Joslyn Castle

Built in 1903 for newspaper magnate George A. Joslyn, Joslyn Castle is a 35-room mansion designed in the Scottish Baronial style by architect John McDonald. The estate’s landscape was created by renowned designer Jens Jensen, reinforcing the property’s sense of prestige and permanence.

The Joslyn family occupied the home until the 1940s, after which it served as headquarters for the Omaha Public School District. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the property later transitioned to preservation stewardship—first under the Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities and now the Joslyn Castle Trust. Today, the castle remains a cultural landmark, hosting public tours and private events while preserving its architectural legacy.

Between 2005 and 2010, EverGreene was engaged by the Friends of Joslyn Castle to conduct finishes investigations and microscopic analysis, and to restore the wall and ceiling finishes in the Gold Room and entry/stair hall. The investigations documented original color palettes and decorative schemes to guide the broader renovation.

In the Gold Room, most finishes were found to be original, with limited later repairs. EverGreene conserved these surfaces while reinstating missing or altered areas to return the room to its historic appearance. The team also stabilized and restored the sagging plaster ceiling and conserved the faux-bois finishes on the wooden sash.

In the entry and stair hall, investigations revealed layered finishes, including Lincrusta and metallic wall coverings created with aluminum leaf glazed to resemble gold. Using this evidence alongside historic photographs, EverGreene accurately replicated these finishes and restored all wall and ceiling surfaces, reestablishing the historic character.