hero': The bomb that nearly destroyed a Tahoe resort. Lora Knight traveled to Scandinavia to buy furnishings for her Castle in the Sky. Mrs. Knight would arrive for the summer in the middle of June and stay until the middle of September. His land was eventually sold to Paul Kirby in 1880. Read our E-edition from your preferred device. This property was later sold to Robert Stanley Dollar Sr. and is now known as Dollar Point. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the home. Thank you for reading! Knight spent 15 summers at Vikingsholm. By the 1870s Lick was in poor health, but still fiercely determined to build the observatory. In order to preserve the natural environment of Emerald Bay, Knight insisted that local Tahoe materials be used with the exception of the leaded windows with pastel stained-glass panes imported from Sweden. Mrs. Knight enjoyed entertaining and had a number of guests visiting during the summer months. For many years fishermen have claimed to see dead bodies floating on the surface of the lake when the waters warm up. Its manicured gardens offer panoramic views of the Pacific. 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. His award-winning books are available at local stores or atwww.thestormking.com. 26 Jun 1945 (aged 81) Fresno, Fresno County, California, USA. [2] Before starting construction, Knight and her architect traveled to Scandinavia to gather ideas for the house. [3], Harvey West, a wealthy lumberman who owned the land after Knight, sold it to California for half of the appraised value in 1953. Summer days at Vikingsholm were relaxed, with a bit of structure. [2] Before starting construction, Knight and her architect traveled to Scandinavia to gather ideas for the house. [1][2][5][6] Lindbergh even stayed at the Knight's house the night before his flight. For 32 years, the Armstrong family had spent long, golden summers along the shores of Emerald Bay. GPS locations now direct divers to a wide variety of wrecks at depths up to 60 feet with markers explaining the history of the vessel and details how they were used. 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. For a birthday present, his father wrote him a check for $100,000. But in 1910, Nathaniel suddenly died. 1 May 1864. The stories of the creature were also documented by the Washoe and Paiutetribes during the 1800's, and legend has it that the creature lived in an underwater tunnel beneathCave Rock located on the Eastern shore of the lake. A sod roof was installed on the north and south wings, so that grasses and wildflowers could grow. Sometimes government officials did not allow these native heirlooms removed from the country, so Knight had craftsmen reproduce them in exact detail, including the aging of the wood and even mimicking scratches on the originals. Lora J. Knight and her former husband financially supported Charles Lindberghs history-making flight over the Atlantic.