06/01/2026
The Monday Mansion Tour!
One of the oldest surviving decorative features in Kilmer Mansion is hiding in plain sight…
The dining room’s original tooled elephant hide wall-covering, dating back to 1898.
During the Gilded Age, embossed and “tooled” leather wall treatments were considered a symbol of luxury and sophistication, inspired by grand European estates and manor houses. Rich textures, dramatic patterns, and dark dining rooms helped create an atmosphere designed to impress dinner guests of the era.
More than 125 years later, this remarkable detail still remains inside the mansion.
Its worn edges, faded colors, and aged texture tell a story all their own - a reminder that history isn’t always perfectly preserved, but beautifully lived in.
👉Want to see details like this in person? Join us for a docent-guided tour on June 7th or 20th of Kilmer Mansion - experience the craftsmanship and history hidden throughout the home.