Porter House Flashback

Decorah, Iowa, 2023:

The Porter House was built in 1867 for the merchant Dighton B. Ellsworth (1822–1896), an English immigrant who had come to Decorah from New York in 1855. After his death, the Ellsworth family sold the house to Francis and Emma Young whose daughter Grace married Adelbert Field Porter (known as "Bert" who had been raised in the house across the street) in 1904. The Young residence became the home of Bert and Grace (and her parents, until their deaths.)

Bert and Grace Porter had an interest in travel and Bert developed a natural history collection from his trips through North America, South America, and Asia. His collection, which includes blue morpho butterflies from South America, also includes this spectacular rock wall surrounding the property as well as the family's personal effects, including papers, books, furniture, and china. The house became a museum in 1969 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Bert and Grace had no children.