The visitor gains the first impression of the mansion’s magnitude when passing through the main entrance door, flanked by sixteenth century lions of Italian marble, into the great hall which gives access to the main rooms. The self-supporting arches surrounding the Palm Court are ceiled with tiles especially made by the celebrated artist and architect, Rafael Guastavino, while the arches and dome of the broad circular stairway which spirals to the topmost floor from the left side of the hall are of Indiana limestone. Facing the entrance door from the rear of the hall is a ceremonial furnishing of Cardinal Richelieu, showing the Cardinal’s coat-of-arms, motto and hat; it is one of a pair, the other is hung on the wall of the second-floor corridor. The grand staircase, modeled after that of the Chateau Blois, winds its way around the massive wrought iron chandelier which extends downward from the roof to the Entrance Hall ceiling, and bears a light cluster for each landing. While visitors are free to choose their own itinerary, the tour of the mansion usually begins at the Court of Palms, adjoining the Entrance Hall. This court is a sunken area, encircled with marble and, in almost every season, adorned with masses of flowers from the gardens and greenhouses. The central fountain is surmounted by a statue of a boy and swan, the work of Karl Bitter, the Austro-American sculptor. On the walls are copies of the Parthenon Reliefs, now in the British Museum. From the Court of Palms the visitor enters the Oak Drawing Room, panelled in Norwegian oak. Most of the engravings hanging here are after paintings by Landseer. Heads of deer, buffalo, moose, and bear also adorn the walls. The three bronzes over the fireplace are by Barye, while on the bookcase at the left are four Chinese Celadon vases. The Spanish table in the center is of late eighteenth century origin, as is the writing desk facing the entrance. From the Oak Drawing Room one enters the great Banquet Hall, one of the chief centers of attraction. Copied in large measure from an old Norman banquet hall, this room is 72 feet long; its ceiling reaches a height of 75 feet. At one end a triple fireplace, extending almost across the entire width of the room, is surmounted by a frieze by Bitter, “The Return From The Chase.” High above the frieze are grouped the flags of the great powers of Europe at the time Columbus discovered America.