There’s something special about stepping through the doors of historic mansions across the country. These homes are massive and larger than you ever thought was possible for a residence.
We’ve had the opportunity to visit some stunning mansions during our travels. Since the walls can’t talk, we’ll share their stories with you.
Today, we’re looking at several historic mansions you don’t want to miss. Ready to get started?
Let’s get going!
A mansion is typically a home that’s more than 5,000 square feet and has more than five or six bedrooms. Although, for our list today, we’re looking at historic mansions. This means they’re massive homes, and they’ve played a significant role in history.
For many of these structures, it’s not just their historical significance that makes them worth experiencing. They also have unique architectural or cultural characteristics. Walking through the doors can feel like you’re going back in time.
It’s common for historic mansions to get transformed into museums or attractions. Visitors can often take tours and listen to educational demonstrations regarding the luxurious facilities. During these activities, you can learn about the region’s history, the people who inhabited the home, and facts about the house.
Pro Tip: For more out-of-this-world experiences, check out How to Safely Drive the Top of the World Highway!
The oldest mansion in America is the Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts. It was constructed in 1637 by Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks. Over time, the house has nearly doubled in size. Unfortunately, sometime between 1800 and 1820, the family’s money dried up, and many luxuries were stripped from the home.
Despite being a prominent home, it was never equipped with modern conveniences like heat, running water, or electricity. On the other hand, that didn’t stop more than eight generations from inhabiting the house before it sold in 1879.
Today, the Fairbanks House provides visitors with a window into the lives of its early inhabitants. You can explore it and see it filled with furnishings and artifacts that reflect the time frame. It’s astonishing how this beautiful home has withstood the test of time.
Ready to start adding to your list of future travel destinations? Here are several historic mansions you’ll want to consider when planning.
One of the most famous historic mansions in the country is in Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore Estate is just over 1750,000 square feet and has 250 rooms. These rooms include 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms. It’s the largest privately owned house in the United States.
It was designed by Richard Morris Hunt and built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895. The châteaux of the Loire Valley in France inspired its architecture. You can easily spot French Renaissance elements throughout the property.
This historic mansion is open to the public. You can take guided tours that provide valuable insights into the Vanderbilt family, the property, and the legacy of both. As it attracts nearly 1.5 million visitors annually, it’s a significant tourist attraction for the region.
Hearst Castle is a breathtakingly beautiful historic mansion along the Pacific Coast Highway in San Simeon, California. This castle was the brainchild of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst. It was built between 1919 and 1947 and was intended to be a family home, but Hearst’s marriage fell apart.
Mr. Hearst used the castle as a residence where he lived with his mistress. They hosted some of the most prominent names in Hollywood, including Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, and Clark Gable. Additionally, there are records of Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, and many other political leaders visiting the castle.
Unfortunately, Hearst’s health declined in the late 1940s, and he left the castle for the final time. He passed away in 1951, and the Hearst family gave the castle to the State of California. It opened to the public in 1958 and welcomes approximately 750,000 visitors annually today.
If there’s any historic mansion that’s fit for a king, it’s Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. It’s one of the most iconic and well-known mansions in the country. It was the home of entertainment legend Elvis Presley.
The famous entertainer purchased the home in 1957 at the age of 22. While the exterior displays Colonial Revival architecture, the inside matches Presley’s style. You can find luxury furnishings, bright colors, and design choices as busy as his stage outfits.
Today, you can purchase tickets and explore the various rooms within the mansion. One of the most famous rooms is the Jungle Room. It’s decorated with animal prints and green shag carpet. This is just one example of how you can see Presley’s unique tastes illustrated throughout the 17,552 square feet and 23 rooms.
Elvis’s Meditation Garden is one of the most peaceful places on the property. This is where Presley rests in peace with members of his family. This is a must-see attraction for anyone who is a fan of Elvis or the impact he had on American culture.
Mount Vernon sits along the Potomac River in Virginia. This historic mansion was the home of George Washington, the first President of the United States. He acquired the property in 1754, and it became a significant part of his life and legacy.
The mansion sits on more than 8,000 acres. It features three floors and is approximately 11,000 square feet. The 21 rooms are full of furnishing, art, and personal belongings belonging to Washington’s family.
In total, more than 96 million have visited this historic mansion since 1860. It welcomes approximately a million visitors annually to walk through the home and explore the property. Visitors can experience the luxurious accommodations Washington and his family enjoyed and views of the Potomac River. You can also take the opportunity to pay your respects at the final resting place of George and Martha Washington.
In 1919, Otto Hermann Kahn created a massive 109,000-square-foot, 127-room summer home. It sits on the highest point on Long Island, New York. While it cost him $11 million in 1919, that’s the equivalent of $158 million today.
Unfortunately, Otto died in 1934, and the 443 acres of land changed hands multiple times. In 1948, it was transformed into the Eastern Military Academy. Despite this, after 40 years of service, the academy went bankrupt, and the property was abandoned for five years. It wasn’t until 1984 that a developer, Gary Melius, acquired the estate and began restoring it.
After spending $40 million to restore the property, it’s now one of the most luxurious properties in the country. It is now 115,000 square feet and has 117 rooms, including 50 baths. The outside is equally impressive, with more than 500 Red Cedars and 2,500 Boxwoods throughout the lavish gardens.
Today, the Oheka Castle hosts some of the most luxurious events in all of New York. You can sign up for a mansion tour if you’d like to learn more about the estate. Nevertheless, these one-hour tours showcase public areas around the estate and gardens. If you want to experience true luxury, book a room at the hotel. However, be warned that rooms start at around $500 per night.
John Ringling made his fortune as part of the Ringling Bros. Circus. He built the Ringling Mansion, also called Ca’ d’Zan, in Sarasota, Florida. Its 36,000 square feet and 56 rooms exemplify the dazzling lifestyle he and his wife, Mable, enjoyed.
The decorations provide a look back into life during the Roaring Twenties. The mansion offers tours that explore all five floors of this impressive building. If you’re not interested in a guided tour, you can purchase tickets that include the Museum of Art, Circus Museum, and Bayfront Gardens. Additionally, you can take a self-guided tour of the first floor of this incredible home.
Witness the various art pieces and other unique items Mr. Ringling collected while traveling the world. It’s one of the most incredible spots to visit in Sarasota.
The final historic mansion on our list is the Mark Twain House. This historic landmark and museum is in Hartford, Connecticut. This house was constructed in 1874 and was where Twain spent his most productive and creative years.
While it was designed with a Victorian Gothic style and is extremely luxurious, it’s most famous for the works Twain wrote inside of it. Here, he penned “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
The home was built in 1873 and is approximately 11,500 square feet. It features 25 rooms throughout its three floors. Because the couple had spent between $40,000 and $50,000 to build the home, the inside remained very simple. Financial troubles caused the Twain family to move to Europe in 1891. They never lived in the house again and sold the property in 1903.
The only way to see the inside of this house is through a 55-minute guided tour. This is a popular tour, and tickets sell out most days they’re available. There’s a general house tour and a living history tour; both require you to purchase tickets.
By visiting these historic mansions, you can simultaneously enjoy a bit of luxury and history. It can be a tremendous educational opportunity for all ages to step back in time. Take your chance to experience these epic homes that are simply stunning. Be sure to take lots of pictures and share them with us. We can’t wait to see the memories you create during these adventures!
