The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, a pre-Civil War architectural masterpiece located in Norwalk, Connecticut, stands as one of the most iconic landmarks of the Gilded Age. Drawing thousands of visitors each year, the mansion is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and serves as a living testament to the opulence and innovation of 19th-century industrial America. As one of the most significant examples of Second Empire style architecture in the United States, the mansion offers rich insights into the social, cultural, and economic forces that shaped the era.

 

Oxygen Design partnered with historian and curator Daryn Reyman-Lock, PhD of Sawdust and Strata Consulting to design a series of outdoor interpretive panels for Mathews Park, the site surrounding the mansion. These educational panels were crafted to give visitors historical context as they explore the grounds, highlighting the rise of industrial wealth in post-Civil War America and the influence of financier LeGrand Lockwood, who built the mansion as his summer estate.

 

The signage delves into themes of innovation, class distinction, and urban development, exploring how Lockwood’s financial success influenced the transformation of Norwalk from a modest New England town into a hub of cultural and economic activity. The panels are visually engaging and historically rich, designed to resonate with both casual visitors and history enthusiasts.

By blending compelling narrative design with scholarly insight, Oxygen Design’s interpretive signage brings the Gilded Age to life and enhances the visitor experience at one of Norwalk’s most treasured historic sites. The project reinforces the mansion’s role not only as a museum, but also as a gateway to understanding America’s industrial past and the legacy of wealth in shaping communities.