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The Grandest Historic Mansions to Visit Across the United States
Roxanna is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.
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All open to the public, you can tour the interior of these luxury establishments to admire their size and number of rooms. From state to state, these are as beautiful as they are significant in U.S. history.
Time travel may not be possible, but we can experience the next best thing by visiting historic mansions. These living museums preserve history by keeping the way of life from the era in which the former residents lived on display.
Simple curiosity is the main reason for the popularity of historic house tours. It's human nature to be curious, even nosy, about the people who live beyond those wrought iron gates, those tall white pillars, that mass of fragrant wisteria. House tours provide a healthy—and legal—outlet for our inquisitiveness while benefiting the organizations that work to keep history alive. Kitty Robinson of the Historic Charleston Foundation explains, "I think people love to see what other families have done with these historic homes to make them livable. Toddlers really do live in eighteenth century living rooms." Tours also offer rare opportunities for amateur and professional collectors , gardeners, designers, and history buffs to see what might not be found in books, magazines, or museums. "People go for inspiration," says Sandra Soule, the editor of America's Wonderful Little Hotels and Inns guidebook series.
Many of these properties had to temporarily close their doors to the public at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that some of the restrictions have eased and states are reopening to tourists, historic mansions have also begun allowing the public to visit their sites again. And these house tours can be found all over the country this summer, from Providence, Rhode Island, to Pasadena, California. Cicero once asked, "What is more agreeable than one's home?" For a vacation, maybe someone else's.
Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York
This historic mansion is also a luxury hotel, which means you enjoy a royal European experience right in New York. Oheka Castle was built in 1919 as a summer home for Otto Hermann Kahn.
Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut
See where Mark Twain lived. The house is open for tours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays but tickets should be purchased in advance. If you're not ready to travel just yet, know that it's also possible to go on a virtual tour.
George Washington's Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia
George Washington lived in this home that was 10 times the size of most other homes in West Virginia. Currently, only the first floor is open again for tours and tickets need to be purchased ahead of time.
Fairlawn Mansion in Superior, Wisconsin
Tours are limited to 12 people per tour, but if you're able to get inside, the Fairlawn Mansion is worth a visit. A gorgeous Victorian house that was first occupied by private residents from 1890 to 1920, the property went on to become a Children's Home for 42 years. Today, it's the perfect place to learn about this region's history.
The Ringling Mansion in Sarasota, Florida
Behold the home of the famous circus leader: the mansion called Ca' d'Zan . Once the winter home of circus impresario John Ringling (the name means "John's House" in Venetian dialect), this 1920s Venetian-Gothic-style villa was the romantically crumbling backdrop for the 1998 film Great Expectations . Today, fully restored, it's a museum and a scene-stealing home, where you can stand on the bay-front terrace.
Highlands Ranch Mansion in Highlands Ranch, Colorado
See a working ranch with history in action at the Highlands Ranch Mansion . Featuring historic barns, ranch houses and more on the property, it's like walking into a Weatern fairy tale.
Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright in Mill Run, Pennsylvania
Built in 1935 by Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater served as a weekend home for the couple that owned Kaufmann's Department Store. The architecture is beautiful and a sight to behold.
Bingham-Hanna Mansion and the Hay-McKinney Mansion in Cleveland, Ohio
These two mansions are part of the Cleveland History Center and are works of art. Artifacts from the early 1900s, when the homes were built, give visitors a glimpse into the past.
Prospect Place in Trinway, Ohio
This historic mansion was a stop along the Underground Railroad. George Adams lived there with his wife, and abolitionists would meet in his parlor.
Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina
In addition to a gorgeous mansion, the Biltmore Estate features 8,000 acres of gardens and grounds. George Vanderbilt's former home, the property has a whopping 250 rooms and was completed in 1895.
The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island
The Italian Renaissance–style villa was the summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his family and the grandest of the Gilded Age summer homes in Newport. Designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt to replace an existing wood structure, the 70-room, four-story home was decorated by Ogden Codman, Jr. and completed in 1895. Today, the Breakers is owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County, which offers access to a number of historic homes in the area, including another Hunt design, Marble House, which was built for Vanderbilt's brother.
The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts
Author Edith Wharton took inspiration from Belton House in England, as well as French and Italian influences, when designing the house and grounds at the Mount , which was built with architects Ogden Codman, Jr., her coauthor of the book The Decoration of Houses, and Francis L.V. Hoppin. Wharton lived and worked there for 10 years before she and her husband, Teddy, sold the property in 1911. The Mount was declared a National Historic landmark in 1971 and is now a cultural center dedicated to Wharton's life and work.
Bayou Bend Collection and Garden in Houston, Texas
Philanthropist Ima Hogg and her brothers built the mansion in the River Oaks area of Houston between 1927 and 1928. Texas architect John F. Staub designed the house, taking inspiration from 18th-century Georgian and Spanish Creole architecture. The home's 14 acres of gardens mix formal landscape design with natural woodlands. Hogg donated the property to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and it is now a house museum showcasing American paintings and decorative arts.
Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee
They didn't call him "The King" for nothing. More than 40 years after his death, both fans and those curious about this pop culture phenom are still flocking to Elvis Presley's Graceland home. Yes, the Jungle Room always draws a crowd, but there's more to what is now deemed Elvis Presley's Memphis at Graceland than his former living quarters. After touring the Graceland mansion, guests can also visit several adjacent museums, including those housing celebrity memorabilia from his career, favorite automobiles he owned and even his private jets named the "Lisa Marie" and "Hound Dog II." Guest quarters are also a part of the complex for those wanting an overnight experience.
Vizcaya in Miami, Florida
Built between 1914 and 1922, Vizcaya was the winter residence of industrial executive James Deering. The Miami home boasts a design meant to look like a time-worn Italianate villa complete with grottos and bridges. The surrounding gardens are based on Italian and French examples incorporating flora suited for a subtropical setting. Unlike many other historic mansions converted to museums, Vizcaya still has most of its original decor. Visitors enjoy perusing 34 decorated rooms showcasing more than 2,500 art objects collected by Deering, and furnishings that have been in the home for more than 100 years.
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12 Historic Homes You Can Tour from Your Couch
By Steph Coelho
Posted on May 4, 2020 9:05 PM EDT
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Take a Peek at History
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Historic-house-tours-online.jpg?quality=85)
istockphoto.com
Thanks to technological advances, it’s now easier than ever to travel the world from the comfort of your own home. Video tours and 3-D virtual technology let you tour beautiful historic homes throughout the world, exploring every nook and cranny. Escape the confines of your four walls to delight in interiors that are steeped in history and only a click away.
Pittock Mansion
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Pittcock-Mansion.jpg?quality=85)
Wikimedia Commons via Tiptoety
The Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon, was once home to Henry Pittock, who became publisher of The Oregonian newspaper in 1860 and went on to found a financial empire. The French Renaissance-style mansion, completed in 1914, was designed by Edward T. Foulkes, an architect who trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. At Pittock’s insistence, the home was packed with the latest technology, including thermostat-controlled central heating, indirect electric lighting, and a central vacuum system. Today, the 16,000-square-foot mansion serves as a museum and gallery space. While the museum is closed, visitors are welcome to explore the interior and grounds via an impressive virtual tour .
Related: 11 Vintage Houses That Came from a Catalog
Mount Vernon Estate
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The Mount Vernon Estate, the former home of George Washington, is one of the most popular historical attractions in Virginia. While the current state of the world makes it impossible for you to wander in the footsteps of our first president, you can easily check out his estate online. The virtual tour of Mount Vernon offers panoramic views of the gardens and 360-degree views of the mansion’s interiors. Visitors can click on points of interest to learn more about the history, architecture, and decor of this national treasure.
Anne Frank House
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A variety of virtual exhibits are available for those who want to learn more about Anne Frank, her diary, and the secret annex in Amsterdam that sheltered her family, along with five other individuals, for more than two years during World War II. Online resources include YouTube video diaries, virtual tours of the secret annex, a 360-degree tour of the home where the Franks lived before they went into hiding, and more.
Related: Straight and Narrow: 22 Shotgun Houses We Love
Mark Twain House
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Mark-Twain-House.jpg?quality=85)
If you’re itching for a bit of literary history, check out the Mark Twain House and Museum online . Explore the interior of the High Victorian Gothic home through room-by-room photos or via an immersive, richly annotated 360-degree tour. Whichever approach you choose, you’ll gain an appreciation of the great American writer and the beloved home where he spent his happiest years.
Frank Lloyd Wright Houses
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Architecture aficionados can now enjoy unusual virtual access to a number of the renowned architect’s masterpieces. In response to pandemic lockdown measures, a social media project dubbed #WrightVirtualVisits launched at the beginning of April. Organizations participating in the initiative have been posting short tour videos of Wright-designed houses— 12 homes in total .
Lyndhurst Mansion
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While the grounds of this Gothic Revival mansion in Tarrytown, New York, are open for socially distant visits, those who wish to see the interior can do so only virtually. Built in 1838 and expanded by its second owner, Lyndhurst had a number of occupants, including railroad magnate Jay Gould. Because the property was often used as a summer home, the estate’s collection of art and antiques has remained largely intact and is in excellent condition. Available virtual tours include an aerial view of Lyndhurst , a traditional 360-degree walk-through, a festive tour of the interiors dressed up for the holidays, and—certainly the creepiest tour on this list—a peek at the mansion during the Halloween season, complete with ghoulish inhabitants.
Related: On the Waterfront: 10 Tiny Lake Houses
Gropius House
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flickr.com via Ken Schwarz
Soon after Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius accepted an appointment to Harvard in 1937, he decided to build a home for his family in nearby Lincoln, Massachusetts. That home, Lincoln House , was designed according to Bauhaus principles and is now filled with furniture and decorative items from the era. Beautiful photography and abundant text let virtual visitors explore the house and learn about the influential architect and his social milieu.
Mabry-Hazen House
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Mabry-Hazen-House.jpg?quality=85)
Wikimedia Commons via Brian Stansberry
This historic home in Knoxville, Tennessee, built in 1858, sheltered three generations of the same family. Today, it is filled to the brim with original furniture and mementos—more than 2,000 artifacts in all. Because of recent closures, the museum is now offering video field trips that let visitors get up close and personal with various objects and historical documents housed within the museum’s walls.
Related: Take a Peek Inside 11 Charming Carriage Houses
Lexington Historical Society
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Lexington-Historical-Tours.jpg?quality=85)
flickr.com via Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
The Lexington Historical Society offers virtual tours of three properties, including Buckman Tavern, the Hancock-Clarke House, and Munroe Tavern. The tours are accessible via almost any platform. The taverns, built in 1710 and 1735, respectively, were important meeting places for locals and travelers, and played important roles in the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The Hancock-Clarke house, home to Reverend Jonas Clarke, played host to both John Hancock and Samuel Adams in the days before the battle.
Whitehern House & Garden
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Whitehern-House.jpg?quality=85)
flickr.com via Can Pac Swire
Head to Hamilton, Ontario (virtually, of course), to take a 3-D tour of this walled Georgian-style estate, built around 1850, which housed three generations of the McQuesten family. Each stage of the tour is accompanied by informative narration that provides a deeper learning experience. You can even choose to exit the house and explore the enclosed garden and terrace.
Winchester Mystery House
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For a nominal rental fee (or a purchase price of $13.99), you can get access to a video tour of the famous Winchester Mystery House. Those interested in a deeper exploration can also access an immersive 360-degree tour for $8.99. This San Jose, California, landmark is known for its weird and wacky architecture. The sprawling structure boasts 2,000 doors, 160 rooms, and a whopping 17 chimneys! In 2008, Time Magazine included the house in a list of top 10 haunted places.
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18 of America’s Best Historic Homes to Visit
![tours of old mansions ornate mansion next to lawn](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5d012732c9f2f20ac8f26900/16:9/w_320%2Cc_limit/housefront12x8.jpg)
America’s historic houses are a key part of the country’s heritage. Stepping inside one of these well-preserved homes gives visitors a glimpse of architectural achievements, as well as the lifestyles and traditions of the past. Whether you’re a fan of the founding fathers, a literature buff, or a connoisseur of the modernist masters, there are plenty of pedigreed properties to visit across the country. From 18th-century plantations on the East Coast to 20th-century mansions owned by California’s elite, America’s historic homes offer a look at the past while showcasing art, artifacts, and gardens that are as spectacular as the homes they accompany. They also provide an intimate look at the lives of their notable owners, including Edith Wharton, Frederic Edwin Church, Harriet Tubman, and Philip Johnson. Discover some of the best historic homes in the United States and start planning a trip back in time.
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Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (Auburn, New York)
In the late 1850s, abolitionist Harriet Tubman purchased property in Auburn, New York, from Senator William Seward and moved there with her parents from Canada, where they had been living since 1851. She returned to the home following the Civil War, and in 1896 she purchased 25 acres of adjacent land to create the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged. She deeded the property to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in 1903. Today, her residence, the home for the aged, and the Thompson AME Zion Church make up the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, which was established in 2017.
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Biltmore (Asheville, North Carolina)
Known as America’s largest home, Biltmore House boasts 250 rooms and the square footage of four football fields. The massive manse was built by George Vanderbilt, in collaboration with architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, over a period of six years. The 8,000-acre estate now includes a winery and a village with a hotel, shops, and restaurants.
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The Breakers (Newport, Rhode Island)
The Italian Renaissance–style villa was the summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his family and the grandest of the Gilded Age summer homes in Newport. Designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt to replace an existing wood structure, the 70-room, four-story home was decorated by Ogden Codman, Jr. and completed in 1895. Today the Breakers is owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County, which offers access to a number of historic homes in the area, including another Hunt design, Marble House, which was built for Vanderbilt’s brother.
![tours of old mansions exterior of a home with trees nearby](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5ee7b5b8a5bd9d8c32728cb6/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/2A4C4XP.jpg)
The Oaks (Tuskegee, Alabama)
Completed in 1900, the Oaks was the home of educator and author Booker T. Washington at the Tuskegee Institute , where he served as the first president. The Queen Anne Revival–style house was built by students and local craftsmen and was the first residence in Macon County to be equipped with electricity and steam heating. In 1974, Congress established the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, which includes the Oaks, the George Washington Carver Museum, and the university grounds.
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Hearst Castle (San Simeon, California)
Created by architect Julia Morgan and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, the 165-room estate overlooking the California town of San Simeon showcases a magnificent collection of art and antiquities, as well as 123 acres of terraces, gardens, and pools, including the iconic Neptune Pool. The property is now a house museum and a California State Park where visitors can explore different aspects of Hearst Castle’s history, from its art and architecture to its heyday as a retreat for Hollywood’s biggest names.
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Langston Hughes House (New York)
The top floor of the Italianate brownstone on East 127th Street in Manhattan’s Harlem neighborhood was home to the acclaimed poet, playwright, and novelist Langston Hughes for the last 20 years of his life. The 1869 building was where the Harlem Renaissance leader wrote I Wonder As I Wander and Montage of a Dream Deferred. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and from 2016 to 2019 it was home to the I, Too Arts Collective .
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The Mount (Lenox, Massachusetts)
Author Edith Wharton took inspiration from Belton House in England, as well as French and Italian influences, when designing the house and grounds at the Mount , which was built with architects Ogden Codman, Jr., her coauthor of the book The Decoration of Houses , and Francis L.V. Hoppin. Wharton lived and worked there for 10 years before she and her husband, Teddy, sold the property in 1911. The Mount was declared a National Historic landmark in 1971 and is now a cultural center dedicated to Wharton’s life and work.
![tours of old mansions brick home next to lawn](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5d0128121917527f26f16eeb/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/monticello%252025oct17%2520JLooney-0006-east%2520front.jpg)
Monticello (Charlottesville, Virginia)
Thomas Jefferson began construction on his plantation, Monticello , in 1769 and found inspiration in the work of Andrea Palladio, as well as in ancient and Renaissance architecture. He later enlarged and remodeled the house beginning in 1796. The 43-room estate was Jefferson’s home until his death in 1826. Monticello is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum, where visitors can view exhibitions about Jefferson, the estate, and the enslaved people who lived and worked there.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home (Atlanta)
Built in 1895, this Queen Anne–style home on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta was later purchased by Rev. Adam Daniel Williams. Williams’s daughter Christine and her husband, Michael King, would have three children there, including Michael Jr., who would later become known as Martin Luther King Jr. The civil rights leader would spend his first 12 years in the home and after his assassination in 1968, it was restored and turned into a museum. In January of 2018, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, which includes the house, was designated a national historic park and later that year, the house was purchased by the National Park Foundation.
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Gamble House (Pasadena, California)
Designed by architects Charles and Henry Greene for David and Mary Gamble, the Gamble house is one of the best examples of American Arts and Crafts architecture. The home was completed in 1908. It became a museum after it was deeded to the city of Pasadena and the University of Southern California in 1966. The home and its original furniture, which was also designed by Greene & Greene, have been beautifully conserved and the exterior was restored in the early 2000s.
![tours of old mansions exterior of an ornate home near lawn](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5d013ee3c9f2f227abf26909/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/GettyImages-865439242.jpg)
Olana State Historic Site (Hudson, New York)
Painter Frederic Edwin Church designed his home in the Hudson River Valley on a hilltop site with the help of architect Calvert Vaux. Church was inspired by his travels, and incorporated Middle Eastern motifs (specifically Persian) alongside the Victorian architecture. The 250-acre estate is now a National Historic Landmark; the house showcases work by Church and the artist’s collection of decorative arts.
![tours of old mansions brick house with cars and trees in front](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5ee7b33c52f36f19514968dc/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/HN5NBB.jpg)
The African Meeting House (Boston)
The oldest surviving Black church in America, the African Meeting House—also known as First Independent Baptist Church and the African Baptist Church of Boston—was built in 1806 on Boston’s Becon Hill. Many well-known abolitionists spoke at the meeting house, including Frederick Douglass, Sarah Grimké, and William Lloyd Garrison, who founded the New England Anti-Slavery Society there in 1932. The building is now owned and operated by the Museum of African American History and is the final stop on the Black Heritage Trail.
![tours of old mansions exterior of a large home by the water](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5d0138f392bd28267fc99773/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/2010%2520Mast%2520View%2520of%2520East%2520Facade%2520Panorama%2520Pink%2520Hue%25201.jpg)
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (Miami)
The waterfront villa in Miami was built by James Deering, who hired artist and interior designer Paul Chalfin to create his vacation home with the help of architect Francis Burrall Hoffman Jr. Following Deering’s death in 1925, the estate served as a private, and later public, museum. The main house showcases more than 2,500 furnishings, artwork, and objects, and visitors can also explore the 10 acres of formal gardens, as well as forests and an impressive orchid collection.
![tours of old mansions exterior of a home](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5ee7b60a6617edf1e71b973e/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/AN7YMM.jpg)
Paul Laurence Dunbar House (Dayton, Ohio)
Acclaimed poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar purchased this 1894 brick home in Dayton, Ohio, in 1904 and lived there until his death in 1906. Following the death of his mother in 1934, the house was purchased by the state, and in 1936 it was designated as the first state memorial honoring an African American. The home is open to the public and displays Dunbar’s personal belongings, including the desk where he wrote much of his work, a sword given to him by President Theodore Roosevelt, and a bicycle built by his friends Orville and Wilbur Wright.
![tours of old mansions exterior of an allglass home near trees](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5d013985b451b32c611adf0d/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/RB%2520Glass%2520House%2520photo%2520by%2520Robin%2520Hill%2520(c)%2520HI%2520RES%2520(12).jpg)
The Glass House (New Canaan, Connecticut)
Architect Philip Johnson’s home in Connecticut is an icon of modern architecture. The Glass House , completed in 1949, was revolutionary for its integration into the landscape and its use of materials. The 49-acre property is home to 14 structures, built between 1949 and 1995, including a sculpture gallery, a studio, and Ghost House, an architectural folly. The estate also hosts an impressive selection of 20th-century artwork collected by Johnson and his partner, curator David Whitney, including pieces by Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, and Robert Rauschenberg.
![tours of old mansions exterior of a big home next to a large lawn](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5d0139c6c9f2f21975f26904/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/Drayton%2520Hall%2520interiors%2C%2520exteriors%2520by%2520Dan%2520Stewart%2520Oct.%25202012_004.jpg)
Drayton Hall (Charleston, South Carolina)
Set on the Ashley River, Drayton Hall was founded in 1738 and is now the oldest unrestored plantation house in America. The house is the first example of Palladian architecture in the country and is displayed unfurnished to allow the original materials and architectural details to take center stage. Today the estate is a National Trust for Historic Preservation site, and guests can tour the house and grounds, which includes one of the country’s oldest African-American cemeteries.
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Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens (Houston)
Philanthropist Ima Hogg and her brothers built the mansion in the River Oaks area of Houston between 1927 and 1928. Texas architect John F. Staub designed the house, taking inspiration from 18th-century Georgian and Spanish Creole architecture. The home’s 14 acres of gardens mix formal landscape design with natural woodlands. Hogg donated the property to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and it is now a house museum showcasing American paintings and decorative arts .
![tours of old mansions white and red home surrounded by trees](https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5d013aa5b451b30df41adf12/master/w_320%2Cc_limit/George%2520Washington%25E2%2580%2599s%2520Mount%2520Vernon-bucket-truck-oct2013-shenk-548-5.jpg)
George Washington's Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, Virginia)
George and Martha Washington’s plantation home was originally built by the president’s father in 1734. Washington expanded the house over 45 years, beginning in 1754, and transformed the one-and-a-half story house into a 21-room mansion. Many of the buildings on the property have been restored or reconstructed, such as the outbuildings where enslaved men and women worked, and a museum showcases artifacts from Washington’s life and presidency.
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13 best historic mansions you can visit in Upstate NY
- Published: Nov. 10, 2016, 12:30 p.m.
- Chuck D'Imperio
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Gary Walts | [email protected]
13 best historic Upstate NY mansions you can visit
By Chuck D'Imperio | Contributing writer
When it comes to regal, historic mansions, Upstate New York has an embarrassment of riches. Lucky for us, many of these are now open to the public. What a fun way to get a glimpse of the glories of another era. Here are a baker's dozen mansions worthy of a look. Of course, there are hundreds of them across the state. Which ones would you add to the list?
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Stephen D. Cannerelli | [email protected]
Seward House Mansion (Auburn)
Built in 1816 by the Miller family, this became the home of William H. Seward when he married Elijah Miller's daughter, Frances. Seward went on to become a U.S. Senator, New York State Governor and U.S. Secretary of State. The house is now a museum to Mr. and Mrs. Seward's life and times. During one period, while Mr. Seward was travelling overseas, Mrs. Seward harbored runaway slaves in the mansion's' basement!
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John Renfro via flickr
Schuyler Mansion (Albany)
This historic brick mansion was built in 1761 for Revolutionary War hero General Philip Schuyler. Many of that era's famous personalities came, visited and stayed the night at this mansion. In fact, Elizabeth Schuyler, Philip's second daughter, got married to Alexander Hamilton in the parlor of this mansion on Dec. 14, 1780.
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NYup.com file photo
Yaddo (Saratoga Springs)
The present structure was built by financier Samuel Trask after his original home burned down in 1881. The stone and wood Queen Anne Revival mansion is not technically open to the public as it is an active working writer's colony. It is a three-story, tower-topped, 55-room estate encompassing nearly 50,000 square feet. However, the famous Yaddo Gardens, which surround the estate, are visited by thousands each year. The writer's colony here has hosted 66 Pulitzer Prize winners, 61 National Book Award winners and a double Nobel Prize-winning writer (Saul Bellow).
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Pubdog via Wikimedia Commons
Governor Reuben Fenton Mansion (Jamestown)
Now the home of the Fenton History Center, this Jamestown landmark was built in 1863. The brick mansion known as "Walnut Grove" features a four-story tower and a life-size bronze statue of Gov. Fenton on the front lawn. He was governor of New York from 1869 to 1875. The Italianate Villa design sets this building apart from the other historic buildings in the city. The mansion is filled with period antiques and is a popular venue for public and private events.
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Jeff Goulding for nyup.com
Olana (Hudson)
This is one of Upstate New York's most visited mansions. Located in Columbia County, this 1872 home incorporates a hodge-podge mix of architectural designs to best reflect the owner's love of world travels. Painter Frederic Church positioned his mansion to take advantage of the breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley in the distance. The valley, and the Hudson River itself, was the subject of many of his most famous paintings. Tours here, of both the mansion and the grounds, are extremely popular, and many interesting public events are scheduled every year. And be sure and ask about the four teapots located on the top of the tower!
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Michael Greenlar | [email protected]
George Eastman Mansion (Rochester)
This was the home of George Eastman. Today it is a museum which holds the world's largest and oldest photography collections. Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak, was a millionaire who spent considerable sums creating this extravagant mansion, which he bequeathed to the University of Rochester at the time of his death. The building lacks nothing in splendor, extravagance and excess. Rooms include a conservatory, billiard room, library, great hall, living room and much more. Note the large African elephant trophy head crashing through the wall above your head in the Conservatory. Guided tours are offered daily. The public is not allowed into Eastman's private bedroom quarters on the second floor where he committed suicide on March 14, 1932.
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Jay Parker via flickr
Skene Manor (Whitehall)
This 1874 Gothic stone mansion was built overhanging a mountain in Whitehall in 1874. The view from here is spectacular. It is three stories tall, features a clock tower and is made of sandstone blocks quarried from the mountainside by a team of Italian stonemasons. Some call this one of the most haunted mansions in Upstate New York. Tours are given, and many public events are held inside this gorgeous structure.
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George Fisher | Visit1000Islands
Boldt Castle (Thousand Islands)
This is one of the most popular mansions in all of Upstate New York. Literally thousands of visitors have come to this island mansion over the years. Doomed and sad, the home was a love token built by the millionaire general-manager of the Waldorf Astoria hotel, George Boldt. The object of this tender souvenir was to be his wife, Louise Kherer Boldt. Unfortunately she died in 1904 before the home was finished and Boldt walked away from it. The mansion, projected to have been one of the largest private residences in the U.S., sat empty and forlorn in the middle of the St. Lawrence River for almost 75 years before preservationists came to its rescue. Tours today reveal the extreme opulence and luxuriousness of what was to be a happy home for Mr. and Mrs. Boldt.
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apryldenise via flickr
Hyde Hall (Cooperstown)
This home, at the head of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, has been called the "finest example of neoclassical country house design in the country." Built between 1817 and 1834 for the George Clarke family, the stone mansion consists of dozens of rooms including massive entertaining rooms which feature 20 foot ceilings. Tours are offered, and the view of the lake, referred to as the "Glimmerglass" by native-Cooperstown author James Fenimore Cooper, can be breathtaking.
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Carol via flickr
Phelps Mansion (Binghamton)
This stunning 1870 mansion was built as the home of Binghamton Mayor Sherman Phelps. The architect of this three-floor Second Empire-style extravagance was Isaac G. Perry, who also worked on the New York State Capitol as the building's last lead architect (1883-1899). The mansion is packed with historic artwork, rare antiques, period furniture and unusual woodwork. Tours are very popular and many public events are scheduled here, hosted by the current owners, the Phelps Mansion Museum.
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Lizzylane via flickr
Clermont (Germantown)
Seven generations of the famous Livingston family called this mansion home. The estate was built in 1740 on 13,000 acres of lush Hudson River Valley property. Tours of the home and gardens are available, and there is a gift shop and a public event area (many weddings are held at Clermont). A visitor's center tells the story of the famous Livingstons who lived here, including Robert, who swore George Washington into office and who helped draft the Declaration of Independence.
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Joed Viera for nyup.com
McClurg Mansion (Westfield)
Now the home of the Chautauqua County Historical Society, this residence was built in 1818 for James McClurg, the son of a wealthy Pittsburgh industrialist. The mansion is packed with Victorian collectibles on all three floors and tours are popular. Be sure and check out the extensive collection of antique dolls in the children's nursery room. When it was built, locals called this "McClurg's Folly" for its unusually expansive layout and attention to extravagant design.
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Heather Ainsworth for syracuse.com
Rose Hill Mansion (Geneva)
With its graceful columned façade, this grand home was built in 1839 and was once one of the great centers for society life and agricultural productivity in the beautiful Finger Lakes community. More than 20 rooms have been restored and are open (seasonally) to the public. Of interesting note is that one of the owners, Robert Swan, invented a method for farming using drain tiles as an irrigation method. Cornell University called this "the greatest agricultural innovation of its time (1850s). The views of Seneca Lake from the front porch are gorgeous.
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Gary Walts for nyup.com
Rent this Upstate NY mansion for $3K a night
Read more: The 27-room Casa Blanca mansion in the Thousand Islands could be yours for just $3,000 a night or $20,000 per week.
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10 Historic Homes You Can Virtually Tour
Our list ranges from Buckingham Palace to the Frida Kahlo Museum to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
![Estate, Property, House, Natural landscape, Home, Building, Tree, Cottage, Manor house, Mansion, Estate, Property, House, Natural landscape, Home, Building, Tree, Cottage, Manor house, Mansion,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/aerial-lautman-1584390213.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.752xh;0,0.0553xh&resize=640:*)
As many cultural sites close and governments urge social distancing due to coronavirus, it's unfortunately not the best time to go out and explore the historic homes of the world. But, thanks to virtual tours available online, you can enjoy the stunning architecture and interior design of many significant homes from the comfort of your own couch. Below, House Beautiful has rounded up 10 houses from across the globe that can be seen on a screen. Let the armchair tour begin!
Buckingham Palace, London, England
![Buckingham Palace, London, England Buckingham Palace, London, England](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/buckingham-palace-london-residence-of-the-reigning-monarch-news-photo-630806669-1563394035.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
If you’ve ever wanted to see how the Queen of England lives without having to leave your house, now is your moment. Since 1837, Buckingham Palace has been the official London home to the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Although the palace is still Queen Elizabeth’s primary residence, the State Rooms are available to visit every year during the summer. In total, Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, 19 of which are State Rooms, 188 rooms are staff bedrooms, 52 are guest and Royal bedrooms, 78 are bathrooms, and 92 are offices.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami, FL
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Vizcaya is a Mediterranean Revival-style villa with Baroque elements that was once the home of businessman James Deering. The estate currently consists of 43 acres, but was previously located on an impressive 180 acres. It took eight years and $15 million to build the villa, and another year to complete the Italian Renaissance-style gardens and Vizcaya Village, which consists of 11 buildings across 12 acres, including greenhouses, fields, staff quarters, a garage, barns, and workshops.
The Frick Collection, New York, NY
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This Beaux Arts-style mansion located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan was once home to Henry Clay Frick, one of the most prominent industrialists during the Gilded Age. Expect to see Old Masters paintings, decorative arts, and European sculptures in this former residence turned art museum. The Frick Collection is located on Fifth Avenue and is one of the last remaining Gilded Age mansions in New York City. It became a museum in 1935, and since then, the public has been able view Frick’s expansive collection of artwork, which includes Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Whistler, Bellini, Vermeer, and Goya, to name a few.
Monticello, Charlottesville, VA
![Home, House, Spring, Tulip, Plantation, Estate, Property, Mansion, Flower, Natural landscape, Home, House, Spring, Tulip, Plantation, Estate, Property, Mansion, Flower, Natural landscape,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/d-2018-04-16-atw-047-1584394374.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
At just 26 years old, future President Thomas Jefferson inherited a plantation in rural Virginia. An architecture enthusiast, Jefferson himself devised a combination of Neoclassical and Palladian architecture for the estate that would come to be known as Monticello. It is now a National Historic Landmark, and, along with the University of Virginia—which was also one of Jefferson’s designs—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If Monticello looks familiar to you, it’s probably because it’s on the reserve side of the nickel.
Frida Kahlo Museum, Mexico City, Mexico
![General Views Of Mexico 2019 General Views Of Mexico 2019](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/the-artists-studio-inside-the-casa-azul-or-blue-house-in-news-photo-1584389912.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
In 1958, just four years after Frida Kahlo’s death, her eye-catching, bright blue house in Mexico City became a museum. Not only was Frida Kahlo born and raised in this historic home, it was also where she lived with her husband and fellow painter, Diego Rivera, and later, where she passed away. Diego Rivera donated the house in 1957 so that it could be turned into a museum in honor of his late wife. Kahlo’s house has since been operating as both a historic house museum and an art museum for over 60 years, and it is now the most visited museum in Coyoacán. Artworks by both Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are on display in the home.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA
![Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-boston-massachusetts-united-news-photo-1584389991.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
The onetime home of Isabella Stewart Gardner was built in 1903 and is a designated Boston Landmark. As is evident when looking at the home's Instagramable courtyard, the building was inspired by a 15th-century Venetian palace. Isabella Stewart Gardner once said that she wanted her extensive art collection to be exhibited “for the education and enjoyment of the public forever.” Well, so far, so good! The museum is home to American, Asian, and European art, including paintings, tapestries, sculptures, and decorative arts.
Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown, NY
![USA - New York - Lyndhurst Estate USA - New York - Lyndhurst Estate](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/lyndhurst-americas-finest-gothic-revival-mansion-and-a-news-photo-1584390082.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
This spooky Gothic Revival mansion, built in 1838, was once the home of railroad tycoon Jay Gould. It sits on 67 acres and overlooks the Hudson River. The National Historic Landmark home was used as a filming location for The Blacklist, Project Runway, House of Dark Shadows, and Night of Dark Shadows, to name a few. Former owner Jay Gould had a 243-foot yacht built so that he didn’t have to take the nearby railroad built by his archnemesis, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Talk about rich people problems...
Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, VA
![Estate, Property, House, Natural landscape, Home, Building, Tree, Cottage, Manor house, Mansion, Estate, Property, House, Natural landscape, Home, Building, Tree, Cottage, Manor house, Mansion,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/aerial-lautman-1584390213.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
Mount Vernon began as a one-and-a-half story home built by George Washington’s father, Augustine, in 1734. It went on to become the plantation of George and Martha Washington, the first President and First Lady of the United States of America. The architectural style of the home is described as loose Palladian, which is a European style inspired by Ancient Greek and Roman structures. Mount Vernon was expanded twice during George Washington’s lifetime, in the late 1750s and in the 1770s, and it was his home until his death in 1799. In 1858, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association acquired the historic home and saved it from ruin by restoring it.
The Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT
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Mark Twain (real name: Samuel Langhorne Clemens) lived with his family in this Victorian Gothic-style home from 1874 to 1891. This is where Mark Twain wrote novels like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and A Tramp Abroad. It was Mark Twain and Charles Dudley who coined the term “Gilded Age,” given the title of their 1873 novel, The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today. Events held at the home have included appearances by fellow novelists Judy Blume, Stephen King, and John Grisham.
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England
![Landmark, Palace, Architecture, Classical architecture, Building, Sky, Château, City, Stately home, Cloud, Landmark, Palace, Architecture, Classical architecture, Building, Sky, Château, City, Stately home, Cloud,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/blenheimpalace-north-front-3-1584389331.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
To end this list with a bang, look no further than Blenheim Palace, the former home of Consuelo Vanderbilt and her husband, the ninth Duke of Marlborough. It was the $2.5 million dowry of Consuelo’s father, William Kissam Vanderbilt—which translates to $76.8 million today—that made the restoration of this historic palace possible. Blenheim Palace has been used as a filming location for a variety of films, including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Gulliver's Travels, Cinderella, Spectre, Orlando, Transformers: The Last Knight, Dolittle , and Hamlet . It was also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
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Inside a Classic Hamptons Getaway by Mark D. Sikes
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8 Dreamy Mediterranean Towns to Buy a Home
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10 Red Flags in Real Estate Listings
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10 Most Beautiful Historic Southern Plantation Homes You Can Visit
Southern charm: 10 of the most historical southern plantation homes.
With their historic architecture and stunning gardens, historical Southern plantation homes are full of old-world charm and beauty. More importantly, they have rich stories to tell because they played significant roles in our nation’s history. If experiencing the storied history and architectural beauty of a southern plantation home is in your future, then these charming historical Southern plantations should not be missed:
Pebble Hill Plantation
Located in Thomasville, Georgia, this antebellum plantation and museum was first established when Thomas Jefferson Johnson purchased the land in 1825. Johnson first raised cotton and then introduced rice, a profitable crop in Georgia during the 19th century.
![tours of old mansions Pebble Hill Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/23946070274_3f82a53973_z-min.jpg)
After Johnson’s death, the plantation was inherited by his daughter, Julia Ann. In 1850, a lovely plantation home was built upon the property by English architect John Wind.
Julia and her husband struggled with the property during Reconstruction in the South, and the property was purchased by Thomas Melville Hanna in 1896. After his death, Pebble Hill passed to his daughter, Kate, who turned it into a hunting estate, which were popular during the mid-1880s.
Kate’s daughter, Elisabeth, inherited the plantation after her mother’s death in 1936 and decided to turn the plantation into a museum for all to enjoy. Today, the grounds are well-maintained and feature beautiful gardens that are worth exploring.
Evergreen Plantation
If Evergreen Plantation seems familiar, you might have seen it featured in Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 film, “Django Unchained” . The stunning Greek Revival style building and plantation grounds were used as a backdrop to shoot some of the film’s scenes.
![tours of old mansions Evergreen Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/4594154774_0ec6687e80_z-min.jpg)
Located in Edgar, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans, the plantation is considered the most intact plantation in the South and still produces sugar cane to this day. As you explore the grounds, be sure to check out the 22 intact slave cabins, which are arranged in a double row along its oak alley.
Whitney Plantation
Whitney Plantation, located in Wallace, Louisiana, was also featured in “Django Unchained” — but this isn’t your typical historical Southern plantation. In 2014, the 2,000-acre property was converted into the first slavery museum in America.
![tours of old mansions Whitney Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/31732880678_36d7548aa2_z-min.jpg)
Unlike other plantations, Whitney Plantation doesn’t sugarcoat the lives of enslaved Africans who worked the former indigo and sugar farm. Jim Cummings, the owner of Whitney Plantation, has spent millions on the museum’s artifacts and restoration to give visitors a true sense of life in the antebellum South.
Shirley Plantation
Dating back to 1614, Shirley Plantation is the oldest plantation in America . Located in Charles City County, Virginia, the plantation once produced tobacco that was sent around the colonies and shipped to England.
![tours of old mansions](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/12459528595_8bc36585e5_z-min-1.jpg)
Although the land was originally settled in 1613, a portion of the land was granted to Edward Hill in 1638. Anne Hill Carter, who was born on the plantation, was the mother of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
In fact, Hill’s direct descendants continue to own and operate the plantation to this day, making it the oldest family-owned business in North America.
Nottoway Plantation
Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, Louisiana, is home to the South’s largest antebellum mansion. The ornate, Greek and Italianate style mansion is bursting with opulence and demonstrates the vast wealth of prestigious sugarcane planter John Hampden Randolph.
![tours of old mansions Nottoway Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/640px-Nottoway_Plantation_House.jpg)
Built in 1859, the jaw-dropping mansion has three floors and a total of 64 rooms, 165 doors, 12 hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces and 200 windows. The spectacular home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is now a resort destination.
Belle Meade Plantation
Located in Belle Meade, Tennessee, the Belle Meade Plantation is a beautiful Greek Revival mansion that now operates as a museum. The land was originally purchased by John Harding in 1806 and used to produce cotton.
![tours of old mansions Belle Meade Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Belle-Meade-Plantation.png)
Harding quickly became one of the largest slave holders in the Nashville area. With his new fortune, he built a brick house on a small hill, which he called “Belle Meadow.”
What started as a 250-acre property would become a 5,300-acre farm that raised thoroughbred horses. The farm survived the Civil War and was passed down through generations of the Harding family until they ran into serious debt in 1893. The plantation was sold in 1906 and was converted into an educational non-profit organization in 1953.
Magnolia Plantation
Founded in 1676 by Thomas Drayton, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is renowned for its beautiful gardens and rich history. Located along the banks of the Ashley River near Historic Charleston, S.C., the 464-acre property has survived natural disasters, as well as both the American Revolution and Civil War.
![tours of old mansions Magnolia Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/4272185847_b9f59b260a_z-min.jpg)
There is much to see and do at Magnolia, so be sure to carve out a couple hours to walk through all the gardens, take a tour of the magnificent plantation home and let the kids enjoy the petting zoo.
If you’re visiting the wonderful city of Charleston, you can’t miss Boone Hall. Located across the Cooper River in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Boone Hall is America’s oldest working plantation and the most photographed in the country.
![tours of old mansions Boone Hall Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/7670116360_f013a911b1_z-min.jpg)
People from across the world come to Boone Hall to see its famous Avenue of Oaks, explore the working plantation and Georgian-style home and experience the only live presentation of Gullah culture at The Gullah Theater. Educational and awe-inspiring, it’s easy to see why this historical Southern plantation draws thousands of visitors each year.
Destrehan Plantation
Established in 1787, Destrehan Plantation was originally a thriving indigo plantation and sugarcane farm. Situated 25 miles from New Orleans, this antebellum mansion is noted for its French Colonial style architecture, which was later modified with Greek Revival style elements.
![tours of old mansions Destrahan Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/6882578476_8b5d8a507f_z-min.jpg)
Destrehan Plantation has a fascinating history that starts with the plantation’s second owner, Jean-Noel Destrehan, who was deeply involved in the state’s politics, serving on the Orleans Territorial Council and as a U.S. senator until he resigned after a month.
Destrehan paved the way for the Creole system of slave labor, in which head slaves were appointed to oversee tasks on sugarcane plantations. Although the history is dark, the plantation’s costumed historical interpreters do an excellent job of telling the rich stories of the Destrehan family and the slaves who worked there.
Belle Grove Plantation
A trip to Belle Grove Plantation gives visitors the opportunity to venture into the past and see what life was like for early settlers in Shenandoah Valley. Located near Middletown, Virginia, the 1797 antebellum plantation is still farmed today and features a large limestone manor house in Federal style architecture.
![tours of old mansions Belle Grove Plantation](https://wickedgoodtraveltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/3879975438_5aa71f56fc_z-min.jpg)
The impressive manor was built by Major Isaac Hite and his wife, Nelly Madison Hite, the sister of President James Madison. The home was originally named after Nelly’s grandmother’s home in Port Conway, Virginia, which is the site where James Madison was born.
Now a historic house museum, visitors can tour the large manor, an 1815 icehouse and smokehouse, a slave cemetery and a heritage apple orchard — all set against a stunning mountain backdrop.
Full of History and Charm
Before the outbreak of the Civil War, there were more than 500,000 plantations and farms in the South. Although many did not survive reconstruction, those Southern plantation homes that have remained well-preserved now offer an invaluable glimpse into our country’s storied past.
*************************************** About The Author: Traci Magnus was raised on the Charleston Coast and attended the College of Charleston before moving to New York City in the mid 1990s. Her first job in the Big Apple was with the renowned NYC real estate brokerage Douglas Elliman. For the next decade, she honed her marketing skills at some of Madison Avenue’s top advertising agencies. In 2006, she returned to Charleston along with her husband Glenn and their son Max. She joined the Dunes Properties team in early 2008 as Director of Marketing. ***************************************
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Get Inspired
Get the travel guide, become an insider, the luxurious and historical gold coast.
Step inside Long Island’s Gold Coast along the North Shore for a look into the elegant and opulent lifestyles of the elite. Owned by past presidents, artists and aristocracy, many of these homes once hosted royalty, heads of state and stars such as Charlie Chaplin. Often the backdrop for Hollywood productions, the Gold Coast mansions also served as inspiration for The Great Gatsby. Open for tours and events, travel back to an era bygone when visiting these estates.
Sands Point Preserve
- 127 Middle Neck Road
- (516) 571-7900
Sand's Point Preserve is home to three spectacular mansions: Falaise; Hempstead House; and CastleGould. Falaise is a Normandy style home filled with antiques and open to the public for tours. It's here that Charles Lindbergh wrote his famous book "WE," while staying with the Guggenheim family at…
Coe Hall at Planting Fields Arboretum
Visit Planting Fields Arboretum/Coe Hall, a Tudor Revival mansion where you can view the family’s original furnishings, including the completely restored Louis XVI reception room and the spectacular grounds and gardens (created by the Olmstead Brothers).
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Explore more Gold Coast Mansions
Old Westbury Gardens
- 71 Old Westbury Road
- (516) 333-0048
This elegant estate, which features a 23-room English manor house and traditional, formal gardens sprawling over 200 acres, was the home of John S. Phipps and his wife, Margarita Grace Phipps, in 1906. The spectacular estate has been featured in over 25 movies including North by Northwest and Love…
Old Westbury Gardens hosts festivals and seasonal events in the garden throughout the year They also occasionally have garden yoga classes. Check their website for more information.
Oheka Castle
- 135 West Gate Drive
- (631) 659-1400
A breathtakingly beautiful historic mansion located on the famed Gold Coast of Long Island between New York City and The Hamptons. At OHEKA CASTLE guests will discover a World of charming luxury and European ambiance. OHEKA is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a member of…
The OHK Bar & Restaurant offers patrons a unique culinary experience paired with a European ambiance and al fresco dining.
Tour of Oheka Castle
Resting majestically on the highest point of Long Island, emanates the elegant refinement of a chateau in France and a rich history that is distinctly American. Financier and philanthropist, Otto Hermann Kahn built OHEKA CASTLE close to a century ago on the highest point on Long Island in Cold…
Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
William K. Vanderbilt II was heir to one of America’s greatest fortunes and traveled the world collecting marine and cultural artifacts for the museum and mansion he built on Long Island in 1910. Eagle’s Nest boasts 43-acres of waterfront estate in Centerport, Long Island with a 24-room…
Prime: An American Kitchen & Bar
- 117 North New York Avenue
- (631) 385-1515
Dedicated to the expression of modern American cuisine, Prime is more than just a culinary adventure, it is a true experience. Guests can choose from an array of raw bar favorites, like blue point oysters, little neck clams, and lobster cocktail, along with Mizu Sushi, and steaks and chops like…
Enjoy unique shops, dining, and nightlife in trendy downtown Huntington Village
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Alice Austen House
Lewis latimer house museum, bartow-pell mansion museum, little red lighthouse, bowne house.
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Morris-jumel mansion museum, dyckman farmhouse museum, old stone house, edgar allan poe cottage, queens county farm museum, gracie mansion, seguine mansion, hendrick i. lott house, swedish cottage marionette theatre, historic richmond town, valentine-varian house, king manor museum, van cortlandt house museum, kingsland homestead, wyckoff house museum, lefferts historic house museum.
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New York’s Historic Houses
Pelham Bay Park is the bucolic setting of a country house, built in 1836, with one of the nation’s finest Greek Revival interiors.
Poe, one of America’s greatest writers, spent his last years in this modest cottage, built in 1812.
This farmhouse, built in 1758, once stood along the famous Boston Post Road and is now home to a museum of Bronx history.
Occupied by British and Colonial troops during the Revolutionary War, this Georgian home, built in 1748, is the centerpiece of a 1,000-acre park.
Owned by the same family for over 200 years, this home displays layers of history dating back to the Dutch-American period. Originally built in 1720 and expanded in 1800.
Built ca. 1783, this farmhouse is one of the few structures surviving from Brooklyn’s Village of Flatbush.
Originally built in 1699, and reconstructed from some original stones in 1933, this house is a landmark of military history and a center of the vibrant Park Slope community.
Dating to ca. 1652, this Dutch farmhouse is the oldest existing structure in New York State.
Perched above Broadway, Manhattan’s last farmhouse, built ca. 1784, is an extraordinary vestige of the borough’s agricultural past.
Built in 1799, this former country estate on the East River now serves as the official residence of the Mayor of New York City.
Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse sits beneath the George Washington Bridge and stars in a famous children’s book. Originally built in 1880 and moved to its present site in 1921.
Merchant’s House Museum
This elegant red brick and white marble row house is a lone survivor of Old New York, the only family home preserved intact, inside and out, from the 19th century.
A witness to an eventful past, this mansion, built in 1765, served as Washington’s headquarters during the Battle of Harlem Heights.
This charming Swedish schoolhouse, built for Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition, is now home to a renowned marionette theater company.
Built ca. 1661, the house is a landmark of religious freedom and a microcosm of social, cultural, and political history.
Home of Founding Father Rufus King, framer of the Constitution and early voice in the anti-slavery movement. The oldest section of the house dates from ca. 1730.
This typical 18th-century farmhouse, built ca. 1785, serves as the headquarters of the Queens Historical Society.
This Queen Anne-style residence, built in 1887-89, was home to African-American inventor and electrical pioneer Lewis Howard Latimer from 1903 to 1928.
Abundant crops and farm animals still thrive at the longest continually farmed site in New York State. The oldest structure on site dates from ca. 1772.
Staten Island
A significant site of LGBTQ history, this Victorian Gothic cottage was the home of one of America’s earliest and most prolific female photographers. The original structure dates from 1690.
Located on Raritan Bay, this stone manor house, built ca. 1680, is named for the 1776 conference that attempted to end the Revolutionary War.
With 28 buildings on 100 acres, this living museum complex evokes 300 years of history and culture. Buildings range from the late 17th to the early 20th centuries.
Peacocks roam the grounds of one of Staten Island’s grandest 19th-century homes, built in 1838.
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Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.
11 Beautiful Historic Hudson Valley Mansions You Must Visit
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://www.travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3660daeac415d0511d54c740686ab3660da-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C150)
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From ancestral homes dating back to pre-Revolutionary War times to opulent mansions that celebrated the prosperity of business magnates during the Industrial Revolution, Upstate New York’s Hudson Valley is full of impressive historic homes.
Filled with impressive art, framing the beautiful valley scenery, preserving America’s rich history, and showcasing elegant architecture, the valley’s historic mansions are sure to excite everyone in your travel party. Be sure to add these ten beautiful mansions in Upstate New York to your Hudson Valley itinerary !
Note: Some of my experiences were hosted. All opinions are my own.
11 Beautiful Historic Hudson Valley Mansions You Need To Visit
1. lyndhurst.
![tours of old mansions Lyndhurst Mansion in the Hudson Valley, New York.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Lyndhurst-Photo-by-Sage-Scott-Sage-Scott.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Just 25 miles north of the Big Apple , the Lyndhurst Mansion sits on 67 acres overlooking the Hudson River. This Tarrytown mansion is an imposing limestone building of sharp angles, narrow hallways, and limited natural light, making it one of the most notable examples of Gothic architecture in the United States. But the average American may recognize it as the spooky setting for movies like House of Dark Shadows and series like 7 Deadly Sins and The Blacklist .
Explore the history, art, and architecture of the former country home of “robber baron” Jay Gould on an hour-long classic tour of Lyndhurst. For some of the best views in Tarrytown, take the Backstairs Tour, which allows guests to climb to the fifth-floor observation tower, where you can look out over the River and see all the way to Manhattan on a clear day.
Pro Tip: Enjoy a beautiful mansion firsthand at the Tarrytown House Estate . Perched on a hill above Lyndhurst, the white porticoed King Mansion is now home to Goosefeather, an upscale Cantonese restaurant, and offers elegant accommodations. You can dig into crispy shrimp bao and sip a signature cocktail in the mansion’s dining room before retiring to one of the beautiful rooms with a view for a unique experience not available at other Upstate New York mansions.
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![tours of old mansions Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate in the Hudson Valley.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/kykuit-the-rockefeller-estat8fc178.jpg?resize=1024%2C684&ssl=1)
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Built on the highest point in Pocantico Hills, Kykuit is an impressive four-story ivy-covered brick mansion surrounded by 87 acres of beautifully terraced grounds overlooking the Hudson River. Four generations of Rockefellers enjoyed this Tarrytown mansion as a summer getaway and winter weekend retreat. This uniquely named mansion is derived from the Dutch word for “lookout,” and it’s easy to understand the inspiration when you gaze out at the wide Hudson River lined with evergreen firs and colorful maples and elms.
While some Hudson Valle y historic sites allow visitors to explore the grounds independently, Kykuit can only be seen via a guided tour. Tour options range in length. Allow at least 2 hours to explore Kykuit, and if you’re interested in viewing the manicured grounds, be sure to select a tour that provides that option.
3. Locust Grove
Poughkeepsie.
Overlooking the Hudson River from a bluff in Poughkeepsie, Locust Grove is an Italianate mansion set on 200 acres; it was once the summer home of Samuel Morse. While you may know him as the man who revolutionized the way the world communicated with the invention of the telegraph and Morse Code, you may not know that Morse was originally a painter.
As his Upstate New York estate was being designed, Morse reminisced about the years he spent enjoying the Italian countryside, sketching his vision for the floor plan and exterior features on scraps of paper given to architect Alexander Jackson Davis.
See the mansion from the gardens and grounds or tour the inside of Locust Grove via a guided tour. Note that this Upstate New York mansion is not ADA-accessible. Visitors should be prepared to walk up several steps to the front door and a flight of stairs to the second floor when visiting.
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4. Springwood
![tours of old mansions Springwood in Hyde Park, New York. Birthplace and home of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Springwood-Photo-by-Sage-Scott-Sage-Scott.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
America’s 32nd president was born in and spent most of his life in the sprawling three-story Italian-style mansion known as Springwood , dubbed “the Summer White House” for the 12 years Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office. The president is now buried in the adjacent rose garden, and his presidential library (the nation’s first) is also on-site.
A ranger-led tour of FDR’s home lasts about an hour and includes a look at original furnishings, artwork, books, photographs, and other Roosevelt family belongings.
Pro Tip: While not as grand and imposing as Springwood, you might also enjoy Val-Kill Cottage , the nearby retreat that Eleanor Roosevelt called home, and Top Cottage in Poughkeepsie, the wooded retreat where the Roosevelts welcomed heads of state and other distinguished guests.
5. Vanderbilt Mansion
![tours of old mansions Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, New York, within the Hudson Valley.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Vanderbilt-Mansion-Photo-by-Sage-Scott-Sage-Scott.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Just a few miles up the river from Springwood, the Vanderbilts built a jaw-dropping 54-room, 44,000-square-foot beaux arts country house known as Hyde Park . The interior includes all of the finest finishing touches, from rich wood paneling to European marble.
The Hyde Park estate included greenhouses and a working farm that ensured the Vanderbilts had in-season produce, dairy and meat products, and fresh flowers when they spent time here. On the surrounding 200 scenic acres overlooking the Hudson River, the family enjoyed golf, lawn tennis, and carriage rides.
Since 1940, the National Park Service has managed the property, offering daily public tours.
Pro Tip: Be sure to read Anderson Cooper’s book Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty to learn about the fascinating (and often scandalous) events that took place inside this beautiful Upstate New York mansion.
6. Mills Mansion
![tours of old mansions Mills Mansion in Staatsburg, New York.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Mills-Mansion-Side-Photo-by-Sage-Scott-Sage-Scott.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
With its two-story front portico supported by eight massive Ionic columns, the Mills Mansion looks like a Greek temple, courthouse, or bank. It was originally a 25-room Greek revival mansion built in the 1830s. Ogden Mills and his wife, Ruth, expanded it into a French chateau-inspired, 65-room beaux arts mansion as the 20th century approached.
When you tour the impressive Gilded Age Mills Mansion, note that it includes all of its original furniture, including the long table and carved chairs in the dining room and all of the pieces in Ruth’s frilly, rose-colored bedroom. As you explore the colossal home sitting on more than 100 acres in this hamlet of Hyde Park, keep in mind that the couple owned four other homes and typically stayed in Staatsburg only from mid-September until Christmastime.
Pro Tip: If you plan on visiting several attractions operated by New York’s state park system, you may want to purchase an Empire Pass . Most sites charge an $8 to $10 admission fee, but for $80, you can purchase an annual pass that gives you access to all of the properties managed as state parks, including historic sites, forests, beaches, trails, and more.
7. Wilderstein
![tours of old mansions Wilderstein, a mansion in Rhinebeck, New York, within the Hudson Valley.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Wilderstein-from-Rear-Photo-by-Sage-Scott-Sage-Scott.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Wilderstein , a three-story Queen Anne mansion at the center of 40 wooded acres overlooking the Hudson River in Rhinebeck , was Daisy Suckley’s family home for 140 years. And while the rose-tinted Victorian mansion with hunter-green accents and its distinctive circular tower is certainly an impressive sight, so are the gorgeous grounds, where Calvert Vaux (one-half of the dynamic duo who designed New York City’s Central Park ) created an impressive network of carriage drives and walking trails rimmed with native flora and accented by wooden gazebos.
Explore the grounds and exterior of Wilderstein between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. year-round at no charge. Or dive deeper into the property’s history with a guided tour.
Fun Fact: A confidant to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Suckley also bred Scottish terriers, including the World War II leader’s beloved Fala .
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8. Clermont
![tours of old mansions The Clermont mansion in Germantown, New York.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/the-clermont-mansion-in-germadaf795.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Mike Virgintino / Shutterstock
Seven generations of the prominent Livingston family lived on the banks of the Hudson River in a home dating to pre-Revolutionary War times. The most notable member of the family was Robert R. Livingston . A member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, Livingston was the first chancellor of New York. And as the Empire State’s highest judge, he administered the oath of office to George Washington when he was sworn in as the nation’s first president in New York City in April of 1789.
Now part of New York’s state park system, the Clermont State Historic Site protects one of the oldest riverfront estates in the mid-valley region. Step inside the white house, with dormer windows and moons carved into its shutters, on a guided tour. Or explore the surrounding 500 acres, where you’ll be treated to amazing views of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains .
![tours of old mansions Olana in Hudson, New York. Frederic Church's home.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Olana-Photo-by-Sage-Scott-Sage-Scott.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Just across the Rip Van Winkle Bridge from his mentor’s home and studio, Hudson River School artist Frederic Church built his home, Olana , on a hill overlooking the Hudson River Valley. Working closely with architect Calvert Vaux, who once again left his mark on Upstate New York, Church created an impressive stone-and-brick home adorned with elaborate stencils blending Victorian and Persian architecture.
While many historic mansions in the valley were built as summer or vacation homes, Church and his wife, Isabel, raised their four children at Olana. As one should expect from an artist whose career was largely built around the beauty of the Hudson Valley , the home was designed to accentuate panoramic views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains.
The grounds of Olana are a public park, so the exterior of the home, views of the valley, and carriage roads are free to visit from 8 a.m. to sunset. A variety of tours of the grounds and historic home are available, including an electric carriage tour of the 250-acre grounds.
10. Schuyler Mansion
![tours of old mansions Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York.](https://i0.wp.com/travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Schuyler-Mansion-Photo-by-Sage-Scott-Sage-Scott.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Enjoying renewed fame thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s wildly successful Broadway musical, Hamilton , the childhood home of Eliza Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton’s wife, is the northernmost mansion I recommend visiting. Relatively modest — at least compared to a Gilded Age Vanderbilt or Rockefeller home — this two-story red-brick Georgian mansion is where Hamilton and Eliza wed in 1780.
Once part of an 80-acre farm overlooking the Hudson River, today the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site occupies just the northeastern corner of the block at Catherine and Clinton Streets. Take a guided tour to explore the beautifully maintained mansion and learn more about the Schuyler sisters — Eliza, Angelica, and Peggy.
11. Boscobel House and Gardens
The original Boscobel was built by wealthy Loyalist States Morris Dyckman in Crugers, NY in 1804. However, after being threatened by demolition due to neglect in the early decades of this century, this Federal-style mansion was dismantled, stored, and finally reassembled as a historic preservation 15 miles north of its original location.
With a majestic view toward West Point, the new location is maybe the best of any house on the Hudson. The well-appointed grounds include a lush rose garden with scores of different varieties. Apart from the Neoclassical mansion, which has a comprehensive collection of antiques and arts from the Federal period, this 68-acre historic site is also home to a woodland trail.
Exploring the house with a guide, and then enjoying a picnic in the gardens overlooking the Hudson River, makes for a great way to spend a day. Boscobel hosts various events and performances, including the prestigious Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival , which takes place on the front lawn of the estate each summer.
Pro Tip: Boscobel is open Fridays to Mondays from May through December.
What Is the Area Along Hudson Known For Besides Mansions?
It is the oldest continuous settlement in the nation and a national historic preservation site that has inspired painters, poets, essayists, and novelists for centuries. It is also home to the Forever Wild Catskill Park, the largest publicly protected area in the United States.
How Much Time Do I Need For a Tour of the Hudson Mansions?
A tour of the mansions can be made in a single day, but a weekend would be even better. You could plan a half dozen visits, with some pleasant dining and an overnight stay in one of the many accommodations in the area.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Hudson Mansions?
The best time to visit is in early October when the valley is most resplendent with its fall foliage. It is a glorious season and a splendid time to visit these historic sites along the Hudson.
What Are the Most Interesting Mansions Along the Hudson?
The most interesting mansions are those on the eastern shore, along a winding Route 9. The 18th‐century Sleepy Hollow Restorations in Westchester and three 19th‐century estates in the Hyde Park area are especially worth seeing.
Which Mansion in the Hudson Region Is Best for Walks and Picnics?
It depends on individual preferences, but from Vanderbilt estate one of the lanes leads to the river and access to walks and picnic areas along a waterway which is considered as one of the most beautiful and dramatic in the world.
Is it Free to Visit Hudson Valley Mansions?
The accessibility and admission fees for Hudson Valley mansions vary depending on the specific mansion you plan to visit. Some are privately owned and charge an admission fee, while others are open to the public for free or have specific areas that are free to access. We recommend that you check the individual websites or contact the mansions directly to get up-to-date information on admission fees and access policies.
![tours of old mansions Image of Sage Scott](https://www.travelawaits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3660daeac415d0511d54c740686ab3660da-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C150)
Bitten by the travel bug as a preschooler when her family moved abroad for the first time, Sage Scott is addicted to travel. From her nomadic upbringing in a military family to her personal and professional travels as an adult, Sage has visited all 50 states, lived abroad twice, and explored nearly 30 other countries.
Now settled in America’s Heartland, Sage writes with a midlife traveler’s perspective from Kansas City — the Midwestern cowtown affectionately called the Paris of the Plains and the undisputed Barbecue Capital of the World — and is always in search of new experiences whether in her hometown or halfway around the world.
![tours of old mansions Scenic States](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cropped-Scenic-States-Logo-Small.png)
20 of the Most Remarkable American Mansions
Mansions are indeed fascinating, especially to most of us who are outsiders to the opulent lifestyle they represent.
But more than wealth and luxury, each of these mansions have their own unique stories and secrets; sometimes mundane and sometimes scandalous.
If the mansions’ stories don’t fascinate you, their size, grandeur, and design would.
In today’s blog post, take a visual journey through the most historic, famous, and iconic American mansions.
Plantation Homes
A plantation complex is composed of different buildings and structures that are commonly found on agricultural plantations in the southern states from the 17th century into the 20th century.
Typically, a plantation complex has the main house, often called plantation home, a slave quarters and other residential structures, a kitchen yard, ancillary structures (such as offices, schoolhouses, or churches) and agricultural structures (such as storage barns, stables, or cotton presses).
Historically, plantations are a huge part of American history, particularly African-American history. Large numbers of African-Americans were held as slaves in these plantations while their white owners got rich off their labor.
Many plantation houses standing today feature antebellum architecture, which is a neoclassical architectural style characterized by huge pillars, a wide balcony, and big center entrances to multiple-story, box-like mansions.
Below are some of the most notable plantation homes in America.
1. Evergreen Plantation (Edgard, Louisiana)
The Evergreen Plantation is the most intact plantation complex in the South and one of the rare ones still operating as a sugarcane plantation.
The main house was built in 1790 and renovated in 1832 in the Greek Revival style with some Federal accents. Its most distinctive feature being the double staircase on the front of the house.
![tours of old mansions Evergreen Plantation](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/evergreen-plantation.jpg)
There’s also a double row of 22 slave cabins that have been maintained through the years and help tell the history of the African-Americans who were once enslaved here but were freed after the Civil War and continued to work in the plantation.
Though it’s a National Historic Landmark (the highest historical designation that can be bestowed on a place), the Evergreen Plantation is privately owned and fully functional, meaning people actually live and work in the grounds. However, the main house and the slave quarters are still available to tour.
Their tour touches on the family history of the owners, the architectural and historical significance of the buildings on the complex, the agricultural aspect of the plantation, and most importantly, the labor of the enslaved African-Americans that was crucial to operating such an enormous plantation.
Essential Information Address: 4677 LA-18, Edgard, LA | 985-497-3837 Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-11am; 11:15am-12:45pm; 1pm-2:30pm; 2:45pm-4:15pm Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Cost: $20 per head for adults; c Website: Evergreen Plantation Note: The plantation may be closed when there are no scheduled tours or for private events, so book in advance through their website or by calling.
2. Whitney Plantation (Garyville, Louisiana)
The Whitney Plantation Historic District is America’s first slavery museum and the only plantation museum in Louisiana to solely focus on the lives of enslaved people.
![tours of old mansions Whitney Plantation](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/whitney-plantation.jpg)
In 1990, John Cummings bought the plantation from a petrochemical company and spent millions of his own money and 14 years researching and developing the property into a museum and memorial dedicated to telling the tragic story of slavery in America from the eyes of the enslaved.
Working with famed historian Ibrahima Seck as the director of research, Cummings collected plenty of artifacts and research materials and formally opened the plantation to the public in December 2014.
Sixteen original structures remain on site. Visitors can view the French Creole-style Big House, two slave cabins, a steel jail, a Baptist church donated and moved from Paulina, Louisiana, and various memorials, including the Field of Angels, the Allées Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, and the Wall of Honor.
Essential Information Address: 5099 LA-18, Edgard, LA | 225-265-3300 Hours: Mon-Sun; first tour starts at 10am and the last tour starts at 3pm Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Cost: $25 per head for adults; discounts available for children, students, military, seniors, and locals of the same parish Website: Whitney Plantation
3. Oak Alley Plantation (Vacherie, Louisiana)
Oak Alley Plantation is named for the double row of southern live oaks creating an alley from the Mississippi River up to the main house.
![tours of old mansions Oak Alley Plantation](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/oak-alley-plantation.jpg)
The main mansion was finished in 1839, done in Greek Revival-style architecture, with a distinct colonnade of Doric columns all around the exterior. The mansion itself has a square floor plan.
The first owners, Jacques Roman acquired the property in 1836 and had the mansion built.
During this time, the most noted slave in the plantation named Antoine developed the “paper shell” pecan through grafting. It was even entered in the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia where it won a prize. It thus became known as the Centennial variety.
Unfortunately, the plantation where the pecan trees were cultivated washed away in a river break in the 1990s and none of the original Centennial pecans survived.
After Jacques Roman passed away, he left it to his wife Celina. She didn’t know how to manage a sugar plantation, though, and it ended up in auction. The subsequent owners could not afford the upkeep and the buildings fell into disrepair.
In 1925, Andrew Stewart bought the plantation as a gift to his wife, Josephine Armstrong Stewart. The Stewarts commissioned architect Richard Koch to supervise extensive restoration and modernization of the buildings.
When Josephine Stewart died in 1972, she willed the historic house and grounds to the Oak Alley Foundation. Their mission is to educate the public about the history of the sugarcane plantation, its owners, and its place in a bygone era characterized by wealth but marred by slavery.
Places that are available to tour are the Big House, a formal garden, the Slavery Exhibit, the Sugarcane Exhibit and Theatre, the Blacksmith Shop, and the Civil War Tent.
A restaurant and inn are also available on the grounds, in case you want to dine and stay overnight in the plantation.
Essential Information Address: 3645 LA-18, Vacherie, LA | 225-265-2151 Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-5pm Duration: 2 hours Cost: $25 per head for adults; discounts available for children, students, military, seniors, first responders, and teachers Website: Oak Alley Plantation
There are more plantations along LA-18, which we touch upon in our post about the best things to do in Louisiana .
4. Belle Grove Plantation (Shenandoah Valley, Virginia)
Belle Grove Plantation is known as the home of Major Isaac Hite, Jr. and as the headquarters of General Philip Sheridan during the Battle of Cedar Creek.
The history of the plantation dates back to when son Isaac Hite, Sr., the son of a German immigrant, bought 483 acres of land in the Shenandoah Valley, southwest of Middletown.
When his son Isaac Jr. got married to Nelly Conway Madison, President James Madison’s sister, Isaac Sr. gifted them the land. They developed the land into a grain and livestock plantation and had the Manor House built in 1797.
![tours of old mansions Manor House](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/manor-house.jpg)
The Manor House features a grand portico with columns, glass transoms that bring natural light into the rooms, and a T-shaped hallway, allowing for ventilation from all four sides. President Thomas Jefferson contributed these design ideas, which he had actually used for his own home constructed earlier.
After Isaac Jr. died, it was occupied several times during the war, the most notable of whom is General Sheridan, who lived here in 1864. Another succession of owners lived in the house until 1929, when Francis Welles Hunnewell bought the property.
Hunnewell had the Manor House and the surrounding buildings restored in the 1930s and 1940s. When he died in 1964, he bequeathed the house, the surrounding 100 acres of land, and $100,000 to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Today, it is part of the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove National Historical Park. The Manor House, the outbuildings, and the surrounding landscape are all available to tour since they were opened to the public in 1967.
Essential Information Address: 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA | 540-869-2028 Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm (last tour at 3:15pm), Sun 1pm-5pm (last tour at 4:15pm) Cost: $12 per head for adults; discounts available for children, students, military, and seniors Website: Belle Grove Plantation
5. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)
The Magnolia Plantation dates back to 1676, when Thomas and Ann Drayton built a house and a formal garden on the site. It grew and evolved through the years, but the plantation remains under the control of the Drayton family.
Magnolia began as a rice plantation but after the Civil War, its focus shifted to horticulture. In fact, it’s the oldest public garden, being open to visitors since 1870.
![tours of old mansions Magnolia Plantation](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/magnolia-plantation.jpg)
Today, the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is Charleston’s most visited plantation, offering tours of the plantation house, the expansive gardens, and an exhibit featuring African-American life in the plantation from their perspective.
Basic admission gets you access to the Historic Garden, Petting Zoo, The Conservatory, Orientation Theater, The Peacock Café, and the Gilliard Garden Center.
Additional guided tours are a separate cost each and include the Plantation House Tour, Nature Tram, Nature Boat, Audubon Swamp Garden, and Slavery to Freedom.
Essential Information Address: 3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC | 843-571-1266 Hours: Mon-Sun 9am–4pm Cost: Basic admission: $20 per head for adults; discounts available for children; Additional tour: $8 per additional tour per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
6. Belle Meade Plantation (Nashville, Tennessee)
Belle Meade Plantation is a historic plantation that operated as a cotton and livestock farm. It dates way back to 1807, when John Harding bought Dunham’s Station log cabin and developed it into a plantation.
He named it Belle Meade, which means “beautiful meadow” in French. He began breeding and racing horses in the plantation. His son William inherited the property in 1839 and expanded it to the neighboring property.
![tours of old mansions Belle Meade Plantation](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/belle-meade-plantation.jpg)
The main house was first built in the 1820s as a red brick Federal-style house. When William took over, he had the house altered in a Greek-Revival style and applied stucco to cover the red bricks.
A two-story veranda was created with six limestone pillars, the left wing was removed, and the right wing was raised two stories.
A dairy, carriage house, stable, and a mausoleum were added to the plantation complex by the turn of the 20th century.
During the Civil War, Harding had to cease his breeding and racing operations. Confederate General James Chalmers occupied Belle Meade as his headquarters during the Battle of Nashville, and after the Civil War, Harding resumed his horse farming operations.
Belle Meade had many successful thoroughbred studs. In fact, a few of their bloodlines remain and dominate modern horse racing.
In 1953, after the plantation has turned over a few owners, the mansion, eight outbuildings, and the 30 remaining acres of the plantation were purchased by the State of Tennessee to ensure their preservation.
Nowadays, you can tour the mansion, the grounds, and the outbuildings. They also offer a Journey to Jubilee tour that educates visitors about the first African-Americans brought to Belle Meade and highlights their importance to the success of the plantation.
After touring, you can go for a free wine tasting at the winery on the grounds. If you want a more extensive wine tasting, you can also sample more wines and pair them with food for an additional fee.
Essential Information Address: 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN | 615-356-0501 Hours: Mon-Sun 9am–5pm; last tour at 4pm Cost: Mansion-only tour: $24 per head for adults; discounts available for children and seniors; for other tours, see their list of tours Website: Belle Meade Plantation
7. Pebble Hill Plantation (Thomasville, Georgia)
Pebble Hill Plantation was built by Thomas Jefferson Johnson in 1825, first cultivating cotton, then rice. Upon his death, his daughter Julia Anne who managed the plantation with her husband John Mitchell.
In 1896, Melville Hanna acquired the property and eventually gave it to his daughter Kate in 1901, who then bequeathed the property to her daughter Elizabeth Ireland, known as Pansy.
She established and endowed the Pebble Hill Foundation in 1950 and willed that the entire estate be given to the foundation so it can be publicly opened as a museum and educate as many visitors as they can about life during that era.
![tours of old mansions Pebble Hill Plantation](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pebble-hill-plantation.jpg)
The main house was first built in 1850 by architect John Wind, who was commissioned by the Johnsons. Eventually, in 1934, when the plantation was owned by Kate Benedict Hanna, the main house burned down.
Hanna then commissioned architect Abram Garfield to rebuild the house and he made it into the Neo-Georgian, Greek Revival style mansion that we know today.
The H-shaped configuration was retained, but the entire house was rebuilt in masonry to make it fire-resistant. The columns on the exterior are reminiscent of the Greek Revival style, while the plaster molding is reminiscent of Beaux-Arts architecture.
Today, the main house and the grounds are open to the public for tours.
Essential Information Address: 1251 US Highway 319 S, Thomasville, GA | 229-226-2344 Hours: Tue–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 12pm–5pm; first tour starts at 10:30am, last tour starts at 4pm Cost: $16 per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: Pebble Hill Plantation
Gilded Age Mansions
The Gilded Age refers to the period between the Civil War and the turn of the twentieth century, when America experienced rapid economic growth.
The richest of the rich, such as the industrialists, bankers, and heirs to already-rich clans are the ones who most benefited from this economic growth, and they weren’t modest about it. They build lavish homes for themselves and vacation homes for the summer.
Gilded Age mansions usually feature European-inspired architecture and interiors, but what makes them uniquely American are the innovations that reflect the current technology at the time. These innovations include central heating, indoor plumbing, and showers.
The rich families also weren’t shy about displaying their wealth in their mansions; these would often have high ceilings, one or two sweeping staircases, marble floors, a separate reception room for receiving guests, and a huge ballroom, usually with crystal chandeliers and painted ceilings.
Here are some of the most famous Gilded Age mansions.
8. The Breakers (Newport, Rhode Island)
There’s no shortage of Gilded Age mansions in Newport, and The Breakers is the most popular of them all.
![tours of old mansions The Breakers](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/the-breakers-mansion.jpg)
Cornelius Vanderbilt II bought a wooden house called The Breakers and commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design a villa to replace the wooden-framed house. The result is an Italian Renaissance-style palazzo inspired by the 16th century palaces of Genoa and Turin.
Today, The Breakers is known to be the most lavish mansion in Newport and the signature symbol of the Gilded Age.
Essential Information Address: 44 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI | 401-847-1000 Hours: Vary depending on season; check this detailed, regularly updated calendar prior to your visit Cost: $26 per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: The Breakers
9. The Marble House (Newport, Rhode Island)
Marble House was built as a summer house (or “cottage,” as Newporters call them) and is largely credited as the summer house that begun the transformation of Newport from a sleepy town to a renowned district of stone mansions.
In short, it was the mansion that started it all.
![tours of old mansions Marble House](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/marble-house.jpg)
Another Vanderbilt commissioned this mansion, namely, William K. Vanderbilt, Cornelius II’s younger brother. It was a gift for his wife, Alva, in honor of her 39th birthday.
Architect Richard Morris Hunt also worked on this mansion. Inspired by the Petit Trianon at the Palace of Versailles, Marble House is one of the earliest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in America.
Its distinct façade features Corinthian pilasters that are two stories high, as well as arched windows and a monumental portico.
Essential Information Address: 596 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI | 401-847-1000 Hours: Vary depending on season; check this detailed, regularly updated calendar prior to your visit Cost: $18 per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: Marble House
10. Rosecliff (Newport, Rhode Island)
Rosecliff is named for the rose gardens along Cliff Walk that were planted by the original owner of the property, the historian, diplomat, and amateur horticulturist George Bancroft.
Theresa Fair Oelrichs, a silver heiress from Nevada, bought the Rosecliff property in 1891 and commissioned the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White to design a summer home suitable for throwing extravagant parties.
Stanford White, the principal architect, modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon in Versailles. This is evident in the open-air colonnade at the center, the paired Ionic columns, pilasters on the second story, and the roofline balustrade concealing the staff quarters on the third floor.
![tours of old mansions Rosecliff](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Rosecliffe-mansion.jpg)
The highlight of the mansion is the grand ballroom in the middle of the building. Measuring 40 feet by 80 feet, it was Newport’s largest ballroom where Theresa Fair Oelrichs threw the most memorable balls, securing her place as one of the greatest hostesses of Newport.
The magnificent ballroom has been featured in films such as True Lies and The Great Gatsby .
Essential Information Address: 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI | 401-847-1000 Hours: Vary depending on season; check this detailed, regularly updated calendar prior to your visit Cost: $18 per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: Rosecliff
Check out our article about Newport’s Gilded Age mansions to learn about more mansions you can tour in the area.
11. Lyndhurst (Tarrytown, New York)
First built in 1838, Lyndhurst was owned first by New York City mayor William Paulding, Jr. who hired architect Alexander Jackson Davis to design a mansion in the Gothic Revival style.
This architectural style is evident in the pointed roofs and windows, as well as the castle-like towers and parapets. At the time, this type of design wasn’t very common, and so critics called it Paulding’s Folly for a while.
![tours of old mansions Lyndhurst](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Lyndhurst.jpg)
It was then bought by George Merritt, who renamed it Lyndenhurst for the linden trees planted on the estate. He hired Davis again to double the size of the mansion.
Years after Merritt died, Jay Gould purchased Lyndenhurst as a summer home, shortened the name to Lyndhurst, and stayed there until he died in 1862. This is why Lyndhurst is also known as the Jay Gould estate.
Essential Information Address: 635 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY | 914-631-4481 Hours: Thu–Mon 10am–4pm Cost: Apr to Sep: $20 per head for adults; discounts available for children, seniors, military, and students; Oct to Dec: $24 per head for adults; discounts available for children, seniors, military, and students Website: Lyndhurst Mansion
12. Vizcaya Museum And Gardens (Miami, Florida)
Formerly known as Villa Vizcaya, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a sprawling estate developed to conserve the surrounding mangrove swamps and tropical forests.
![tours of old mansions Vizcaya museum](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Vizcaya-museum.jpg)
James Deering, a known conservationist, developed the property from 1914 to 1922. Architect F. Burrall Hoffman designed the estate in the Mediterranean Revival style, influenced by Tuscan Italian Renaissance and Baroque architecture.
When Deering died in 1925, his descendants sold off the surrounding parcels of land one by one. Presently, the main house, formal gardens, and the village are now owned by Miami-Dade county, including the art, antiques, and furnishings.
Today, you can tour the museum and the lovely gardens outside.
Essential Information Address: 3251 South Miami Ave., Miami FL | 305-250-9133 Hours: Wed-Mon 9:30am-4:30pm; Tue closed Cost: $22 per head for adults; discounts available for seniors, children, students, wheelchair users; Free for military with ID and children 5 and under Website: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
If you plan to spend a weekend in Miami to visit this mansion, try our Miami weekend itinerary .
13. Lynnewood Hall (Elkins Park, Pennsylvania)
Lynnewood Hall was built between 1897 and 1900 for Peter AB Widener, a well-known tycoon. Architect Horace Trumbauer designed this grand home for Widener and his children after he lost his wife.
Trumbauer designed the T-shaped mansion in the Neoclassical style of architecture, inspired by Prior Park in Bath, England, and Ballingarry in New Jersey.
The interiors were furnished with the most expensive materials: walnut and marble, silk and velvet, Persian rugs and Chinese pottery. Art by Raphael, Rembrandt, El Greco, and other notable artists adorned the walls.
Tragically, Peter Widener’s son George and grandson Harry lost their lives when the Titanic sank in 1912, followed by Peter Widener himself in 1915. Joseph, the only surviving son, took over the property and maintained the extensive art collection.
When Joseph Widener died in 1943, neither one of his children wanted to take on the responsibility of maintaining the mansion and the assets. It was abandoned until 1952, when a religious group bought it.
To raise funds, the religious group sold off the assets, such as the mantels, artwork, and even the landscape sculptures.
![tours of old mansions Lynnewood Hall](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Lynnewood-Hall.jpg)
Subsequent property tax troubles with the next owners of the mansion resulted in the mansion to be in the market since 2014. At 70,000 square feet, it is the largest surviving Gilded Age mansion in the Philadelphia area, and currently the largest home for sale in the United States.
So if you have an extra $11 million lying around (and an extra $100,000 a year for taxes), you can buy this mansion and have a piece of history, albeit a tragic one.
Essential Information Address: 900-934 Spring Ave, Elkins Park, PA
Biggest Mansions
Megamansions never cease to amaze and intrigue us. Here are the biggest American mansions to date.
14. Biltmore Estate (Asheville, North Carolina)
At 178,000 square feet, the Biltmore Estate is the largest privately-owned home in the United States.
![tours of old mansions Biltmore Estate](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/biltmore.jpg)
Technically a Gilded Age mansion, architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the Biltmore House Châteauesque-style, reminiscent of the French chateaus in the 16th century.
This is evident in the steep roofs, towers or turrets with conical roofs, the metal cresting on roof ridges, and the arched windows and doors.
George Washington Vanderbilt II and his wife Edith lived in their luxurious family home until his death in 1914. The massive estate remains under the control of the Vanderbilt’s descendants, with The Biltmore Company as the registered owner and family members serving as board members.
Presently, three floors of the Biltmore House, the surrounding gardens, and the winery are available to tour. You can choose among a variety of tours that take you to different parts of the house and the grounds, as well as self-guided, guided, or private tours.
Also, there are various outdoor activities you can do, such as hiking, biking, carriage rides, sporting clays, fly fishing, river rafting, horseback riding, and falconry. Kids can learn about farm animals or simply play on the huge playgrounds.
If you’re feeling tired from the tour, you might want to try out their luxurious spa treatments or even stay overnight in the Village Hotel, The Inn, or Cottage.
Essential Information Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC | 800-411-3812 Hours: Mon–Sun 9am–5pm Cost: Varies depending on the tours or activities you want to do; check out their list of available tours and activities Website: Biltmore
Planning a trip to Asheville, or planning to stop there for a night while on a road trip? Check out our article on what you can do with one day in Asheville .
15. Oheka Castle (West Hills, New York)
Oheka Castle is a Gilded Age, Châteauesque-style mansion that’s now a luxury hotel.
In 1914, financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn commissioned the architectural firm Delano & Aldrich to design a country home, specifically asking for the structure to be fireproof, as he lost his previous home in a fire some time ago.
The castle was completed in 1919 and from then on has been the second-largest private residence in America. Oheka Castle is named for the first syllables of O tto He rmann Ka hn’s name.
![tours of old mansions Oheka Castle](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Oheka-Castle.jpg)
French influences are seen all over the house, from the steep roofs to the arched windows and doors. The grand staircase leading to the second floor was inspired by the Chateau de Fountainbleu in Paris, France.
The mansion sits atop the highest point in Cold Spring Harbor, providing residents a breathtaking view of Cold Spring Harbor and Cold Spring Hills.
The grounds were designed by the Olmsted Brothers and included a formal sunken garden, an 18-hole golf course, a greenhouse complex, tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, orchards, stables, and even a landing strip.
After Kahn’s death in 1934, ownership of the estate turned over a few times before finally being bought by Gary Melius, who renovated the house and restored the gardens using the original plans by the Olmsted brothers.
Today, after the $40 million restoration project, Oheka Castle is now a luxury hotel, conference center, and a weddings and events venue. It’s also been the filming location for plenty of music videos, movies, and TV specials.
They offer a guided Historic Mansion Tour that offers limited access to the estate and gardens, followed by coffee, tea, and cookies.
Essential Information Address: 135 W Gate Dr, Huntington, NY | 631-659-1400 Hours: Mon-Su, 11am-12pm Cost: Historic Mansion Tour: $25 per head for adults; discounts available for children, students, seniors, and hotel guests Website: Oheka Castle
16. Arden House (Harriman, New York)
Arden House is a sprawling estate known as America’s first conference center.
It’s unique among the other Gilded Age mansions in that it’s an entirely American mansion—the carved wood, paintings, tapestries, marbles, stone, granite, and sculptures were all sourced from, and made, in the United States.
![tours of old mansions Arden House](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/arden-house.jpg)
The Arden estate was first owned by Peter Pearse Parrott and was named after his wife, Mary Antoinette Arden. Edward Henry Harriman bought the property in 1886. Over the next several years, he bought up forty different parcels of land in the area, and increased the land area of his estate to 28,000 acres.
Harriman commissioned Carrère and Hastings to design what is now Arden House. Construction began in 1905 and was finished in 1909. Sadly, Harriman only lived in it for a few months before he died.
The house had a ton of rooms, including a grand ballroom, a library, a large formal dining room, a bar, as well as numerous bathrooms and bedrooms. The most elaborate and the most preserved of the rooms is the music room styled in Gothic-style architecture.
The Harriman family lived in the estate until 1933, after which they allowed the US Navy to use the Arden House as a convalescent hospital during the Second World War.
In 1950, the Harriman family donated the property to Columbia University, who used it as the “home of The American Assembly,” making it America’s first conference center.
Subsequent owners turned it into a public space, with the intent of eventually selling it to the State of New York, but the plan never materialized.
It is currently owned by the Research Center on Natural Conservation, a Chinese-backed nonprofit organization, who turned the mansion back into a conference center, just as it once was.
Essential Information Address: Harriman, NY Website: Arden House
Strange And Unusual Mansions
From creepy mansions with paranormal backstories to mansions that can withstand hurricanes, here are some of the most curious and odd American mansions.
17. Winchester Mystery House (San Jose, California)
In case you’re wondering, yes, this house belonged to a member of the Winchesters of firearms fame.
William Wirt Winchester was the treasurer of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. He was married to Sarah Winchester. They had an infant daughter who tragically died of marasmus, and William himself died of tuberculosis in 1881.
Legend has it that a Boston psychic convinced Sarah that her family was being haunted by ghosts of those who were killed by Winchester rifles.
The same psychic told her that the only way to appease these spirits is to move out of her home in New Haven, Connecticut, move west to California, and continuously build a home for herself and the spirits.
Sarah followed the psychic’s advice and bought a small eight-room farmhouse in San Jose, California.
After her husband’s death, Sarah Winchester inherited more than $20 million plus an almost 50% ownership of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, giving her an income of around $1,000 per day. This fortune kept the construction and renovation of her mansion going until her death in 1922.
![tours of old mansions Winchester Mystery House](https://scenicstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Winchester-Mystery-House.jpg)
By the time she was done, the Winchester was a modern marvel with indoor plumbing, hot showers, elevators, and central heating. From 8 rooms, she expanded the house to have 160 rooms, 40 bedrooms, and 2 basements.
More unusually, the mansion contained doors that lead nowhere, staircases that lead straight to ceilings, a Tiffany glass window in a wall where it’ll get no light, and numerous secret passages. A recurring theme in the house is the number 13 and spider web motifs.
After Sarah’s death, the house was auctioned off and then leased by John and Mayme Brown, who then bought the property for themselves after 10 years. They opened the house to the public in 1923, with Mayme Brown serving as the property’s first tour guide.
Today, the Winchester Mansion is owned by Winchester Investments LLC, a company representing the interests of the Browns’ descendants.
The story of Sarah Winchester and her eccentric house has intrigued millions of visitors all over the world, making the house one of the most popular American mansions to visit. Guided tours are available to see more than a hundred rooms in the house.
Essential Information Address: 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA | 408-247-2000 Hours: Mon-Sun open 9am; closing hours vary Cost: Varies depending on the tour you want to do; check out their list of their daily and seasonal tours Website: The Winchester Mystery House
18. Acqua Liana (Manalapan Beach, Florida)
Known as the largest, most opulent certified green mansion, Acqua Liana is a 15,000-square-foot mansion on 16 acres of oceanfront property in Manalapan, Florida, close to Palm Beach.
Designed by renowned real state artist Frank McKinney, Acqua Liana features waterfalls, water walls, water gardens, and water floors. A double helix glass staircase, a movie theater, and a 2,000 gallon aquarium bar are just some of the luxurious features of the mansion.
For all its unique features and enormous size, the mansion is certified “green” by three organizations: the US Green Building Council, the Florida Green Building Coalition and Energy Star for Homes. This makes this mansion the first ultra-luxury home to earn a triple certification.
The house was sold for $22.9 million a few years ago, but a brochure and a video tour are still available to provide a glimpse into this environment-friendly mansion.
Essential Information Address: 620 South Ocean Boulevard, Manalapan Beach, FL Website: Acqua Liana
19. Caveland (Festus, Missouri)
What is now known as Caveland started out as a mine on the side of a hill in the 1800s to the early 1900s and was converted into a roller skating rink and concert venue in 1958 by Sue Morris.
The venue closed in 1985 and was bought by the Sleeper family in 2003 from eBay, of all places.
They converted it into their family home, constructing a two-level, 5,000-square-foot house inside. The front chamber contains the living areas, the middle chamber has the laundry room and storage, and the back chamber still has the stage where performers entertained the roller skaters.
The house also features thirty-foot ceilings, large windows on the front to let in as much natural light as possible, and an indoor natural groundwater spring pool.
Its temperature is regulated naturally; no furnace or air conditioning was ever installed.
You can see photos of the construction and of the family on their official gallery .
It’s now listed for sale ; the Sleeper family is ready to downsize.
Essential Information Address: 215 Cave Dr, Festus, Missouri Website: Caveland
20. Eye of the Storm (Charleston, South Carolina)
The “Eye of the Storm” on Sullivan’s Island in Charleston is 230 feet from the beach, with a design that’s quite different from the other houses in Charleston.
Built in 1992, this dome-shaped house is energy-efficient and hurricane-proof. George Paul designed the house for his parents after they lost their house to a hurricane in 1989.
The side of the shell that faces the beach features large windows that provides a view of the beach and a maritime forest.
The dome and the interior design are inspired by the curves of seashells. It has 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, an elevator, a wet bar, a skylight, an 889-square-foot deck, and even a bank vault room.
It was renovated in 2018 and put up for sale for $5 million. You can view the photos of the mansion as well as the surrounding areas in their website.
Essential Information Address: 2851 Marshall Blvd, Sullivan’s Island, Charleston, SC Website: Eye of the Storm
Visit one of these American mansions soon!
Plan your next trip to gawk and tour one of these mansions! Or better yet, save up a few hundred thousand dollars and live in one.
Which of these American mansions intrigued you? Know of any mansions that we skipped? Tell us in the comments!
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Chicago’s greatest remaining Gilded Age mansions
Remnants of the indulgent bygone era exist throughout the city—if you know where to look
The Gilded Age might seem like a distant memory, but not all of the mansions constructed by the city’s well-heeled social elite between the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the early 20th Century met the indignity of a wrecking ball.
Today, many impressive residences designed by architectural greats like H.H. Richardson, George Maher, Henry Ives Cobb, and Richard E. Schmidt still stand. Some look backward in their designs, evoking the grandeur of an idealized Europe in Chateauesque and Baroque styles. Others embraced newly emerging architectural trends of the time such as the Arts & Crafts and Prairie School movements.
Though a number of these historic mansions have been adapted and reused as hotels, offices, museums, or condos, some still serve their original purpose by sheltering a single family. Here are 19 of the most significant examples of Gilded Age mansions still standing in Chicago today.
Glessner House
Designed in 1886 for an executive of International Harvester by the famed H.H. Richardson, the Glessner House is a rare survivor along South Prairie Avenue, once the most fashionable address in the city. Now a museum, the house has many of the original furnishings from the family who built it. In order to retain the integrity of Richardson's design, the museum purchased a brick wall of the neighboring building before its demolition to preserve its sheltered courtyard.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marla (@mjmno1) on Jun 5, 2019 at 12:52pm PDT
Cable House
Designed by Cobb & Frost in 1886 for the president of the Rock Island & Pacific Railway, the Cable House is one of only a few houses that remain in the area which once housed many of the city's greatest mansions —now dominated by skyscrapers. It was purchased in 1902 by Robert McCormick to become his son's residence. Today, it is the headquarters of Driehaus Capital Management, owned by Richard Driehaus, the noted preservationist and philanthropist.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by alexis ♀️tisbo (@lexi_tisbo) on Mar 4, 2019 at 8:03am PST
McGill House
Designed by Henry Ives Cobb in 1891 for physician and entrepreneur John McGill (an heir to a Canadian-built fur-trading fortune), this Chateauesque mansion has long been a landmark along Drexel Boulevard in Bronzeville. The grand home later went on to become a 34-unit condo development known as McGill Parc.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alejandro Trujillo (@the_alejandrotrujillo) on Jul 20, 2017 at 1:49pm PDT
Dewes House
Among the most impressive mansions that remain in Lincoln Park is the one built in 1896 by architects Adolph Cudell and Arthur Hercz for brewer and millionaire Francis J. Dewes. The style is officially listed as German Baroque and is a prime example of the eclectic, internationally-inspired tastes that dominated Chicago after the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition. The home stands next door to the smaller but equally attractive August Dewes mansion.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Houses of Chicago (@housesofchicago) on Nov 8, 2015 at 7:17am PST
Wood-Maxey-Boyd House
John C. Cochrane, designer of the Illinois State Capitol building, constructed this house in the Douglas area for lumberman George Wood in 1885. The Queen Anne style mansion was purchased in 1948 by Charles Boyde and Dr. Alva Maxey-Boyd and became a center of culture on the South Side. Maxey-Boyd sold the house to a doctor from New York for $450,000 in 2011.
![tours of old mansions The exterior of the Wood Maxey Body House in Chicago. The facade is red brick and there is green ivy on some of the walls.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cwz5jalkWVAAjL3se7_f6MI-u0M=/0x0:5497x4912/1200x900/filters:focal(2310x2017:3188x2895):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63206176/GettyImages_477938605.0.jpg)
Nickerson House
Architect Edward Burling built the house in 1883 for Samuel Nickerson, founder of the First National Bank of Chicago. Known as the “marble palace” for its ornate stone interior, the property has since been restored and now operates as the Driehaus Museum , conveniently located directly across the street from the Cable House.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christopher Blaise (@cblaiserun) on Feb 11, 2020 at 7:46am PST
Archbishop’s Residence
This imposing mansion and accompanying coach house occupying a large tree-lined lot along State Parkway was built in 1885 under the supervision of Patrick A. Feehan, the first Archbishop of Chicago. Architect James R. Willett, who served as a Union Army engineer in the American Civil War, designed the ecclesiastical residence with an ornate brick and stone exterior topped with turrets, dormers, and 19 chimneys. The residence hosted famous guests like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Pope John Paul II. Tucked away behind the property, you’ll find one of Chicago’s two surviving woodblock alleyways . Restored in 2011, this type of paving was once common throughout the city, but understandably fell out of favor following the Great Chicago Fire.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chicago - Devon Neff (@devodare_chicago) on Jun 3, 2017 at 4:01am PDT
Patterson-McCormick Mansion
Located at the corner of Astor and Burton streets, the Gold Coast landmark was originally built in 1891 by architect Stanford White for former Chicago mayor and Chicago Tribune founder Joseph Medill, who gifted the home to his daughter Eleanor “Cissy” Patterson. Businessman Cyrus Hall McCormick, Jr. later purchased the property and hired David Adler to expand it. After serving as a private school, the historic mansion was converted into condos in 1978. Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan owned a unit in the building between 2002 and 2013.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shelley Warkentin (@shelley_warkentin) on Apr 1, 2017 at 10:50am PDT
Pate-Comiskey House
Famous Prairie School Architect George Maher designed this house in Washington Park for lumberman Davey Pate in 1901. It stands out for its combination of traditional and contemporary elements. It would later be purchased and occupied by Charles Comiskey of Chicago White Sox fame.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Steve (@marquisdefacade) on Feb 6, 2016 at 6:06pm PST
Raber House
Built in 1870 for prominent businessman, developer, and politician John Raber, this rare pre-fire Italianate house in Englewood was more famous for its vast grounds than the actual building. Its six-acre gardens were once so elaborate and extensive that its original address was on State Street. It has languished for several years and is need of a rehab.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adam Lucarelli (@adamlucarelli) on Feb 21, 2018 at 6:47pm PST
Kent-Gates House
This South Side mansion was built in 1883 by Burnham & Root for Sidney Kent, founder of the Chicago Union Stockyards. It was later home to John "bet-a-million" Gates, who built a fortune in barbed wire and gambled extensively on the stock market. During his time there, it was known as a center of lavish parties for the city's elite. The Kent-Gates House was later converted to apartments and then to condos.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Steve (@marquisdefacade) on Feb 15, 2016 at 5:55pm PST
Colvin House
The landmark Colvin House, designed by George Maher in 1909, is one of the last Gilded Age mansions embodying the wealth of the elite living on the city's far North Side. Following an extensive restoration, the Edgewater property reopened in 2017 as an event and co-working space .
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Colvin House (@colvinevents) on Mar 7, 2019 at 5:53am PST
Madlener House
Built in 1902 by Schmidt & Garden for Albert Madlener, son of a prominent liquor distributor, this Gold Coast residence combines elements of the Chicago and Prairie schools of architecture. It was purchased in 1963 by the educational institution the Graham Foundation and hosts art and design-focused exhibits and programming.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by FRONT International (@fronttriennial) on Mar 23, 2018 at 2:06pm PDT
Theurer-Wrigley House
This 15,000-square-foot north side house was designed by Prairie School architect Richard E. Schmidt for German brewer Joseph Theurer in 1896. It was bought in 1911 by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. The mansion has gone on and off the market in recent years and ultimately sold from foreclosure for $4.65 million —roughly one half of the $9 million figure paid by its previous owner.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ryan Preuett (@ryanpreuett) on Dec 11, 2017 at 1:49pm PST
Wheeler-Kohn House
This Near South Side house, built for banker Calvin Wheeler in the popular Second Empire style in 1870, is a survivor of the Great Chicago Fire and one of the last still standing along Calumet Avenue. It's second owner, clothier Joseph Kohn, updated it by adding a two-story window bay to the front and the elaborate canopy porch. It was threatened with demolition for a parking lot in 1997 before being purchased and converted to a boutique hotel.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Linda Nguyen (@lindaalouuuu) on Nov 6, 2016 at 6:01pm PST
Harriet F. Rees House
The Harriet F. Rees House stands at 2017 S. Prairie Avenue, but that wasn’t always the case. When Cobb & Frost designed the mansion for the widow of real estate developer James H. Rees in 1888, the limestone-clad Romanesque Revival residence was 600 feet away at 2110 S. Prairie Avenue. The landmark home moved in 2014 to make way for a new hotel and arena at the neighboring McCormick Place convention center. Crews used remote-controlled hydraulic dollies with a combined 232 wheels to transfer the 762-ton building—which is believed to be the heaviest residential structure to be moved in the nation’s history.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chicago - Devon Neff (@devodare_chicago) on Nov 12, 2014 at 5:21pm PST
Marshall Field Jr. Mansion
Solon Spencer Beman designed the Near South Side mansion at 1919 S. Prairie Avenue in 1884. Department store magnate Marshall Field—who was living at 1905 S. Prairie Avenue—purchased the property in 1890 for his son, Marshall Field Jr, and hired architect Daniel Burnham to expand the house to an impressive 30,000 square feet. The South Side structure later served time as a psychiatric hospital before it was restored and partitioned into six luxury condominiums in 2007.
![tours of old mansions](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TX4i_SoGgx77odN9N17DLipXPY0=/0x0:700x465/1200x900/filters:focal(294x177:406x289):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66310465/Marshall_Field_Jr_mansion.0.jpg)
William W. Kimball House
Solon Spencer Beman also created this well-preserved home at 1801 S. Prairie Avenue in the Chateauesque style with a limestone exterior adorned with Baroque-inspired ornamentation. Constructed between 1890 and 1892 for wealthy piano manufacturer William Wallace Kimball, the property is currently owned by the U. S. Soccer Federation. The organization uses the former mansion as office space.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by T McDonald Photography (@tmcd.chi) on Mar 2, 2019 at 4:46pm PST
John Henry Raap House
This impressive Wicker Park home is one of the largest historic homes that comprise Chicago Beer Baron’s Row landmark district. Built in the 1880s for liquor merchant John Henry Raap , the stately red brick structure features a Second Empire exterior with a mansard roofline and a sizeable turret. The Raap mansion served as a rooming house during the Great Depression and was later converted back into a single-family home that blended the historic architecture and modern luxuries. The property hit the market in 2018 for $6.49 million, reported Crain’s at the time. The home was briefly offered as a $15,000 per month rental before getting yanked off the market.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anthony Alfaro (@bbkohmy) on Aug 26, 2018 at 5:30pm PDT
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O p e n D a i l y ›
The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff and Green Animals Topiary Garden. Download the audio tour app and bring your earbuds!
L a s t w e e k e n d t o s e e H u n t e r H o u s e ›
Guide-led tours, limited availability. Click "Hunter House" above for schedule.
N e w E x h i b i t i o n O p e n a t R o s e c l i f f ›
Explore the animal world in the Gilded Age. Included with regular admission.
T h e G r e a t E l e p h a n t M i g r a t i o n i s H e r e ! ›
See 26 life-size sculptures with an environmental message at The Breakers. Through September 2. Ticket or membership required.
N e w p o r t M a n s i o n s W i n e & F o o d F e s t i v a l ›
With special guest Chef Jacques Pépin! Connoisseurs’ and Vintner Dinners, Sunday Jazz Brunch, 18 food & beverage seminars and more. Tickets nearly sold out.
The Newport Mansions offer a unique trip through 250 years of American history, architecture, art and landscape design.
Plan a visit.
Open Mansions & Gardens for
The Breakers
Marble house, chateau-sur-mer, green animals topiary garden, hunter house, isaac bell house, the breakers stable & carriage house, things to do, mid-autumn festival 2024.
Celebrate a 3,000-year-old Chinese tradition with kids' activities, a tea ceremony and Mooncakes in the Chinese Tea House.
Beneath The Breakers Tour
Below The Breakers was a marvel of Gilded Age technology. Through a guide-led tour, see the boiler room, tunnel and basement, and learn how daily life was transformed by new wonders. Advance ticket purchase suggested.
The Breakers Third Floor Preservation in Progress Tour
For the first time in the 129-year history of The Breakers, the private third-floor family space occupied by generations of Vanderbilts is open for public tours.
The Breakers Family Tour
A dragon in the dining room and a dolphin under the stairs – this tour will introduce children to this Gilded Age mansion from a unique and fun perspective. Included with regular admission.
Servant Life Tour
Learn about the men and women who serviced the social whirl of Gilded Age Newport and see the places where they worked.
Ways to Visit
Purchase tickets, choose from our many ticket packages for adults & children..
Admission tickets can be purchased online or in person at the property. Multiple-house tickets are available at a discount price, and allow you to tour the houses on different days. Our house tour tickets never expire.
Become a member
Receive free admission all year long..
Enjoy unlimited admission; discounts in the Newport Mansions Stores; free or discounted admission for lectures, special events and children's activities, and much more.
A visit to the Newport Mansions is a donation to The Preservation Society of Newport County.
The price of your tickets and memberships goes directly to the preservation & restoration of the mansions & gardens.
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Our mission is to protect, preserve and present an exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes in one of the most historically intact cities in America.
Your purchases and donations support the Preservation Society's work to conserve these historic places for today's visitors and for future generations.
Partners in Preservation
Additional Visitor Info
Map & parking info.
Parking is free onsite at all properties except for Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, where street parking is available.
Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Mansions & Gardens
Explore the 11 properties under the stewardship of the Preservation Society and open as historic house museums.
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This Is My South
A travel guide to the Southern USA
The South’s 5 Most Stunning Mansions (That You Can Tour!)
June 12, 2013 By Caroline Eubanks Leave a Comment
There was a time when the robber barons and oil tycoons from the North would own a second home down South to spend half of the year. It was America’s Gilded Age and the homes have the opulence to match the time period.
The land was plenty and the weather was mild for these “snowbirds,” who created lavish summer getaways in the region. Since that time, everyone from presidents to celebrities to rock stars has settled here.
We’re not talking about plantations , but these lavish residences are in a league all their own. Since most of these homes are still privately owned, photos are not allowed inside, unless otherwise specified.
Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
![tours of old mansions Biltmore Estate](https://photos.smugmug.com/Asheville/i-nxtcTz9/0/16e98b58/XL/IMG_0788-XL.jpg)
Built in 1889 by George Washington Vanderbilt II, the 250-room estate has become one of North Carolina’s most visited tourist attractions, complete with ahead-of-its-time features like an indoor swimming pool and bowling alley. The gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame.
Biltmore Estate in Asheville holds the title of the largest home in America. It’s also been used as a filming location for movies like Richie Rich and Forrest Gump . The attraction now boasts multiple hotels, restaurants, a winery, and traveling exhibits like the costumes of Downton Abbey . Book your Biltmore Estate and Wine Tasting from Charlotte before you go.
Hay House, Macon, Georgia
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://photos.smugmug.com/Blog/i-QhbSWdN/0/1e805f65/XL/IMG_4772-XL.jpg)
Featured on the A&E show “America’s Castles,” Macon ‘s Hay House is even more stunning on the inside than on the outside. Built in 1855 in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, the 18,000 square-foot mansion has custom-made sliding doors, glasswork, and a unique cupola. The family lived here until 1962, at which point the Georgia Trust Foundation took over.
The Swan House, Atlanta, Georgia
![tours of old mansions Swan House](https://photos.smugmug.com/October-2020/i-qWdWRfT/0/2c0eb1e8/XL/IMG_4357-XL.jpg)
The Swan House is one of Atlanta ‘s most recognizable landmarks, not to mention a popular spot for weddings. The Inman family, heirs to a cotton fortune, called it home in the 1920s and 30s. There’s even a popular book series based around the home. It was also featured in The Hunger Games film series.
As a part of the Atlanta History Center , you can see the many rooms of the home as well as the gardens. A ticket for the Atlanta History Center allows you to tour the museum, the Swan House, the Smith Family Farm, and the Margaret Mitchell House . Visit on the Atlanta Historical Homes Tour .
Villa Vizcaya, Miami, Florida
![tours of old mansions Villa Vizcaya](https://photos.smugmug.com/2012-2013/i-hnMwxgb/0/cfdb9962/XL/IMG_6902-XL.jpg)
James Deering, vice president of International Harvester, chose this location outside of Miami for his dream home. Built from 1910 to 1922, the construction of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens employed most of the area’s residents at that time.
It was built and decorated to resemble an old Italian villa. The gardens, which once consisted of 180 acres, are still the highlight of any visit to the mansion. The home also offers views of Biscayne Bay. Book your Transportation to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens before you go.
Ca d’Zan, Sarasota, Florida
![tours of old mansions Ca d'Zan](https://photos.smugmug.com/Blog/i-vzCTDjW/0/185ab66d/XL/IMG_5054-XL.jpg)
Ca d’Zan in Sarasota , Florida was the home of John Ringling of circus fame. The elaborate 56-room Venetian-style mansion was built right on the water and was designed by Dwight James Baum. The five-story, 41 room, 36,000 square foot mansion was filled with luxurious furnishings and art.
Today you can tour the mansion and see for yourself the decor that the family would have picked out when they lived here. Go for a guided tour or a self-guided tour, which run on the hour. It’s included in the Ringling Museums ticket price.
![tours of old mansions tours of old mansions](https://www.thisismysouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Southern-Mansions-683x1024.jpg)
About Caroline Eubanks
Caroline Eubanks is the editor of this website, a Lowell Thomas award-winning travel writer, and the author of This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States. Her stories from the South have appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Afar, Thrillist, Roads and Kingdoms, and BBC Travel.
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11 Incredible Historical Homes You Should Visit in Kentucky
We're celebrating the Bluegrass State by taking a tour of its most fascinating and beautiful historical architecture.
![Window, Property, House, Real estate, Building, Residential area, Home, Land lot, Door, Roof, Window, Property, House, Real estate, Building, Residential area, Home, Land lot, Door, Roof,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/2560x1702/gallery-1462416797-ashland.jpg?resize=640:*)
From the home that inspired one of the most popular songs in American history to the home that helped put the Bourbon Trail on the map, Kentucky's fascinating historical architecture doesn't disappoint. Here are 11 homes you should definitely see while visiting the Bluegrass State.
My Old Kentucky Home
![Branch, Window, Property, Tree, Building, Facade, Land lot, Real estate, Lawn, Manor house, Branch, Window, Property, Tree, Building, Facade, Land lot, Real estate, Lawn, Manor house,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/2560x1695/gallery-1462417132-final.jpg?resize=980:*)
John Rowan, the original owner of this Federal-style mansion in Bardstown, served many important roles over the course of his lifetime: as Kentucky's Secretary of State, as a member of the state's House of Representatives, and as a U.S. Senator, to name just a few. He also happened to be related to renowned composer Stephen Collins Foster, who wrote an anti-slavery ballad entitled "Poor Uncle Tom, Goodnight," based in part on his memories visiting Federal Hill (the home's official name). The title of the song was later changed to "My Old Kentucky Home."
Foster's ballad is widely considered to be one of the most influential songs in American culture. Today, it is estimated that there are over 2,500 published versions of the song.
Federal Hill is now part of My Old Kentucky Home State Park and is open to the public daily, complete with singing guides on select tours.
![Property, Tree, House, Building, Real estate, Home, Facade, Villa, Residential area, Door, Property, Tree, House, Building, Real estate, Home, Facade, Villa, Residential area, Door,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/1600x1180/gallery-1462417260-image3-1.jpg?resize=980:*)
One of the nation's finest examples of Greek Revival architecture can be found situated on 40 picturesque acres in the town of Georgetown. Completed in 1857, Ward Hall has garnered attention from architecture buffs for its exceptional level of intactness (even the basement retains its original servants working and sleeping rooms). Measuring more than 12,000 square feet, the home boasts 27-foot high Corinthian columns and majestic 20-foot wide front steps. It was built as a summer home for Junius and Matilda Ward, whose families held great political and economic influence in the area.
Ward Hall is operated by The Ward Hall Preservation Foundation , which raised over $1,000,000 to purchase the home in 2004 and continues its fundraising efforts to restore and maintain this remarkable piece of history. The home is open to the public on select weekends, and other times by appointment.
Jesse R. Zeigler House
![Plant, Property, Neighbourhood, Residential area, House, Real estate, Land lot, Building, Home, Stairs, Plant, Property, Neighbourhood, Residential area, House, Real estate, Land lot, Building, Home, Stairs,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/2048x1441/gallery-1462417406-jesse-r-zeigler-house.jpeg?resize=980:*)
When one thinks of Kentucky, Frank Lloyd Wright rarely comes to mind. But the acclaimed architect did design one home here during his lifetime, and it's worth a look-see if driving through Frankfort, even if only from the street (No peeking inside; this one's privately owned). Reverend Zeigler met Wright by chance during a trip to Europe, and commissioned the architect to design the home for him and his family. Constructed in 1910, the Zeigler home displays classic elements of the Wright style, including bold horizontal lines and striking leaded art glass windows.
Loretta Lynn's Birthplace
![Wood, House, Property, Roof, Land lot, Rural area, Home, Real estate, Porch, Log cabin, Wood, House, Property, Roof, Land lot, Rural area, Home, Real estate, Porch, Log cabin,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/1600x1066/gallery-1462417570-loretta-lynn-homeplace.jpg?resize=980:*)
In the song "Coal Miner's Daughter," country music legend Loretta Lynn croons, "Well, I was born a coal miner's daughter in a cabin on a hill in Butcher Holler..." Loretta's modest childhood home still exists today in Butcher Holler (part of the mining community of Van Lear) and it's a far cry from the opulent Tennessee mansion she purchased after rising to stardom. To get there, you'll have to drive 2 miles past Webb's Grocery; proprietor Herman Webb, who conducts tours of the home, is Loretta's brother.
Loudoun House
If castellated Gothic Revival villas are your Achilles heel, make your way to the Lexington Art League , housed in the circa 1850 Loudoun House. The speculator mansion was built by one of American history's most prominent architects, Andrew Jackson Davis, for the cousin of Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the national anthem. The Loudoun House Gallery is open for tours at select times during the week.
All of Old Louisville
![Plant, Property, Building, Real estate, Bench, Manor house, Mansion, Lawn, Door, Turret, Plant, Property, Building, Real estate, Bench, Manor house, Mansion, Lawn, Door, Turret,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/1600x1195/gallery-1462448885-conrad-historic-home-old-louisville-ky.jpg?resize=980:*)
If you're a fan of towers, turrets and pink palaces , you'll feel like a kid in a candy store while meandering through Old Louisville, which contains the third largest national historic district in the United States and the largest one comprised primarily of Victorian architecture. It's not technically the oldest part of Louisville (it was actually an early suburb) but it's arguably the city's most colorful district—featuring an array of whimsical mansions and townhouses comprising over 45 blocks, including the spectacular Richardsonian Romanesque-style Conrad-Caldwell House.
Bill Monroe's Boyhood Home
![Window, House, Property, Home, Tree, Land lot, Real estate, Building, Roof, Woody plant, Window, House, Property, Home, Tree, Land lot, Real estate, Building, Roof, Woody plant,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/1600x1066/gallery-1462418073-bill-monroe-birthplace.jpg?resize=980:*)
Prior to 2001, the childhood home of the so-called "Father of Bluegrass Music" was in a state of terrible disrepair. Following Monroe's death, the home was purchased by the group now known as The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Music Foundation, who restored it to its original 1917 appearance and outfitted the interior with period furnishings and Monroe family heirlooms. It operates today as the Bill Monroe Museum , offering regular guided tours and musical events. Stop by on select dates for some old-fashioned "Pickin on the Porch."
![Window, Property, House, Real estate, Building, Residential area, Home, Land lot, Door, Roof, Window, Property, House, Real estate, Building, Residential area, Home, Land lot, Door, Roof,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/2560x1702/gallery-1462418182-ashland.jpg?resize=980:*)
Henry Clay may have adored his Lexington estate even more than he coveted a good mint julep (the former senator is often credited with the drink's rise to fame). Three years prior to his death, he famously wrote, "I am in one respect better off than Moses. He died in sight of, without reaching, the Promised Land. I occupy as good a farm as any that he would have found, if he had reached it; and it has been acquired not by hereditary descent, but by my own labor." Named for the abundance of ash trees on the property, the home in which Clay lived for most of his adult life is today one of Kentucky's most beloved landmarks. Guided tours of the home are offered on a regular basis; the grounds are open to the public year-round.
Mary Todd Lincoln House
![Window, Residential area, Property, Neighbourhood, House, Home, Real estate, Building, Town, Road surface, Window, Residential area, Property, Neighbourhood, House, Home, Real estate, Building, Town, Road surface,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/2048x1445/gallery-1462418338-mary-todd-lincoln-house-lexington-kentucky-2.jpg?resize=980:*)
Mary Todd Lincoln's large childhood home in Lexington wasn't built as a house; it served as an inn and tavern before the Todd family moved there in 1832. Though Lexington housed only seven thousand residents in the 1830s, it was known for its sophistication, and the Todds floated in the upper crust of Lexington society. Mary lived in the home for seven years, and is said to have brought her new husband to visit her family there after her marriage in 1842. Tours of the home are offered throughout most of the year. Abraham Lincoln came from more humble roots; stop by the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville to see a reconstructed version of the log cabin in which the 16th President was born.
T. Jeremiah Beam House
![Green, Window, Property, House, Tree, Home, Residential area, Real estate, Land lot, Building, Green, Window, Property, House, Tree, Home, Residential area, Real estate, Land lot, Building,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/2048x1325/gallery-1462418478-gettyimages-148708585.jpg?resize=980:*)
No visit to Kentucky would be complete without a stop or two along the Bourbon Trail. If you prefer to stare at a beautiful old home while downing a glass of America's Native Spirit, head to the Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont for a distillery tour and a photo op in front of the T. Jeremiah Beam house. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been home to generations of Beam distillers. Built in 1911 as a boarding house for distillery workers, it was renovated after Prohibition by T. Jeremiah Beam (Jim's son), who moved into the house to keep an eye on neighboring operations.
Locust Grove
![Grass, Green, Plant, Window, Property, Tree, Land lot, House, Building, Real estate, Grass, Green, Plant, Window, Property, Tree, Land lot, House, Building, Real estate,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/16/18/1600x1012/gallery-1462418775-locust-grove.jpg?resize=980:*)
Quite a few American luminaries wined and dined at Locust Grove , the circa 1792 Louisville estate of William & Lucy Croghan. Presidents James Monroe and Andrew Jackson, artist John James Audubon, Cassius Marcellus Clay, and Lewis and Clark are just a few of the prominent figures to have passed through the gates. It also served as the home of Louisville founder and Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark (Lucy's) brother, who lived here for the last several years of his life. Today, 55 acres remain with the house, which is open daily for tours.
While you're in Louisville, head over to nearby Farmington , a stunning circa 1816 plantation set on 18 acres offering such festivities as a Derby breakfast and summer jazz festival.
![Headshot of Elizabeth Finkelstein Headshot of Elizabeth Finkelstein](https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/c56889a1-08d5-45ca-a9a2-5b6b78f416f5.jpg?fill=1:1&resize=120:*)
Elizabeth Finkelstein and her husband, Ethan Finkelstein, are the brains behind the popular Instagram and newsletter Cheap Old Houses . Together, they restore historic homes in HGTV’s series Who’s Afraid of a Cheap Old House? Elizabeth grew up in an 1850s home lovingly restored by her parents, so her love for crown molding and peeling wallpaper runs in her gene pool. She holds a master’s degree in historic preservation and has put in years of professional work restoring old houses. While not filming or nurturing the vast and wonderful @cheapoldhouses community, the couple spends time restoring their own cheap old farmhouse — a little slice of heaven they snagged for a cool $70,000.
![Video player poster image preview for Country Living US Section - DIY](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vidthumb/images/2019-hb-christmas-table-final-clean-00-01-17-03-still023-1576276960.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=1200:*)
The Old and the Beautiful
![most beautiful lighthouses us most beautiful lighthouses us](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/most-beautiful-lighthouses-us-1531276316.jpg?crop=0.502xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*)
35 Most Beautiful Lighthouses in America
![House, Property, Tree, Home, Architecture, Landmark, Building, Estate, Real estate, Residential area, House, Property, Tree, Home, Architecture, Landmark, Building, Estate, Real estate, Residential area,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/img-7529-1-jpg-1526432696.jpg?crop=0.752xw:1.00xh;0.125xw,0&resize=360:*)
This South Carolina Fixer-Upper Is for Sale
![Property, Estate, House, Home, Building, Mansion, Architecture, Real estate, Manor house, Historic house, Property, Estate, House, Home, Building, Mansion, Architecture, Real estate, Manor house, Historic house,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/mg-6047-1524190928.jpg?crop=0.669xw:1.00xh;0.166xw,0&resize=360:*)
An Idyllic Texas B&B is for Sale
![House, Home, Property, Building, Real estate, Estate, Roof, Mansion, Porch, Historic house, House, Home, Property, Building, Real estate, Estate, Roof, Mansion, Porch, Historic house,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/2018-north-1-1523026958.jpg?crop=0.752xw:1.00xh;0.125xw,0&resize=360:*)
A Gigantic Historic Mansion For Just $73,900
![Home, House, Property, Building, Real estate, Residential area, Siding, Architecture, Roof, Estate, Home, House, Property, Building, Real estate, Residential area, Siding, Architecture, Roof, Estate,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/natchez-ms-fixer-upper-1-1519953798.jpg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.167xw,0&resize=360:*)
A Gingerbread House Fixer-Upper in Mississippi
![House, Home, Property, Building, Estate, Farmhouse, Roof, Real estate, Architecture, Historic house, House, Home, Property, Building, Estate, Farmhouse, Roof, Real estate, Architecture, Historic house,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/1-frontdsc-0479-1519357815.jpg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.167xw,0&resize=360:*)
An Amazing $15,000 Georgia Fixer-Upper
![Living room, Room, Property, Ceiling, Interior design, Furniture, Building, Home, House, Real estate, Living room, Room, Property, Ceiling, Interior design, Furniture, Building, Home, House, Real estate,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/dsc07581-1518707556.jpg?crop=0.566xw:1.00xh;0.218xw,0&resize=360:*)
Inside a Beautiful Stone Farmhouse for Sale
![Camp Comfort camp comfort for sale](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/social-hall-1517245416.jpg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.332xw,0&resize=360:*)
This Cute Texas Bed and Breakfast Is for Sale
![House, Home, Art, Furniture, Room, Architecture, Chicken coop, Building, Window, Facade, House, Home, Art, Furniture, Room, Architecture, Chicken coop, Building, Window, Facade,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/world-largest-chest-drawers-1517247808.jpg?crop=0.502xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*)
The World’s Largest Chest of Drawers Is for Sale
![People, Child, Grass, Happy, Smile, Toddler, Leaf, Summer, Love, Spring, People, Child, Grass, Happy, Smile, Toddler, Leaf, Summer, Love, Spring,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/18/02/480x480/square-1515699193-everett1.jpg?resize=360:*)
How to Run a Successful Blog As a Working Mother
This Hauntingly Beautiful Old Mansion Is for Sale
![Property, House, Building, Cottage, Shack, Home, Roof, Shed, Real estate, Rural area, Property, House, Building, Cottage, Shack, Home, Roof, Shed, Real estate, Rural area,](https://hips.hearstapps.com/clv.h-cdn.co/assets/17/50/2560x2560/square-1513198750-20171030-dsc-0612.jpg?resize=360:*)
A Magical Converted Sleigh Mill for Sale
![tours of old mansions THE_TITAN_TRUST_s_Brand___LOGO-removebg-preview-black.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e36394_47e4e993d3124bf4985754afa41d58ff~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_103,y_71,w_428,h_239/fill/w_150,h_79,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/THE_TITAN_TRUST_s_Brand___LOGO-removebg-preview-black.png)
- Nov 30, 2023
Discovering Palm Beach Elegance: A Walking Tour of Historic Mansions
![tours of old mansions Discovering Palm Beach Elegance: A Walking Tour of Historic Mansions](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e36394_ceb70402df12463a82ef6b4ab7504dd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1468,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e36394_ceb70402df12463a82ef6b4ab7504dd8~mv2.jpg)
Embark on a journey through the opulent history of Palm Beach with a captivating walking tour that unveils the grandeur of its iconic mansions. Home to renowned figures like the Kennedys, Trumps, and Rod Stewart, Palm Beach is a haven for architectural marvels that reflect the island's rich past. Join us as we explore the meticulously manicured streets and delve into the stories behind these magnificent residences.
The Legacy of Palm Beach:
Established in 1911, Palm Beach exudes an air of sophistication , maintained by the town government's commitment to preserving its unique charm. Despite occasional dramatics reminiscent of a Danielle Steel novel behind closed doors, the exterior remains a testament to careful planning. Stringent rules govern everything from landscaped property percentages to standardized "For Sale" signs, creating an orderly facade for the world to admire.
Preserving History:
In 1979, the Landmark Preservation Commission was established, signifying a commitment to protect the island's historic homes. Today, approximately 280 properties proudly display a small bronze plaque, a subtle nod to their historical significance. While some owners choose to keep this symbol hidden, curious tourists may stumble upon these landmarks, adding an unexpected layer to their exploration.
Architectural Maestros:
At the heart of Palm Beach's architectural evolution stand four influential figures: Addison Mizner, Maurice Fatio, Marion Sims Wyeth, and John Volk. While Mizner takes the spotlight as the architect extraordinaire of the 1920s, each contributed to the distinctive Mediterranean-revival style that defines Palm Beach mansions. Picture stucco walls, Spanish red-tile roofs, Italianate towers, Moorish-Gothic carvings, and the unique use of coquina, a grayish limestone with fossil-like imprints of shells.
![tours of old mansions Palm Beach Architectural Maestros](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e89927_eb7732ad97c74dddac60c11c322fcd76~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_695,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e89927_eb7732ad97c74dddac60c11c322fcd76~mv2.png)
Embark on a two-wheeled adventure or a leisurely drive to explore the preserved estates clustered along Worth Avenue, South County Road, and South Ocean Boulevard. Marvel at the intricate details of Casa de Leoni, Villa des Cygnes, 17 Golfview Road, El Solano, and other architectural gems that showcase the genius of Mizner, Fatio, Wyeth, and Volk.
Practical Tips:
For the adventurous, a bike ride provides an intimate experience, with many hotels offering bicycles for guest use. Alternatively, opt for the Palm Beach Bicycle Trail Shop. Driving is also a convenient option, but be mindful of the one-lane Ocean Boulevard, the island's primary route to neighboring cities.
Expert Insights:
Delve into the gossip and history with Leslie Diver's "Island Living Tours," a favorite among in-the-know concierges. Diver, an expert on Palm Beach architecture , provides a unique blend of past and present tales, adding a layer of intrigue to your exploration.
Top 10 Must-Visit Mansions:
Casa de Leoni: 450 Worth Avenue (Addison Mizner)
Villa des Cygnes: 456 Worth Avenue (Addison Mizner and Marion Sims Wyeth)
17 Golfview Road (Marion Sims Wyeth)
220 and 252 El Bravo Way (John Volk)
126 South Ocean Boulevard (Marion Sims Wyeth)
El Solano: 720 South Ocean Boulevard (Addison Mizner)
Casa Nana: 780 South Ocean Boulevard (Addison Mizner)
920 and 930 South Ocean Boulevard (Maurice Fatio)
Mar-a-Lago: 1100 South Ocean Boulevard (Joseph Urban)
Il Palmetto: 1500 South Ocean Boulevard (Maurice Fatio)
Conclusion:
Immerse yourself in the allure of Palm Beach's architectural treasures, where history, elegance, and timeless beauty converge. Whether on foot, bike, or behind the wheel, this walking tour promises an unforgettable exploration of the island's rich legacy, inviting you to witness the grandeur of its historic mansions. Don't forget to visit John & Yoko's mansion!
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Newport Mansions extends 'The Gilded Age,' The Breakers third floor tours
by NBC 10 NEWS
![tours of old mansions The Breakers Third Floor Preservation in Progress Tour will be one of two with additional tour opportunities this September and October. (WJAR)](https://turnto10.com/resources/media2/16x9/full/1015/center/80/5d8e09db-34d1-48fb-b1d2-97cfcce09041-large16x9_BOWMAN_BREAKERS_THIRDFLOOR_0001_frame_277.jpeg)
NEWPORT, R.I. (WJAR) — The Preservation Society of Newport County announced it is adding more tour hours for two of its most popular Newport mansions tours.
There will be additional opportunities for visitors to be on the Inside the “Gilded Age” Tour and The Breakers Third Floor Preservation in Progress Tour starting Sept. 3.
According to officials, the “Gilded Age” tour will be offered every Tuesday and Friday from Sept. 3 to Sept. 26.
This tour takes visitors through four mansions as the guides explain which scenes were filmed in various rooms and the stories behind the real people that lived in those mansions, preservation society officials said.
Officials said that tickets need to be purchased in advance at the Newport Mansions website.
- ALSO READ: Health Department recommends reopening Conimicut Point Beach
The Breakers third floor tour will be offered twice a day daily at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Sept. 3 through Oct. 14.
The third floor of the historic mansion was first opened to the public this June.
According to the Preservation Society of Newport County, the guide-led tour will allow visitors to learn about the private spaces that were used by the Vanderbilt family.
Officials said from Oct. 15, the tours will be available once a day at 1:30 p.m.
The tickets can be purchased beforehand at the Newport Mansions website .
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Now that some of the restrictions have eased and states are reopening to tourists, historic mansions have also begun allowing the public to visit their sites again. And these house tours can be found all over the country this summer, from Providence, Rhode Island, to Pasadena, California. Cicero once asked, "What is more agreeable than one's home?"
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Discover the opulence of the Gilded Age with a tour of Newport mansions. Dive into the rich history, architectural marvels, and captivating stories behind each grand estate in Newport's iconic coastal landscape.
Small group walking tour of Fifth Avenue as it was during the Gilded Age when grand mansions of millionaires lined the illustrious street. Get your tickets now!
Preserving America's rich history and showcasing architecture, Hudson Valley mansions are sure to excite everyone in your travel party.
See which of the mansions are open and when. Search by date or month, or view the full year's schedule.
Mansions have always piqued the curiosity of visitors, especially those who can only dream of living in one. Here are the most noteworthy American mansions.
New Jersey's historic mansions are often off limits to the public, but here are details on eight that provide tours.
The landmark Colvin House, designed by George Maher in 1909, is one of the last Gilded Age mansions embodying the wealth of the elite living on the city's far North Side. Following an extensive ...
The Newport Mansions offers a unique trip through 250 years of American history, architecture, art and landscape design.
Southern mansions are among the most lavish and visited in the United States with notable homes like the Biltmore Estate and Villa Vizcaya.
11 Incredible Historical Homes You Should Visit in Kentucky We're celebrating the Bluegrass State by taking a tour of its most fascinating and beautiful historical architecture.
Discovering Palm Beach Elegance: A Walking Tour of Historic Mansions Embark on a journey through the opulent history of Palm Beach with a captivating walking tour that unveils the grandeur of its iconic mansions. Home to renowned figures like the Kennedys, Trumps, and Rod Stewart, Palm Beach is a haven for architectural marvels that reflect the island's rich past. Join us as we explore the ...
The Breakers third floor tour will be offered twice a day daily at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Sept. 3 through Oct. 14. The third floor of the historic mansion was first opened to the public this ...
Sean Zears with the SCP+R announced in a press release on Thursday, Aug. 29 that community members are invited to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ward-Meade Mansion at Old Prairie Town.
The homes on the tour are located within three-quarters of a mile of each other and tour patrons are encouraged to walk or bike the tour, as on-street parking is limited. The tour will start at the historic 1731 Jamesport Meeting House, the oldest public building on the East End. The Meeting House is located at 1590 Main Rd. (Route 25), in ...
No. 2 is a detached 3-bedroom house with a beautifully landscaped rear garden that's not overlooked. The Orchard is located off the Old Golf Links Road. It is close to Eurospar Shopping Centre, St. Johns National School, McDonagh Junction Train & Bus depot, and just 2 minutes' drive to the M9 motorway access, the location is ideal for commuting.