According to the sign, this room on exhibit in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts was discovered intact during a recent renovation. It was the office of curator Barton Kestle who disappeared mysteriously in 1954, just the way he had left it.
Mr. Kestle was summoned to Washington because he refused to "sign a loyalty oath" and disappeared without a trace enroute. He was never found and his office was sealed up and forgotten about in some dark corner of the museum.
There are so many details in this room, right down to the stains on the carpet, a stopped clock, dust on the desk, coat, hat, and scarf hanging on a coat tree, a painting on an easel awaiting his attention.
My daughter and I were intrigued by this mystery, me because I had never heard of it which kind of surprised me.
Apparently we are in good company. According to the Star Tribune, when the exhibit opened, museum employees believed the ruse and one person called the newspaper demanding an investigation.
Thanks for reading my blog. It would brighten this gloomy, rainy day if you left a comment!
My daughter and I were intrigued by this mystery, me because I had never heard of it which kind of surprised me.
Alas, WE HAD BEEN "HAD"!
Ha ha ha. A museum with a sense of humor!
Thanks for reading my blog. It would brighten this gloomy, rainy day if you left a comment!
Ohhh you had me as well, I thought I must Google this when I've finished reading your blog lol x
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat post ~ fun, fun,fun, ~intriquing photo for OWT ~ xoxo
ReplyDeleteartmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)
Fascinating to have so many period details so right in that room - and what a sense of humor to set it up with such a story!
ReplyDeleteHow funny. when I was reading it I thought what a coincidence that we were both posting about rooms that had been hidden and preserved for decades!
ReplyDeleteMe, too! And our thumbnails both prominently featured an old telephone!
DeleteSo interesting and great story. Thanks
ReplyDeleteApril Fool ... but it's not April! :) Fun post.
ReplyDeleteI laughed..a museum curators office would never be hidden away..or uninhabited...too much info in that room:)
ReplyDeleteThat is the first time I have heard of a museum with that precious commodity . . . humour.
ReplyDeleteHa! Splendid! Now I can't help wondering if Barton Kestle is an anagram.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to hear about the museum!
ReplyDeleteThats like a year long April Fools joke - I like it!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Intruiging story with a funny end.
ReplyDeleteHad me going there too. I was thinking, how eerie!
ReplyDeletefascinating - so who's office was it?
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and thanks for stopping by my blog today.
It was created by an artist from garage sales and is part of the museum's interiors exhibit. The rest of the rooms, however, have only real stories behind them.
Delete