Margaret Douglas Hall lived at the Brucemore estate in Cedar Rapids for 75 years, alongside her beloved pet lions, German shepherds and a few monkeys (not pictured). (Photo: Brucemore)
Since March is Women’s History Month, consider taking a special tour of the historic Brucemore mansion in Cedar Rapids. The tour, “In Her Steps,” on March 7, 14 and 21 highlights the women who helped build the mansion in the 1880s, preserved its legacy and adopted three generations of lions — all named Leo — that lived on the property over the decades. Fun fact: The lions were related to Jackie, whose famous roar can be heard at the beginning of MGM movies.
The three-story Queen Anne mansion is the only National Trust Historic Site in Iowa and is preserved with support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
