15 Beautiful Historic Homes You Need to Visit in Your Lifetime
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For enthusiasts of historic architecture, there's no need to venture too far for your next travel destination. America is brimming with opulent and significant historic homes offering a glimpse into the past, complete with breathtaking gardens and landscapes that are sure to captivate. Many of these historic homes showcase unique architectural details, artfully blending ancient techniques with modernist styles. These distinctive houses reflect the rich tapestry of America's design heritage both inside and out.
Whether you're eager to relive the splendor of the Gilded Age or keen to delve into the lives and dwellings of the nation's notable figures, there's a historic home out there beckoning you to visit and discover its stories. Here, we've compiled a list of 15 historic houses and mansions that offer not just a lesson in design history but also insights into the country itself. Ranging from a modernist jewel nestled in a quaint Connecticut town to a majestic castle perched along the California coast, these are among the best historic homes to visit in America.
The Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina
The Biltmore Estate, America's largest mansion, was commissioned by George Vanderbilt in 1889. It required six years and the skilled hands of local craftsmen to complete this French Renaissance-inspired château, which boasts 250 rooms and expansive gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. In 1930, Vanderbilt's daughter, Cornelia Cecil, welcomed the public into her family home, a tradition that continues to this day. Visitors can now enjoy a wide range of amenities, including a winery, spa, hotel, and cottages, all set among the estate's grounds.
Cedar Hill in Washington, D.C.
Cedar Hill, the focal point of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, served as the residence of the renowned abolitionist, writer, and statesman for 17 years. Douglass acquired the property just outside of Washington D.C. in 1877, expanding it into a 21-room mansion through multiple additions. Following his passing, his wife, Helen Pitts Douglass, established the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association, and later, the site ultimately became part of the National Park Service in 1962. Today, visitors are invited to explore Douglass's legacy through guided tours of the home and its grounds.
The Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut
As a personal passion project, modernist architect Philip Johnson crafted the Glass House to offer panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape from nearly angle in the home. Completed in 1949, this iconic structure, made of glass and steel, features carefully positioned furniture to delineate the various "rooms" within the open space. The house was just the first of 14 structures that the architect built on the property, now named a National Historic Landmark, over a span of 50 years.
The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island
Commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II, The Breakers was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt to replace an existing wood structure that was destroyed by a fire in 1890s. The Italian palazzo-style summer house is composed of 70 rooms. It includes a grand hall with a soaring 50-foot ceiling, a billiards room adorned with hand-set tile mosaics by European craftsmen, and a music room meticulously crafted by design firm Allard & Sons in France, then transported and reassembled on-site.
The Langston Hughes House in New York
Acclaimed poet, playwright, and novelist Langston Hughes lived in on the top-floor of this Italianate brownstone in Harlem, where he famously wrote his works, I Wonder As I Wander and Montage of a Dream Deferred. Officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the home is now managed by a group of activists, writers, and community members. Visitors have the opportunity not only to tour the historic residence, but also to participate in weekly writing workshops, classes, and talks hosted within its storied walls.
Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California
Between 1919 and 1947, newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan worked together to create a hilltop estate, designed in an Italian Renaissance style, overlooking the California coast. The now museum boasts an exceptional collection of art and antiquities across its 165 rooms. Spread across 123 acres, the grounds feature meticulously crafted terraces, gardens, and pools, with the renowned Neptune Pool as its centerpiece.
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Villa Vizcaya in Miami, Florida
Located on Miami's Biscayne Bay, Vizcaya was constructed in 1916 as the vacation home of wealthy industrialist James Deering. Designer Paul Chalfin adorned the Italian Renaissance-style mansion with a lavish array of European furnishings, antiques, and artworks. The mansion, featuring over 70 rooms, includes elements such as imported carved mantels and frescoed ceilings. Now a national landmark, both the home and its expansive gardens are open for the public to explore and experience a bygone era of luxury.
Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania
Fallingwater is widely regarded as one of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces and one of the most significant architectural achievements of the 20th century. Wright's design philosophy sought to harmoniously integrate the built environment with the natural world, which is exemplified by this Pennsylvania home's striking construction over an actual waterfall. In 2019, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized Fallingwater as a World Heritage Site, affirming its global cultural value. Today, this iconic residence welcomes visitors from around the world.
Naumkeag in Berkshires, Massachusetts
Nestled in the Berkshires, Naumkeag exudes Gilded Age glamour throughout its sprawling 48 acres. In 1884, Joseph Choate, a lawyer and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, commissioned the prestigious architecture firm McKim, Mead & White to design the summer retreat with renowned landscape designer Fletcher Steele responsible for the estate's grounds. The impressive 44-room shingle-style home stayed within the Choate family until 1958 when it was given to the Trustees of Reservations.
Nemours Estate in Wilmington, Delware
Built in 1910 by architectural firm Carrère and Hastings, Nemours is a striking homage to classical French architecture, boasting 77 rooms filled with a rich array of art, antiques, and collectibles. Set amidst over 200 acres, the stunning formal gardens, adorned with fountains, towers, and monuments, draw inspiration from the illustrious Palace of Versailles. Additionally, the estate features a carefully curated vintage automobile collection once owned by the du Pont family.
The Oaks in Tuskegee, Alabama
The Oaks served as the residence of educator and author Booker T. Washington during his tenure as the first president of Tuskegee Institute. Constructed in 1900 by students in the Queen Anne Revival style, it was the first home in Macon County equipped with electricity and steam heating. The National Park Service acquired the home in 1974, integrating it into the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, which guests can visit today.
Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia
Thomas Jefferson initiated the design for Monticello in the 1760s, drawing architectural inspiration from the works of Andrea Palladio as well as ancient and Renaissance structures. The former president reconstructed the home several times over the course of his life, also cultivating both culinary and ornamental gardens that continue to flourish. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and now functioning as a museum, Monticello offers visitors exhibitions that provide insights into Jefferson's life, the estate itself, and the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked there.
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Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York
As the country's second-largest private residence, Oheka Castle was the lavish home of financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn and his family. With its 127 rooms and exquisite formal gardens, the estate was the backdrop for some of the Gilded Age's most extravagant parties. Following an extensive restoration, the mansion now functions as a luxurious wedding venue and hotel. Oheka Castle has also gained contemporary fame after being featured in award-winning television shows such as Succession.
Vaile Mansion in Independence, Missouri
Commissioned in 1881 by Colonel and Mrs. Harvey Vaile, the eponymous Vaile Mansion stands as a Victorian treasure, constructed with hand-pressed red brick and elegantly trimmed with white limestone. Upon entering, guests are met with a striking black walnut grand staircase in the Gothic style, and the main parlor features mantels intricately carved from snowy white Carrara marble sourced from Italy. Today, the mansion is open for public tours and hosts an annual strawberry festival.
The Swan House in Atlanta
The Swan House, crafted by architect Philip Trammell Shutze in 1928, marries Italian and English classical styles with a distinctive Southern flair. The interiors, designed by Ruby Ross Wood, present a rare preservation, as the home stands as the only residence with her decoration still intact. The Swan House Now a serves as house museum and the headquarters of the Atlanta Historical Society.
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