Congdon Park in Duluth in Saint Louis County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Bowling Green & Tennis Court
| | Glensheen Historic Estate | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2024
1. Bowling Green & Tennis Court Marker
By the early 1900s, the game of tennis was a bona-fide sport. Its popularity at the Olympic Games made it the darling of the country club set and so the Congdon estate required a court.
However, to keep with the Northern aesthetics of the estate, the courtside benches were fashioned with rough wood and the court itself not fully fenced for a wilder, more natural feel.
Just above the tennis area is the bowling green. Lawn bowling, a game akin to Bocce Ball, was a relatively new pastime at the time of Glensheen's construction. The Congdons, ever the early adopters, had the green installed to entertain their fleeting summer guests and burden a hundred years of gardeners.
Did you know?
The recreation area was positioned here for its relative quiet away from the loud waves of Lake Superior. London Road was then a scarcely traveled road.
Erected by Glensheen Historic Estate. (Marker Number 12.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list.
Location. 46° 48.961′ N,
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Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region and in the Iron Range. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2024
2. Bowling Green & Tennis Court Marker
Looking southwest; the former tennis court is on the left. The former bowling green is on the right. The north end of the Glensheen Mansion is visible in the background. London Road today a heavily traveled highway is just 30 meters to the right.
Regarding Bowling Green & Tennis Court. Contributing sites, Chester and Clara Congdon Estate Glensheen, National Register of Historic Places № 91001057.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Michael Koop, 8/1990:
Glensheen contains many of the major components found in larger country estates, which became increasingly popular among wealthy Americans in the late nineteenth century. In addition to the main house, the property features service buildings, a vegetable garden, tennis court and bowling green, formal flower gardens, bathing facilities, and an orchard north of the house.Access into this area was provided by a long, straight service drive off of London Road, although it is no longer used for this purpose. The driveway extends south to the lake and encircles an open lawn just east of the Carriage House, which fronts Lake Superior. North of the Carriage House a large rectangular parcel of land extending nearly to London Road is occupied by the Gardeners Cottage, vegetable garden, flower and rose garden, tennis court, and bowling green. This symmetrical space is divided by a walkway with steps that lead up to a sundial, the focal point of the garden. Steps continue up to the center of the clay tennis court and again to the middle of the bowling green.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Glensheen The Historic Congdon Estate
Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
