Watching a movie with a plot involving a castle in a far-off place adds a little romanticism to the story. As Americans, we’ve long looked at castles in European countries for this reason and have been fascinated with their story. However, it’s also important to know there are castles in the U.S. you can see up close and personal. The work of some incredible architects and the dreams of a few very wealthy homeowners have ensured you can travel around the country and see some beautiful castles right here at home.
12. Castle in the Clouds
Beautiful views surround Castle in the Clouds.
- Location: Moultonborough, New Hampshire
Currently preserved by the Castle Preservation Society, Castle in the Clouds is a 16-room mansion set on a mountaintop in New Hampshire with incredible views of the Ossipee Mountains.
11. Marble House
Marble House is a former Vanderbilt Gilded Age mansion.
- Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Marble House is a Gilded Age mansion now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an American-style castle built for members of the Vanderbilt family.
10. Thornewood Castle
Thornewood Castle is a beautiful bed and breakfast castle.
- Location: Lakewood, Washington
Thornewood Castle, an English-style castle in Washington state, is a 15th-century home that now operates as a bed and breakfast.
9. Hammond Castle
Hammond Castle now shows off its previous owner’s extensive antique collection.
- Location: Gloucester, Massachusetts
Constructed in the 1920s, the 15th-century-style home of John Hays Hammond Jr., who patented technology related to the remote control, now operates as a museum displaying his collection of medieval and renaissance-style artifacts.
8. Searles Castle
Searles Castle has been converted into an event space for weddings.
- Location: Windham, New Hampshire
Searles Castle is a popular wedding venue with seven towers and a traditional castle stone exterior. As of 2019, the one-time home of Edward Francis Searles in the early 1900s is now an event space.
7. Smithsonian Castle
The Smithsonian Castle is an important part of Washington, D.C.
- Location: Washington, D.C.
A US National Historic Landmark, the gothic-style Smithsonian Castle is located on the National Mall and houses the Smithsonian’s administrative offices, though it’s currently closed for renovation.
6. Grey Towers Castle
Grey Towers Castle went from home to a university building.
- Location: Glenside, Pennsylvania
Situated on the campus of Arcadia University, Grey Towers Castle was purchased from the estate of William Welsh Harrison, a sugar baron who built it in the late 1800s.
5. Castello di Amorosa
Castello di Amorosa is home to a beautiful selection of wines.
- Location: Calistoga, California
A medieval-style winery, Castello di Amorosa is the ideal place to visit if you want a backdrop in medieval times paired with modern-day winemaking. The castle, built in 1993, has 107 rooms and 121,000 square feet open to visitors.
4. Belvedere Castle
Belvedere Castle is located in the heart of Central Park.
- Location: New York City, New York
Built in 1867, Belvedere Castle is located on the second-highest point of Central Park. Since 1869, it has served as the US Weather Bureau’s official weather station.
3. Bannerman Castle
Bannerman Castle is quite literally located on its own island.
- Location: Beacon, New York
Bannerman Castle was built on a New York State Island by Scottish businessman Frank Bannerman in the early 1900s. Sadly, a fire devastated the castle in 1969, though visitors can take a ferry to the island and walk through the remains.
2. Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle is open for visitors for part of the year.
- Location: Alexandria Bay, New York
Hotelier George C. Boldt once owned this early 1900s home as his family’s summer retreat. After being abandoned for 70 years, the six-story home is now open for visitors from mid-May to early October.
1. Biltmore Estate
The Biltmore Estate is the largest home in America.
- Location: Asheville, North Carolina
The largest home in America, the Biltmore Estate, is 175,000 square feet of pure American castle. It’s almost hard to believe this was once a real home and is now a tourist destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks