50 Historic American Homes And Mansions You Must See

There are homes, and then there are homes.

Throughout the United States, there are noteworthy houses and mansions that simply stand out - if not for their opulence then certainly for their significance.

They bear the names of presidents and captains of industry and inventors and cabinet members and just plain ol' rich folk.

So we looked at a plethora of homes and mansions across the country that are generally considered the most beautiful, whimsical, culturally important and/or most historically significant, and came up with a list of 50 that are definitely worth traveling to see.

These are not ranked in order of best or most important, nor are they from all 50 states. But they are what we believe to be 50 that deserve a visit.

This mansion will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2025 and was the home of John and Mable Ringling - yes, those Ringling's, of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The iconic circus shuttered in 2017 after 146 years.

Built in 1928, this is one of the classic 'weekend homes' overlooking the water. Castle Hill has 59 rooms in case you wanted to have a few friends over and has exquisite grounds as well.

Completed in 1895, this opulent estate is the largest private residence in the U.S. at 175,000 feet. It also sits on 8,000 acres or more than 10 square miles. Parts of the home are open as a tourist attraction.

It might not look like it, but there's a whopping 35,000 square feet in this house built for Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain. Today it's worth $16.5 million and is owned by actor Hal Holbrook.

According to the National Park Service, the Russian Bishop's House is one of the few surviving examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America. Sitka was the Russian colonial capital when completed in 1842 and was the center of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Thomas Jefferson, our third president, was ahead of his time in designing his own home. They include indoor plumbing and the Murphy Bed, which folds up into the wall.

America's Home. And so easy to get around to see from virtually anywhere in the city. You might not always agree with the tenant, but it's still the symbol of American pride.

Situated along the Atlantic Ocean on one of the most spectacular drives you'll ever take, this was yet another one of gazillionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt's home. The home itself, sitting on a cliff above the ocean, takes up one full acre of the 13-acre property.

This literal castle took 28 years to fully complete. It was the home of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, whose life was the fictional premise of the Orson Welles classic film "Citizen Kane." The castle has 56 bedrooms and 61 bathrooms.

This is one of Alabama's - and the country's - great Greek Revival homes, a style of architecture prevalent in the south. Ironically, Gaineswood began its life as a cabin before General Nathan Bryan Whitfield got a hold of it and renovated it around the time of the Civil War.

Technically, these aren't a mansion. But they are collectively a series of Victorian homes in what is known as San Francisco's Postcard Row - and, arguably, aside from the White House, might be the most photographed home(s) in America.

One of the older mansions in the country, it was built in 1738. Almost 300 years later, Drayton Hall retains virtually all of its original condition, a testament to the designers and builders.

This Gilden Age home is a classic example of New England architecture. But the wow factor is the gardens, including the famous 'Blue Steps' fountains.

Now, if you want Greek Revival, Savannah is the place to be. Built in 1842, the Fowlkes House is historic for its columns in the main hall and its chandeliers.

One of two great homes in upstate New York that are literally within two miles of each other (the Vanderbilt home being the other, see next slide). This is where President Franklin D. Roosevelt was born and lived even through his four-term presidency before passing away in office in 1945.

Like its neighbor down the road, the FDR Home, the Vanderbilt Mansion is perched right above the Hudson River. The home is a classic Beaux-Arts architectural style on more than 200 acres. Today, the mansion and the FDR home are both tourist attractions.

You talk about scenic, Vizcaya is located in Miami's famous Biscayne Bay. Completed in 1922, Vizcaya was built to resemble Italian architecture and a classic villa.

If you picture a plantation with great columns and a long driveway leading up to the front of the house, this is it. Arguably the prototype of antebellum Old South mansions, the house dates back to 1839.

The Hill House is one of the more unique American mansions. While other homes have more width and depth, Hill House is five stories tall, including a two-story art gallery. It also has a whopping 22 fireplaces. Check out the dining room and see if you can find the secret door to the walk-in safe.

Pasadena has a reputation for "old money." Doesn't get a lot older than the famed Procter & Gamble Co. Guess which one built this house and named it after himself?

Another famous family built this home - and several others like it - in the Wilmington area. Meet the DuPonts, Alfred DuPont, to be specific, who had this 102-room mansion built for his second wife and hired the same firm that designed the New York Public Library.

One of those culturally significant homes that we talked about earlier. This is where the great writer lived from 1931 to 1940, although the home was built long before Hemingway became the owner. It is now famously home to more than three dozen six-towed cats.

The Civil War-era home was already one of the must-see attractions in Savannah, and then something happened. And that something was the 1994 publication - and subsequent film - "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." This is the actual home chronicled in the book and movie about a scandalous murder.

The great American statesman Henry Clay - a Congressman, a U.S. Senator and a Secretary of State - built this home. It's actually quite modest with "only" 18 rooms.

Don't bother counting - there really are seven gables on the House of the Seven Gables. This is one of the oldest homes in the nation, dating back to 1668. And certainly one of its most famous after the novel of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

A beautiful 39-room mansion overlooking Lake Superior. Yet for all that beauty, many folks remember Glensheen as the place where heiress Elisabeth Manning Congdon and her nurse were murdered in 1977. The University of Minnesota is now the custodian of the home and re-opened it as a museum.

Arguably the home with the most quirky name. Drumthwacket is a Greek Revival mansion built in 1834 and originally conceived as the governor's mansion. It has not been used in that way in 15 years.

Located on Long Island's Gold Coast, Oheka Castle remains the second-largest private residence in the U.S. Partly, anyway. Oheka Castle is a very popular, and expensive, venue for weddings.

Names after husband and wife Henry and Georgiana Pittock, the former a publisher of The Oregonian newspaper at the turn of the 20th century. They were also notable for helping to develop the Oregon Trail.

One of the 'newer' mansions on this last, the home was designed by the famous Frank Lloyd Wright. This was designed as a weekend home for a wealthy family and features a cantilevered waterfall rushing off the mansion.

Of course this has to be on the list - it's the home of American royalty, The King himself, Elvis Presley. Built in 1938, Elvis bought it in 1957 when he hit it big. It is now a tourist attraction that draws more than half-a-million fans every year.

It's a great dwelling, to be sure. But Bishop's Palace is also said to feature the ghost of homeowner Walter Gresham, who apparently shows up after big storms to make sure nothing is wrong with the structure.

A great American home with a great backstory. It was built by Robert Todd Lincoln, the only one of the four sons born to Mary Todd Lincoln and the 16th President to survive into adulthood. A Lincoln lived in this house all the way to 1975.

One of the most famous and iconic homes in the country. This was the retreat for George and Martha Washington, a home that was actually first built as a farmhouse by George's father. The sprawling estate is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country.

Built in 1892, it was specifically designed to resemble a medieval castle and is now a hotel. It is said to be haunted by a monk who allegedly killed himself.

In the New York City suburb of Westchester County, Kykuit was the fancy name for what became known as the John D. Rockefeller Estate. The 40-room mansion sits on 3,400 acres and was built in 1913 by the financier himself.

The property, now open to the public, was built in 1850 by Thomas and Ann Drayton. It sits on 450 acres, which are just as beautiful as the house.

Declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Montpelier was the home of James - the fourth president of the United States - and Dolly Madison. It was originally built in 1764.

Built by Harvey Merrick Vaile and his wife Sophia in 1881. The property, which sits on almost six acres, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The property alone is incredible - 590 acres. Built in 1912, Swannanoa is an Italian Renaissance Revival-style home, complete with the marble. It cost $2 million back in the day to construct the home and its 52 rooms.

Yep, this one was built for Captain Frederick Pabst, the beer magnate. The home is one of the few to break free of the Italian or Greek Revival style. Instead, it was inspired by the Flemish Renaissance.

Built in 1928, Swan House sits on 28 acres. Unfortunately, owner Edward Inman didn't get a chance to truly enjoy it - he passed away just three years after moving in. The home served as a backdrop in two "Hunger Games" movies and underwent a restoration in 2004.

Also known as Whitehall, this home was completed in 1902 for Henry Flagler, a railroad magnate who was also instrumental in turning Florida into a tourist destination. There are 75 rooms in the mansion, which has been turned into a museum.

Another of the fabled plantations that dot the Louisiana landscape, Houmas House is, in fact, also known as Burnside Plantation. It sits on 10 acres and is privately owned.

Completed in 1872, this was the home of Supreme Court Justice David Davis, who served from 1862-1877 before becoming a U.S. Senator.

This place is mammoth. Built in 1895, Cairnwood is 26,000 square feet designed by the legendary architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings.

Fair Lane was the estate of Ford Motor Company founder and American pioneer Henry Ford and his wife Clara. It was built in 1915 and designed by a who's who of architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright.

Sitting on 65 gorgeous acres, Glenview was the home of Catherine and Richard Johns Bowie. The interesting thing is, the city of Rockville purchased the property back in the day for $125,000. It's worth 50 times that now.

Completed in 1857. One of the more interesting things about this home is that it was built in the Queen Anne style, a welcome change when many mansions in the same period were done in Greek Revival or Italian villa.

Well, let's get to the obvious. The Wedding Cake House is so named because it resembles a tiered wedding cake. The home was built in 1825 by shipbuilder George W. Bourne, who constructed it himself with the help of only one other person.