Isabella the Original

Born in 1840, Isabella was a curious and mischievous child. When her parents brought her to Europe, she loved the excitement of travel and the artwork in the museums she visited. She told them, "e;If I ever have any money of my own, I am going to build a palace and fill it with beautiful things."e; Many years later, Isabella Stewart Gardner curated, designed and built a world-class art museum which opened in 1903. Isabella was never afraid to do things in her own way. Small in stature, she was a powerhouse of a woman, acting in bold contrast to the Victorian code of her time. She wore a Red Sox banner on her head to symphony, walked lion cubs down the streets of Boston and served only champagne and donuts at her museum opening. "e;Isabella the Original"e; chronicles Isabella's life. The local press wrote, "e;Isabella is one of the seven wonders of Boston and there is nobody like her in any city in this country."e; Her legacy, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a Venetian palace in Boston filled with art, live performances and a breathtaking four-story courtyard of exotic plants, statues and fountains.