Magnificent Castles In America

Millionaire hotel magnate George C. Boldt ordered the construction of Boldt Castle in 1900 as a symbol of love for his wife. It was to be their summer dream home on Heart Island, overlooking picturesque Alexandria Bay; however, she passed away before its completion. Grief stricken, he stopped the construction altogether and abandoned the unfinished project, and never returned to his private island. The monument of love was then acquired in 1977 by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, who sought to refurbish and restore the property for future generations. Today, visitors are welcome to explore the island and the six story, 120 room castle with tunnels, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, etc. For more visitor information, click here.

Dubbed a National Historic Landmark, Hearst Castle was designed by Julia Morgan - the first woman architect licensed in California - as a residence for newspaper magnate William Randolf Hearst. The sprawling estate features 165 rooms, 123 acres of gardens, a movie theatre, an airfield, and even a private zoo! Mr. Hearst enjoyed rubbing elbows with the Hollywood elite of his time, inviting guests such as Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Joan Crawford and others. Following Mr. Hearst's death, the castle became a California State Park in 1954, and is open to the public for tours. You can reserve tickets for the castle up to 56 days in advance here.

Fun Fact: The prestigious Sight and Sound movie poll by the British Film Institute has historically rated Citizen Kane, the fictionalized story of William Randolf Hearst, as #1 on their list of the Greatest Films Ever Made, where it stayed at the top spot from 1962 to 2012. It's currently holding steady at #2.

Head to the Massachusetts fishing town of Gloucester to tour the medieval-style home built by one of America's premier inventors John Hays Hammond, Jr. Built in the roaring 20's, Hammond Castle features actual pieces of European castles that Hammond bought and shipped to the US in order to create his own. Visitors can marvel at the resident's drawbridge, tower, courtyards, salt water pool, hidden entryways, and more. 

Archaeologist, anthropologist, ceramist, scholar and antiquarian Henry Chapman Mercer built Fonthill Castle in Pennsylvania between 1908 and 1912 as his home and as a place to showcase his collection of tiles and prints. Designed by Mercer, the structure is a mixture of Medieval, Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles with 44 rooms and 18 fireplaces. In accordance with his wishes, the castle was left as a museum of decorative tiles and prints in 1930 when he passed away. Today, it is designated a National Historic Landmark.