When people think of fairytale castles, they tend to think of Europe. Nevertheless, the US has chateaus, mansions, and even a palace or two of its own. Thus, without further ado, we present the most beautiful castles in the USA.

Beautiful Castles in the US

1.  Hearst Castle, California

Situated on a hill overlooking San Simeon, construction on Hearst Castle began in 1919 and ended in 1947. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan for newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. The 127-acre property includes four separate buildings and terraced gardens. The guesthouse offers visitors panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.

The main building of Hearst Castle includes a gothic study that is highlighted by a noteworthy vaulted Spanish ceiling that goes back to the 1400s.

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 The Biltmore Estate, North Carolina

Situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, this place required six years to build. It began in 1889 after George Vanderbilt fell in love with the area while visiting. He hired architect Richard Morris Hunt to design this 250-room French Renaissance chateau which includes a bowling alley and a banquet hall. He also hired landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to handle the grounds. It features a 15-acre Azalea Garden and its own vineyard and winery.

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Boldt Castle, New York

This is a Rhineland-influenced castle nestled on a small island in the Thousand Islands region. George C. Boldt, a hotel magnate, began building the place in 1900. He halted construction when his wife passed away just months prior to the castle’s completion. 70+ years later, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority took ownership of the property and made it what it is today. It features the famous 120-room castle (with drawbridge), and the attractive Alster Tower. 

The Breakers, Rhode Island

The Breakers is nestled in Newport. It was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and built in 1895 for the Vanderbilt family. At the time, the coastal town was a playground for the rich and famous.

The building’s ornate design was actually inspired by Italian Renaissance palaces from the 1500s. The 70-room manse is highlighted by a great grand dining room, complete with gilded cornice and freestanding columns. You can visit this mansion all year round.

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Bishop’s Palace, Texas

You will find beautiful Bishop’s Place, a.k.a. Gresham’s House, in the East End Historic District in Galveston. It was constructed in the late 1800s for lawyer and businessman Colonel Walter Gresham. Architectural historians say it’s one of the country’s “most significant structures.” It was designed by local architect Nicholas Clayton.

This chateau-like manse was made of stone and steel. Its interior features include decorative wood carvings, stained glass windows, and a magnificent mahogany stairwell.

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Bannerman Castle, New York

This castle is roughly 60 miles up the well-known Hudson River from the Big Apple. It was built by Scottish-American munitions merchant Francis Bannerman in the early 1900s. It was designed to be an arsenal and to look like an olden medieval Scottish fortress.

When Bannerman died in 1918, the place began to fall apart. In 1969 much of it was destroyed by a ferocious fire. It is now managed by the Bannerman Castle Trust.

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Castello di Amorosa, California

Castello di Amorosa is in Napa Valley. It has the appearance of a Tuscany castle from the 1200s, but it was not officially opened until 2007. It took 14 years to build and was designed by the owner, fourth-generation winemaker Dario Sattui. Today this 107-room building is a winery where they produce award-winning wines. It features a dungeon, a drawbridge, a torture chamber, and a great hall complete with replica Italian frescoes.

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Fonthill Castle, Pennsylvania

Once the residence of archaeologist Henry Chapman Mercer, the famous Fonthill Castle was built between 1908 and 1912. Located in Doylestown, this home was meant to showcase Mercer’s collection of prints and tiles. Designed by Mercer, this castle is actually an eclectic assortment of architectural styles including Byzantine, gothic, and medieval. It includes 18 fireplaces, 44 rooms, and over 200 windows. Today it’s a museum. You’ll also find the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works on the grounds too.

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Iolani Palace, Hawaii

The Iolani Palace, the residence of the last Hawaiian royalty, was constructed by King Kalakaua in Honolulu in 1882. It was reportedly meant to increase the “Kingdom of Hawaii’s prestige” as a contemporary country overseas. It is the sole royal home in the entire USA.

The monarchy’s reign ended in 1893. Iolani Palace went on to become the official capitol building. In 1978 it became a museum. The palace remains the only example of American Florentine architecture.

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The Lyndhurst Mansion, New York

Nestled along the Hudson River in Tarrytown, was designed by architect Alexander Jackson Davis. He built this gothic revival manse in 1838. Experts note it’s one of America’s “finest castles” and has been the home of a few celebrities including railroad tycoon Jay Gould and former New York City mayor William Paulding. Be sure to see the art gallery which features such significant work as famous French artist William Bouguereau’s 1866 artwork First Caresses.

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Thornewood Castle, Washington

Constructed more than 100 years ago, this castle–found on American Lake in Lakewood–is actually a lot older. It’s a 400-year-old English manor that banker and developer Chester Thorne had dismantled, shipped, and rebuilt with the aid of architect Kirtland Kelsey Cutter. Today the estate is an inn that offers travelers the use of the property’s private dock and lovely lakeside beach. Be sure to see the sunken “secret garden” designed by the well-known Olmsted Brothers.

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Hammond Castle, Massachusetts

Inspired by his love for English castles, inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. began construction on Hammond Castle in 1926. It was finished in 1929 and was meant to be both his residence and laboratory. It was made of local stone and numerous medieval, Renaissance, and Roman artifacts from Hammond’s travels. The castle overlooks Gloucester Harbor and is currently a museum. Be sure to see the inner courtyard too which consists partly of medieval storefronts Hammond found in France.

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