Episode 68: Original Peonies

Mornings with Madonna is a whimsical exploration of the most important historic mansion in Minneapolis. Madonna is the resident Great Dane on the property, and Clifton is her real life grandson and sidekick. Together they explore and explain every nook and cranny in the mansion. The importance of the historic property in our time, is that the owners of import, Eugene and Merrette Carpenter used the arts to revolutionize the early City of Minneapolis which in his day was a dirty Eugene spearheaded the inception of MIA, an art school, theater, and museum complex. He was teamed up with his brother who started the symphony orchestra, and together they also ran the Apollo Club Choir. Eugene and Merrette were visionaries in recognizing how Art Changes Everything, and they instituted traditions, amendments to the City Charter and funding mechanisms for the arts which has made Minneapolis a premier City of the Arts today. Check out the Wikipedia article on Eugene Carpenter and support the historic preservation by staying at the 300 Clifton Bed and Breakfast.