Who doesn’t love staying at a luxury hotel? And when that hotel has a storied past, it can make your stay a bit more intriguing than your typical getaway. Even if you aren’t a history buff, you may appreciate knowing that you stayed in the same room as a Hollywood celebrity or wandered the same halls as a former President. Check into 10 of the most beautiful historic hotels in the U.S.

Hotel del Coronado – Coronado, California

The legendary Hotel del Coronado opened in 1888. Located at the southern end of Coronado Beach on San Diego County’s Coronado Island, the resort is split into five elegant districts, ranging from the original storybook Victorian section of the resort to modern condo residences and a gated beachfront community of cottages and villas. 

Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, the grandiose hotel appeared in the classic 1958 film Some Like it Hot starring Marilyn Monroe, and it hosted President Richard Nixon’s state dinner in 1970. Today, guests can experience a variety of upscale amenities, from cooking s’mores on a private bonfire to boat rentals or surf classes with a professional surfer. 

The Palmer House – Chicago, Illinois

One of America’s longest-operating hotels, the Palmer House began life in 1871 as a wedding gift from Chicago businessman Potter Palmer to his bride, socialite Bertha Honoré Palmer. By the start of the 20th century, the Palmer House had become the city’s most prominent events venue, hosting everyone from Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald. It was the first hotel in Chicago to have electric light bulbs and telephones in its rooms. 

The Palmer House is also credited with the invention of one of America’s most beloved sweet treats: the brownie. In 1893, Bertha Palmer challenged the in-house pastry chef to create something suitable for the woman attending the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. Today, the hotel still makes and serves the original brownie recipe — a decadent fudge creation topped with walnuts and an apricot glaze. Those looking to spend a night here can choose from a whopping 1,641 guest rooms and suites, which blend modern touches and the historic legacy of the hotel. 

The Mansion on the Sea – Key West, Florida

Located in the heart of Key West’s historic Old Town District on Duval Street, the adults-only Mansion on the Sea (formerly the Southernmost House) caters to beach lovers and sun worshipers who prefer restored mansions to sprawling resorts. The original structure, built by the prominent Harris family in 1897, was designed as a one-room Queen Anne Victorian mansion.

Thomas Edison oversaw the building’s original electrical design and installation work. During Prohibition, the Southernmost House served as a speakeasy, catering to mafia dons and the Hollywood elite who visited on their way to Havana, Cuba. In the 1940s, the mansion hosted a Cuban-themed nightclub, which welcomed famous residents and visitors to Key West such as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Gore Vidal, and Charles Lindbergh. It was renamed the Mansion on the Sea in 2023.

The Peabody Memphis – Memphis, Tennessee

This historic Memphis hotel has welcomed notable guests such as President Jimmy Carter, Michael Jordan, and Billy Joel. But the Peabody may be even better known for its web-footed residents. During the twice-daily Peabody Duck March, the hotel’s adorable resident ducks walk along a red carpet towards the fountain in the lobby, where they’ll usually take a dip in the waters. Ducks have resided at the Peabody since the 1930s, when the general manager and a friend placed some live duck decoys in the fountain as a prank after a hunting trip.

Today’s Peabody Memphis retains the ornate beauty of the original hotel which opened in 1869. In 2019, major renovations introduced Carrara marble tile floors, quartz vanities, and plush decor to each room. The upscale rooms are the perfect place to put your feet up after exploring nearby Graceland or visiting the historical sites in Memphis.

Grand Hotel – Mackinac Island, Michigan

The opulent Grand Hotel is the crown jewel of Michigan’s Mackinac Island, which can only be reached by plane or boat — no cars are allowed on the island. This makes the Grand Hotel an ideal laid-back summer getaway for anyone who wants to walk, bike, or explore the peaceful surroundings by horse-drawn carriage.

With about 400 guest rooms, the Grand Hotel has plenty of space for guests to enjoy the hotel’s historic architecture and fascinating history. It has hosted dozens of notable guests over the years, including Robert DeNiro, Madonna, and several Supreme Court Justices and American presidents. Mark Twain was the hotel’s first notable guest when he lectured at the casino in 1895.

The Plaza Hotel – New York, New York

Located on the south end of New York City’s Central Park, the Plaza Hotel was built in 1907 and remains one of Manhattan’s top luxury destinations today. You’ve most likely seen its ornate, spacious lobby in one of several movies filmed on location, such as North by Northwest, The Way We Were, Home Alone 2, and The Great Gatsby.

The Plaza has also hosted countless dignitaries, celebrities, and famed business leaders over the years, such as John Lennon, Conrad Hilton, Truman Capote, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Additionally, every American President since William Howard Taft has made at least one visit to the Plaza. 

The Miami Biltmore – Coral Gables, Florida

The sprawling, 15-acre Miami Biltmore Hotel and Country Club is a National Historic Landmark that was built in 1926. The hotel’s tower was designed as a recreation of the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain, and its main structure is reminiscent of Mediterranean Renaissance–era architecture, with several balconies, ornate terrazzos, and tile floors.

In the 1920s, the new hotel drew notable guests such as Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Franklin Roosevelt, and Al Capone. During World War II, however, the luxury hotel was converted into an army hospital. The building remained a Veterans Administration Hospital until the City of Coral Gables restored it to its former glory in the 1980s. The modern Biltmore also underwent a more recent $40 million dollar renovation, which added a championship golf club. At this historic destination, you’ll get to relax by one of the largest hotel pools in the country.

La Fonda on the Plaza – Santa Fe, New Mexico

Situated on a corner of Santa Fe Plaza in one of America’s oldest cities, La Fonda on the Plaza holds an esteemed place in Santa Fe’s history. This particular corner has been accommodating travelers ever since the Spaniards built an inn here in 1607. In 1821, Captain William Becknell stayed here during an expedition that led to the creation of the Santa Fe Trail. The adobe-style lodging soon became a popular overnight stop for frontiersmen, gold seekers, and trailblazers.

Much of the landmark that exists today dates back to 1920. The interior retains traces of its original elements, including handmade beams, spectacular stained glass skylights, and sparkling chandeliers. The 29 room types offer a blend of historic and contemporary charm, with hand-painted headboards, handcrafted furniture, and original artwork. Of particular note is the Pueblo artwork by regional Native American artists. A hotel tradition started by reputable art lovers Sam and Ethel Ballen, all acquisitions help to support the annual Santa Fe Indian Market.  

The Pfister Hotel – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Billed as “the Grand Hotel of the West” when opened in 1893, the Pfister features a stunning Romanesque Revival architectural design. A Milwaukee icon, the hotel underwent an extensive renovation in 1962 after movie theater operator Ben Marcus purchased it. Today, it offers over 300 sophisticated rooms and 82 suites that fuse contemporary designs with old-world allure.

Over its storied history, the Pfister has hosted dignitaries and Presidents such as Warren Harding, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy. Besides its exceptional hospitality and swanky accommodations, the Pfister celebrates the talents of local artists through the in-house Artists in Residence program. Artists are invited to spend up to 30 weeks at the hotel to prepare for their exhibition.

The Henley Park Hotel – Washington, D.C.

First built in 1918 to provide upmarket residences for congressmen and senators, the Henley Park Hotel is a sublime example of Tudor Revivalism architecture. In the hotel’s early years, it was known as Tudor Hall. Its exterior is decorated with 119 gargoyles, two of which depict the lead architect Walter Granville Guss and his wife. Inside, rooms were made to resemble an English country manor. 

Over the years, the Henley Park Hotel was a popular gathering place for D.C.’s political and social elite. After a period of neglect, a major investment in 1992 brought the hotel back to its former glory. Much of the architectural integrity was preserved, as were the original interiors. Today, each of the hotel’s 96 rooms are elegantly appointed and merge historic charm with contemporary luxury. 

A statue can often be more than just a monument — it’s a remembrance of a time in history, and how the past shapes the present and future. Many famous U.S. statues also come with a fascinating story, not only of how they came to be but also of why they remain important. Read on to learn the histories of six of the most famous U.S. statues, from the Statue of Liberty to the Lincoln Memorial.

Statue of Liberty – New York, New York

From conception to dedication, it took 21 years for America’s most famous statue to come to fruition. A French political intellectual and activist named Edouard de Laboulaye first proposed the concept for the statue in 1865, and it was later built by French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi as a gift from France to the U.S. On an 1871 trip to the States, Bartholdi chose Bedloe’s Island as the ideal site for his creation, as it was visible to all ships entering New York Harbor — effectively making it the gateway to America. 

Officially entitled “Liberty Enlightening the World,” the Statue of Liberty stands 306 feet high, including its 154-foot pedestal that took two years to complete. Ever since its official dedication in 1886, the statue has been one of New York City’s most emblematic landmarks, drawing 3.1 million visitors in 2022. A trip to Lady Liberty’s crown requires 354 steps to the top, the equivalent of 20 flights of stairs.

Atlas – New York, New York

Located in front of New York’s famed Rockefeller Center, this impressive bronze statue rises 45 feet high, roughly the height of a four-story building. Designed by Lee Lawrie and modeled by Rene Chambellan, the statue was dedicated in 1937 and depicts the mythological figure of Atlas. Half-man, half-god, the Titan was integral in the war against the Olympians for control of the universe. After losing, Zeus condemned Atlas to hold the weight of the world on his shoulders for the rest of eternity.

As a nod to Greek mythology and the enormity of the cosmos, the statue is adorned with glyphs representing the planets. The message of Atlas’ struggles was very much aligned with the strains of the nation during the Great Depression. However, Atlas’ chiseled strength and everlasting endurance were also believed to be representative of the grit of the Rockefeller family and their lasting legacy.

Christ of the Ozarks – Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Climbing seven stories high, Christ of the Ozarks overlooks Eureka Springs, a city known for its well-preserved Victorian architecture. The inspiration behind the 67-foot-high statue came from Christ the Redeemer, the famous monument depicting Jesus Christ on top of Rio de Janeiro’s Corcovado Mountain. Standing 31 feet shorter than its inspiration, the Christ of the Ozarks is perched at an altitude of 1,500 feet on Arkansas’s Magnetic Mountain. 

Proposed by Gerald Smith and built by Emmet Sullivan, an apprentice to one of Mount Rushmore’s sculptors, the monument was commissioned by the Elna M. Smith Foundation. Weighing 2 million pounds, the smooth-stone statue required 340 tons of concrete and 24 layers of mortar. Since its dedication in 1966, it draws more than half a million people a year, making it one of the most-visited monuments in the Ozarks. 

Lincoln Memorial – Washington, D.C.

The idea behind the Lincoln Memorial — one of the most recognizable statues in the U.S. — started soon after the 16th President’s assassination in 1865. As the nation was reeling from Lincoln’s untimely death, two groups assembled to begin planning how to memorialize the deceased President. Charlotte Scott, a Black woman born into slavery, led one such group, which collected enough funds from Black Americans to build the Emancipation Statue in 1876 in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C. 

Other plans eventually led to the Lincoln Memorial, which didn’t open to the public until 57 years after the President’s assassination. After decades of navigating red tape, including fighting for the approval of Congress and waging an internal debate over the memorial’s location in a swamp, the impressive monument was finally dedicated in 1922. Today, the 19-foot-tall replica of Lincoln is the busiest memorial in Washington D.C., with 6 million visitors each year.

The Library Lions – New York, New York

There may be no New York statue more beloved than the Library Lions. These behemoths have guarded the main steps of the New York Public Library since the institution’s official dedication in 1911. Sculptor Edward Clark Potter was responsible for the lovable lions, but it was New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia who named them Patience and Fortitude in the 1930s to represent the strength and resilience of New Yorkers in the face of the Great Depression. Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a preeminent American sculptor at the turn of the 20th century, recommended Potter for the project due to his specialization in molding animal subjects.

Modeled by Potter and carved by the Piccirilli brothers, the lions are made of Tennessee marble and have long since been the trademarked mascots of the New York Public Library. The lions are often decorated in observance of the season — winter wreaths during the holidays, florals in the spring, graduation caps during commencement, and various sports memorabilia depending on which teams are on a winning streak.

The Spirit of Detroit – Detroit, Michigan

Situated on the corner of Woodward Avenue and East Larned Street, the Spirit of Detroit embodies the city’s fortitude. When the city commissioned Marshall Fredricks to build a sculpture inspired by hope and progress in 1955, the local artist waived his fee, as he believed honoring his hometown to be a part of his civic duty. The statue — informally named “The Spirit of Detroit” by locals — has since grown into a symbol of the Motor City, an image so iconic it’s found throughout the city.

The 60-ton bronze monument depicts a man balancing two entities in each hand. In his right hand, he holds a family (a symbol of the importance of relationships), while his left hand contains a golden orb (representing divinity). Today, it is one of the most photographed landmarks in Detroit and has become synonymous with the city itself, representing Detroit’s resilience, hope, and enduring strength throughout the years.

We often cross bridges without giving them a second thought, but some bridges are worthy of some extra attention. A handful were the longest, widest, tallest, or highest at the time of their construction. Some were the first of their kind, and others were constructed using engineering methods that had never been used before. For a plethora of reasons, these projects were ahead of their time, so let’s take a look at eight of history’s record-breaking bridges.

Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California

At the time of its opening in 1937, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. The middle span, measured from tower to tower, extends an impressive 4,200 feet over the Golden Gate Strait. Joseph Baermann Strauss was the engineer responsible for the bridge’s innovative design, overcoming concerns about obstacles such as strong currents, fog, and the risk of earthquakes. Ultimately, Strauss proved the naysayers wrong when they said such a bridge couldn’t be built. Today, though the Golden Gate is still an icon, it has lost its crown. The current record holder for the longest suspension bridge is the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey, whose comparable span measures 6,637 feet.   

Gateshead Millennium Bridge – United Kingdom

A tilting bridge is something you don’t see everyday. If you’re interested in laying eyes on one, you’ll have to travel just beyond the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northern England, as the Gateshead Millennium Bridge (opened in 2002) is the first and only one of its kind on the planet. The ability to tilt not only looks cool, but it also serves a practical purpose. Typically, cyclists and pedestrians pass over the bridge, but its span can be moved to allow ships to pass beneath it. Trash is also automatically collected during this time, reducing the amount that might otherwise blow into the River Tyne.

Hartland Covered Bridge – New Brunswick, Canada

Hartland Covered Bridge, a National Historic Site of Canada, is the longest extant covered bridge in the world. This 1,282-foot-long crossing over the St. John River in New Brunswick was actually built without a roof in 1901. The wooden structure is an example of a “kissing bridge,” a tradition from the time of horses and buggies. Carriages would carry courting couples, who would pause in the middle of the bridge to receive a chaste peck on the cheek. When the bridge was covered over in 1921, there were concerns that being hidden from sight might encourage unseemly behavior. However, such fears proved unfounded, and the bridge was left unchanged.

Sydney Harbour Bridge – Australia

Sydney Harbour Bridge was a multiple record-breaker at the time it was unveiled in 1932. Comprising 550,000 individual pieces of steel held together by 6 million rivets, the landmark took eight years to assemble. At 160 feet across, no other bridge in the world had ever been built as wide. The Sydney Harbour Bridge retained its title from 1932 to 2012, losing it when the 213-foot-wide Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver was finished. But Australia’s most famous bridge does hold the title of the tallest steel arch bridge in the world — no other bridge has broken that record so far. 

Ironbridge – United Kingdom

Coal had been mined in this part of Britain since Tudor times, but it was the development of iron manufacturing using coke rather than charcoal that would kickstart the Industrial Revolution and transform a nation. A new bridge was needed to cope with the increased traffic required to carry raw materials, and the Iron Bridge, constructed in 1779, was the answer. Designed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard with a single arch and built by Abraham Darby III, the bridge rose over the Severn Gorge at Coalbrookdale in the English county of Shropshire as the world’s first-ever cast iron bridge. 

Puente de Vizcaya – Spain

The oldest hanging transporter bridge in the world is Spain’s Puente de Vizcaya. The bridge is located about six miles from Bilbao and spans the Ibaizabal estuary to connect the towns of Getxo and Portugalete. Architect Alberto de Palacio designed the bridge in the late 19th century using twisted steel ropes, a cutting-edge method for the time. But it was the way that the bridge carried goods and passengers that was truly revolutionary — from the day it opened in 1893, they traveled in a suspended gondola with no disruption to shipping. This groundbreaking bridge is still operational and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Skerne Bridge – United Kingdom

Most bridges were built to accommodate cars and pedestrians, but Skerne Bridge was the world’s first railway bridge. In the early 19th century, English civil engineer George Stephenson needed a bridge so that his brand-new steam train, Locomotion No. 1, could cross the River Skerne in North East England’s County Durham. He enlisted the help of architect Ignatius Bonomi, who suggested a structure that consisted of three arches, one of which would span the water. Builder Francis Peacock took the drawings and made them a reality. On September 27, 1825, the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s first locomotive pulling wagons laden with passengers chugged across the bridge. However, within three years, the embankments were showing significant signs of wear and tear, but fortunately, the bridge was strengthened and is still in use today. 

The Helix – Singapore

The Helix is a unique pedestrian bridge that has graced Singapore’s Marina Bay area since 2010. Its design is inspired by human DNA, with opposing double helix structures of stainless steel encircling a pedestrian walkway. The eye-catching bridge is far stronger than it looks: The double helix creates a tubular truss, which means it can support a substantial weight — up to 16,000 people safely at any one time. As another example of how innovative this bridge is, intricate 3-D computer modeling was used in its construction. 

You don’t need to travel all the way to Europe to find a fairy-tale castle. Although castles aren’t nearly as common in the U.S. as they are across the pond, there are still a handful of notable castles to discover from coast to coast — as long as you know where to look. We’ve narrowed your search down to a list of the 13 most incredible castles you can visit without leaving the U.S.

Boldt Castle – Heart Island, New York

In the early 1900s, millionaire George C. Boldt set out to build a spectacular medieval-style castle on Heart Island, part of the Thousand Islands archipelago on New York’s northern border. The magnate, who was also the proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, shaped the island itself into a heart and built his namesake castle as an expression of his love for his wife. He was planning to gift the castle to her, but in 1904, Boldt’s beloved wife tragically died. Bereft, Boldt immediately stopped construction on the castle and never returned to the island. The castle sat there, unfinished, for more than 70 years, until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority bought the property in 1977 and began restoring it for future generations. Accessible by water taxi, Boldt Castle is open for self-guided tours from mid-May through mid-October.

Montezuma Castle – Camp Verde, Arizona

This Arizona “castle” is probably unlike any castle you have ever seen. For starters, it’s tucked into the side of a cliff, where it has been sitting for more than 800 years. Built by the Sinagua peoples around 1100 CE, the pueblo palace contains about 45 to 50 rooms, but unfortunately visitors won’t be able to get inside to count them. Since 1951, Montezuma Castle has been off-limits to the public, as looters and time have rendered it too fragile for it to be safe. You can still climb up to peer in the windows, though, as you imagine what life must have been like back when it was built.

Castello di Amorosa – Napa Valley, California

If you’ve always wanted to visit Italy but your budget doesn’t allow for it, then consider heading to Castello di Amorosa in California’s Napa Valley wine country. Visiting this castle is like strolling through Tuscany hundreds of years ago — but many visitors don’t realize that it was completed far more recently, in 2007, after a 14-year-long building period. Built by Dario Sattui, the great-grandson of an Italian immigrant, this 107-room castle is a love letter to Italian culture, as well as a thriving vineyard and winery.

Scotty’s Castle – Death Valley, California

Located in California’s Death Valley, Scotty’s Castle has an interesting history — one marked by falsehoods. According to legend, the castle was built by Walter Scott, also known as “Death Valley Scotty.” He told everyone that he had built the castle with a fortune he had gained from a collection of secret mines nearby. In reality, though, the castle was built by wealthy couple Albert and Bessie Johnson, who used it as a vacation home. Scott was a friend of the family, though, and the castle today bears his name — even if records show no evidence that he ever actually visited it.

Bannerman Castle – Pollepel Island, New York

Of all the castles in the United States, Bannerman Castle arguably looks the most like an authentic castle from Europe, if only for the fact that it is now in ruins. The castle was built in 1901 by Francis Bannerman VI on Pollepel Island, an island that was once considered to be haunted. This was an ideal place for the owner of a military surplus company to build a fortress in which to store all the weapons he stockpiled during the Civil and Spanish Wars. Unfortunately, there may have been some sort of curse on the island after all — in 1967, the castle was destroyed by a fire, turning it into a collection of beautiful ruins.

Iolani Palace – Honolulu, Hawaii

While most of the castles in the United States were built by wealthy private citizens, Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii, is the only one that served as an official royal residence. It was built in the early 1880s by Hawaii’s King Kalakaua, one of the last monarchs to reign over the islands. The very last was his sister, Queen Liliuokalani, who ruled Hawaii after him and lived in the palace he had built. After the monarchy was overthrown in 1893 with the goal of annexation of Hawaii to the United States, the castle was kept up and restored, so now it still looks much like it did back then.

Belvedere Castle – New York, New York 

If you’re not a New Yorker, you may not have realized there’s a castle tucked into the city’s most famous park. Belvedere Castle was built by Calvert Vaux in 1869 as a way to welcome visitors to the sprawling park he helped design. The miniature castle atop Vista Rock looks out onto Central Park’s Great Lawn and gives visitors the opportunity to take in fantastic views. In fact, the view is so great that it gave the castle its name — the name Belvedere means “beautiful view” in Italian. But the castle isn’t just beautiful to look at — it’s also functional. The National Weather Service takes advantage of its location to take measurements of wind speed, rainfall amount, and temperature for its forecasts.

Lyndhurst Mansion – Tarrytown, New York

Occupying a 67-acre park on the banks of the Hudson River, the Lyndhurst Mansion is one of America’s most outstanding examples of Gothic Revival architecture. Its construction spanned more than a century, with three wealthy New York City families contributing to the castle standing today. 

First commissioned in 1838 by former New York City Mayor and U.S. Congressman William Paulding, the estate was once dubbed “Paulding’s Folly” due to its elaborate and exaggerated turrets and unbalanced dimensions. In 1864, wealthy merchant George Merritt took over the mansion and brought back its original architect, Alexander Jackson Davis, to update and expand the grounds. He also planted Linden trees around the house, spawning the present-day name, Lyndhurst Mansion. 

Finally, railroad tycoon Jay Gould purchased the property in 1880 and spent summers there with his family until his death in 1892. Gould’s daughters, Helen and Anna, maintained the mansion and added a pool and bowling alley. Eventually, they turned it into a community space for disadvantaged youth and American military soldiers. In 1965, the castle opened as a museum and historic site.

Coral Castle – Miami-Dade County, Florida

The unconventional Coral Castle, located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County near Leisure City, attracts many visitors due to the bizarre story of its construction. Legend has it that eccentric engineer Edward Leedskalnin single handedly built his mysterious abode secretly and at night, without the use of modern construction. Between 1923 and 1951, Leedskalnin claimed to have moved 1,100 tons of stones and hand-carved them to create his fantasy castle, dedicated to his former fiance Agnes Scuffs, who he said broke his heart. 

No one officially witnessed the construction of the castle. When Leedskalnin was questioned how he was able to build the two-story estate and stone sculpture garden, his response was simply that he “knew the secret of the pyramids,” according to the castle’s website. Perhaps even more miraculously, the builder started his project in Florida City, but decided to relocate to Homestead in 1936 after learning of the planned construction of a subdivision in Florida City. He disassembled his home, moved it with trucks, and reconstructed it again — where it remains standing as a peculiar tourist attraction today.

Fonthill Castle – Doylestown, Pennsylvania 

Fonthill Castle, the estate of Henry Chapman Mercer, sits on a manicured lawn surrounded by soaring trees in a small borough located 33 miles north of Philadelphia. Mercer — an accomplished archaeologist, anthropologist, ceramist, scholar, and antiquarian — lived in Fonthill Castle after its completion in 1912, but the purpose of its construction was mainly to showcase his collection of handmade tiles, prints, and artifacts collected from his world travels. 

The castle’s architecture blends Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine styles, resulting in an eclectic appearance further embellished by Mercer’s own art and creativity. An impressive 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 32 staircases, and 200 windows compose Fonthill Castle. The primary building material — concrete — is used liberally from the foundation to the stairs and even the built-in furniture. A visit to the castle is best combined with a stop at the Mercer Museum, located a mile away from the castle.  

Gillette Castle – Lyme, Connecticut

If you thought Gillette Castle looked like a medieval European fortress, you’d be right. William Hooker Gillette — the son of U.S. Senator Francis Gillette and an actor, director, and playwright in his own right — designed this spectacular abode to closely resemble a medieval European castle. The main structure took five years to build from 1914 to 1919, and many additions and updates were added in the years following. 

Located on the southernmost hill in the group known as Seven Sisters, Williman fondly referred to his 184-acre estate as the “Seventh Sister.” Some of the castle’s outstanding features include 47 doors (none of which are exactly alike), a train and three miles of train tracks, built-in couches, and wood-carved light switches. While exploring the grounds, visitors can also hunt for hidden mirrors and secret tunnels.  

The Breakers – Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is famous for its lavish mansions built during the Gilded Age by the country’s wealthiest families. Many were used as summer cottages by financiers from New York City and the surrounding areas, but most were abandoned or demolished in the 1920s with the start of the Great Depression and World War I. 

Today, many of these mansions are maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County, and the Breakers is by far the most visited. Built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II, the 62,482-square-foot oceanfront mansion boasts a castle-like Italian Renaissance exterior, a grandiose open-air courtyard, European-made tile mosaics, crystal chandeliers, gold trimming throughout, and even diamonds embedded in the walls. Today, you can visit and tour the Breakers and imagine the lavish lifestyle of the 19th century’s social elite. 

Hearst Castle – San Simeon, California

Perched amongst the elevated ranchlands of California’s Big Sur region, Hearst Castle served as a retreat for the iconic newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. In 1919, Hearst inherited 40,000 acres of farmland from his father George Hearst, and he dubbed it La Cuesta Encantada (“The Enchanted Hill”). 

The construction of Hearst Castle spanned decades and included 165 rooms, the largest privately owned zoo in the world at the time, two pools constructed with imported statues of Roman deities, and over a hundred acres of gardens, paths, and pools. Hearst and architect Julia Morgan had still not completed their masterpiece in 1947, when the tycoon had to leave the residence due to failing health. Today, visitors come to this hilltop mansion not only to soak up the castle’s grandeur, but also to enjoy the serene views over rolling green hills and the Pacific Ocean.