Estate
Four Mounds was bequeathed to the City of Dubuque upon the death of Elizabeth Adams Burden in 1982.
The estate consists of about 60 acres of bluffland along the Mississippi River, comprised of cultured grounds, historic gardens, woodlands, prairie, and rare oak savanna. The 17 buildings that make up the estate were residential, farm, recreational and support structures for the site.
Farm Campus
The site is focused around the historic Grey House, a 1908 Arts and Crafts styled mansion designed by the Chicago architect Lawrence Buck. The cultured grounds were planned out by Chicago landscape architect A. Phelps Wyman. Many buildings on the estate's farm campus were built between 1908 and 1911, including the Barn/Garage, Chauffeur’s House, Gardener's House and the Root Cellar.
Burden Family
George A. Burden and his wife Viola developed this gentleman's farm in the country outside Dubuque in order to raise their children, George (Bill) and Viola. The Burdens were able to enjoy an idyllic country lifestyle, with downtown Dubuque accessible through the use of their automobile, allowing Mr. Burden to commute to work on a daily basis.