Compared to Europe that is known for traditional medieval castles, US might not have that many palaces, but we do have hundreds of historic houses with great architecture.
One of the examples of such a house is Isaac Bell House. It was designed by McKean, Mead, and White for a broker and investor Isaac Bell Jr. It is a shingle style house that combines both European and Japanese elements. After Bell died, the house was rented out by Samuel Barger and his family until 1952, then it was used as a nursing home and now it is a museum.
Flickr Creative Commons: Amy Meredith
Castle Hill was built in 1926 by Shepley, Rutan, Coolidge, and Olmstead brothers, who also designed the landscaping. It is located on top of the hill and overlooks the Bay. It has many beautiful gardens, swimming pool, guest cabanas, and indoor ballroom. It was owned by Crane family and now it is owned by The Trustees of Reservations and is open to public. It is a popular place for weddings and other celebrations.
Flickr Creative Commons: Henry Sbyszynski
Located in Manchester, Vermont, Hildene, also known as the Lincoln Family Home. It is a Georgian Revival style house full of beautiful trails, gardens, meadows and wetlands. It was occupied by descendants of Lincoln family until 1975, and then it was purchased by a non-profit organization. It is open for tours now.
Flickr Creative Commons: Shiran Pasternak
Of all the houses described here, this one looks the most like a medieval castle. Fonthill castle is located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania; it was owned by an architect and tile maker Henry Mercer and after his death it was left in trust as a museum of tile. It has 44 rooms, 200 windows, 10 bathrooms, and 18 fireplaces. Here you can enjoy the exhibits and take a look at Mercer’s extensive book collection.
Flickr Creative Commons: Jim
Last but not least is this beautiful estate of a New York lawyer Joseph Choate. It is also a shingle style house designed by McKim, Mead and White. It is known for its large gardens designed by Choate’s daughter and designer Steele. It is now owned by The Trustees of Reservation and is open for tours as well.
Flickr Creative Commons: Esther Westerveld
