Reynolda at 100: Lake Katharine

The sixteen-acre Lake Katharine was the most prominent feature of the Reynolda landscape when the Reynolds family moved here in 1917. As aesthetic highlight, irrigation source, and recreation outlet, the lake held a central role in the daily life of those who lived and worked at Reynolda. However, silt and sediment buildup common in man-made lakes began soon after its completion and continued for the next fifty years, transforming the lake into the wetlands present today. Changes in use accompanied this physical shift, adding science laboratory and wildlife refuge to the ways visitors to Reynolda have experienced the area through the years. Drawn largely from the historic photograph collection and other material from the Reynolda House Archives, most on public display for the first time, this exhibition will show how Lake Katharine was originally created and used, how it has changed over the past 100 years, and how the wetlands serve as a key feature of the historic district today.

Visit the Curate Reynolda blog to learn in detail What happened to the Lake? 

Visit this exhibition’s corresponding online gallery Lake Katharine.

Sponsors

Reynolda House is grateful for the generous support of Lake Katharine from Leigh and Gray Smith.