Castle sights in USA
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
First Corps of Cadets Armory
Out of place amid Boston’s Colonial, Federal and Victorian architecture, this medieval castle sits on a prominent corner. Complete with castle towers, oriel turrets and parapet walls, the building was constructed in 1891 as an armory for a volunteer militia of wealthy merchants and professionals. Although the First Corps of Cadets was originally founded to guard the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, at the end of the 19th century the group was more concerned with immigrant revolts and lower-class riots (they especially feared the Irish Catholics). Which explains why they constructed this defensive fortress. The castle now houses a swanky steakhouse; the gunroom, s…
reviewed
-
Boldt Castle
Among the thousands of options floating around you, don’t miss a visit to the grandest and most romantic castle of them all: Boldt Castle on Heart Island. This gothic gem was built by George C Boldt, who used to own Manhattan’s famous Waldorf-Astoria hotel. It was supposed to be a replica of a huge castle in Rhineland, Germany, but Boldt abandoned it partway through after his beloved wife Louise died. It was a playground for squirrels and beavers for decades, until a preservation effort in the 1970s reclaimed it and finished it the way Boldt intended.
reviewed
-
B
Mystery Castle
Equal parts Mexican hacienda, Native American cliff dwelling and psychedelic sand castle, the 18-room Mystery Castle was constructed in the 1930s and ’40s by Boyce Luther Gulley for his daughter Mary Lou. It’s an eccentric contraption of stone, recycled telegraph poles, adobe and whatever else he could scavenge, held together by a mix of sand, cement, calcium and goat’s milk. Mary Lou still lives in the house, but is now too frail to conduct the tours herself. Call ahead to make sure it’s open at all.
reviewed
-
Singer Castle
A standout is Singer Castle on Dark Island. It was constructed by the president of the Singer sewing machine company, and modeled on a classic Scottish castle. It’s a spooky sight, all long, gloomy passages and turreted walkways, but you can spend the night in handsomely renovated suites that are luxurious enough for any modern Scottish laird.
reviewed
-
Gillette Castle
The medieval-style Gillette Castle is a wildly eccentric stone-turreted mansion built in 1919 by actor William Hooker Gillette, who made his fortune playing Sherlock Holmes.
reviewed
-
C
ʻlolani Palace
At the heart of downtown Honolulu, the 19th-century ʻ'Iolani Palace offers a unique glimpse of Hawaii's intriguing history.
reviewed
-
D
-
E
Emerald Bay State Park
Sheer granite cliffs and a jagged shoreline hem in glacier-carved Emerald Bay, a spot of supreme natural beauty that will have you burning up the pixels in your digicam. Its most captivating aspect is the water, which changes from cloverleaf green to light jade depending on the angle of the sun.
For a different perspective, explore the 4.8km/3mi-long bay by boat, which is also the only way to get to Fanette Island, Lake Tahoe's lone isle. It is open for exploring and swimming daily, except from February to June 15 to protect nesting Canadian geese.
The focal point of the state park embracing the fjordlike bay is Vikingsholm Castle, a pet project of millionaire heiress Lor…
reviewed
