5 Must See Castles in the United States!

When you think of castles, you might think of the grand structures of ancient Europe, steeped in centuries of history and charm. However, the United States boasts its own collection of impressive castles, constructed as lavish homes by wealthy industrialists and business tycoons during the Gilded Age. These magnificent structures showcase the era of opulence, before America was faced with the Great Depression. From the east to the west, these castles incorporate styles ranging from Scottish Baronial to Medieval Revival, and have been preserved as museums, hotels, or venues, allowing guests and visitors to take in America's castle-building era. Wherever you are in the nation, check out our list and see if one of these historical landmarks is near you!

Joslyn Castle

Let's head to Omaha, Nebraska and start from 1879, when George and Sarah Joslyn moved to Des Moines, Iowa. This under-30 couple headed west to pursue entrepreneurship, where George got hired to work for a printing firm. By 1896, he owned the company and renamed it the Western Newspaper Union, supplying pre-printed sheets of newsprint with general news and features and shipping them to over 7,500 small towns. Local editors could print their own town news on the opposite side, an innovation that spread to over 70% of the population.

With his newfound wealth, George and Sarah started building their dream home, which was completed in 1903: a 35-room, 4-story mansion made in Scottish Baronial style, atop a hill. This architectural style is hallmarked by crow-stepped gables, crenellations, and small turrets. It was mostly seen in this era throughout Great Britain, the US, and Canada, and became iconic for "Gilded Age millionaires," combining aspects of old money and sophistication with modernism. Completed in only 18 months and for $250,000, this lavish castle was constructed using carved wood, stained glass, chiseled stone, mosaic tiles, and wrought iron. The castle and outbuildings are made of Kansas Silverdale limestone. Inside, the castle houses a reception hall, music room, ballroom, a library, and gold drawing room. The conservatory was designed by Chicago-based landscape architect Jens Jensen. The wrought iron door weighs a literal ton.

This power couple didn't just excel at business; they were also philanthropists! George donated $25,000 to the University of Omaha and provided the university building they used until 1938. He also supported the Fontenelle Home for the Aged, the Visiting Nurses Association, and the Nebraska Humane Society. Sarah's most prominent gift to Omaha was the Joslyn Castle itself, which first served as the Omaha Public Schools administration offices. In 2010, it was taken over by the State of Nebraska, and Joslyn Castle & Gardens (a nonprofit organization) purchased it from the state. Now the castle is an Omaha Landmark Historic Structure, is on the National Register of Historic Places for National Significance, and welcomes up to 50,000 visitors annually.

Glen Eyrie Castle

While George and Sarah were heading west, General William Jackson Palmer had already built the Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs. Known for his efforts in the American Civil War and as a surveyor for the Kansas Pacific Railway, he traveled through the Colorado Territory looking for alternate routes. In 1871, he founded the Fountain Colony, which would later become Colorado Springs. He provided funding for the college and in two years, the town had grown to 1,500 residents, complete with schools, churches, banks, and a local newspaper. He donated the land that would become eight local parks, scenic drives, and a variety of paths. He also provided the land for the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, libraries, hospitals, and a tuberculosis sanatorium. He had created a thriving city.

After marrying his wife, Mary Lincoln Palmer, the year prior, he had a home built in Colorado Springs for his family—this home would later become Glen Eyrie Castle. Though it started as a large carriage house, Mary had the house remodeled in 1881 to create a 22-room frame house, eventually adding a tower, 24 fireplaces, additional rooms, and redesigning it to look like a stone castle native to England. Even as a historical landmark, the castle included some advanced innovations, such as an intercom system and a two-chimney system that directed smoke depending on the wind.

The Glen Eyrie Castle went from the Palmers to the Strake Family in 1938, and they were able to dedicate funds to repairing and caring for the home. However, a flood in 1949 devastated the land, and in 1953, the castle was purchased by a Christian organization called The Navigators, who own the castle to this day. The Navigators continue to use Glen Eyrie Castle as their headquarters but open the grounds publicly for tours, events, meetings, an annual Christmas Banquet, and an afternoon tea service in the Music Room. Guests can stay in either one of the seventeen historical rooms or rent out one of the six lodgings on the property. Visitors can also see the largest herd of bighorn sheep in Colorado, which often graze on the grounds.

Bishop's Palace

Built between 1887 and 1892, Bishop's Palace shows that even Texas got the castle-building memo. Colonel Walter Gresham and his wife, Josephine, hired Galveston-local architect Nicholas J. Clayton to design a Victorian mansion that combines French Revival with Texan flair. Clayton combined varicolored stone, cast-iron galleries, and fantastical carvings of animals, people, and mythical creatures. The four towers rise four stories high and alternate with Medieval and Renaissance details. Exterior features were built out of Texas stone, like granite and sandstone, cut on site. The rest of the castle was also built of stone and was so sturdy that it survived the 1900 storm with minimal damage.

In 1923, the Archdiocese of Galveston purchased the property, which then served as the home for Bishop Christopher E. Byrne, giving the mansion its new name as Bishop's Palace. When the Diocese moved their offices to Houston, the building was opened to the public in 1963, and proceeds from tours helped fund the University of Texas medical school's Newman Center, which was operating in the basement. Bishop's Palace received Recorded Texas Historical Landmark status in 1967 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and to the Galveston East End Historic District in 1975.

In 2013, the Galveston Historical Foundation purchased the castle-like building from the archdiocese for $3 million and began a multi-million dollar renovation in 2020. The first phase included restoring the copper roof sections and renovating the conservatory. This year marks the beginning of the next renovation phase, which involves replacing the 1920s tile roof with an exact replica and replacing the ornamental figurines that once capped the rooftop but were lost in 1983. These new elements are being manufactured by Ludowici.

Today, visitors can take self-guided tours that now include previously off-limits locations, such as Mrs. Gresham's studio, which offers a one-of-a-kind third-floor view of the gulf, though people are usually amazed right when they enter the doors. Visitors initially pass through an arched doorway between marble columns, opening to 14-foot ceilings, stained glass windows, and the centerpiece: a 40-foot octagonal mahogany stairwell. For folks that can't wait to see it in person, there's a virtual tour available here.

Givins Beverly Castle

Heading a little more eastward, we reach Chicago, Illinois's Givins Beverly, also known as "Chicago's Only Castle." Built in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago between 1886–1887 under Robert C. Givins, this real estate developer was so inspired by the castles of his ancestral home of Ireland that he set to sketching and building one for himself. One source speculates the castle was a gift to his wife, but little information can be found about her and whether or not she herself was a fan of ancient Irish architecture. Building the castle did, however, spark residential growth along the Rock Island Line and has continued to be an iconic structure for the neighborhood even to this day.

This solid Joliet limestone mansion cost $80,000 (at the time) and was built to both emulate Givins' Irish background and the then-popular Richardsonian Romanesque style. The Givins Beverly Castle sits three stories high with round lookout towers atop a hill in the Longwood Drive Historic District. However, after a documentary and book were made of the five castle keepers, any other information regarding the history of the castle is difficult to find without purchase.

In 1942, the Beverly Unitarian Fellowship purchased the castle and managed to fundraise and receive state grants for all new custom windows. To this day, they continue to manage the castle as the Beverly Unitarian Church, keeping it a public structure for the community. The Givins Beverly is open daily as a preschool, an event center, meeting hall and more. Self-guided tours of the first and second floors are offered.

Lambert Castle

Born in England in 1834, Catholina Lambert would prove himself a young man determined to achieve all he could at ten years old, when he got his first job as an errand boy at Boar's Head Mill. Within the next seven years, he saved 5 pounds sterling and used it to head to Boston, MA in 1851. He got a job at a silk factory, where he slowly became partner to the owner, and finally, purchased the company. In 1857, Lambert married Isabella Shattuck and had eight children. In the 1860s, they moved to Paterson, New Jersey and purchased the Maplewood estate. Business was thriving and Lambert became a collector of antiques and art over the following years. In fact, by 1891 Lambert's collection was so large, the Maplewood Estate was no longer large enough to contain it. This is when he began building Bella Vista, later known as the Lambert Castle.

The Lambert Castle was built on the side of the First Watchung Mountain out of granite and sandstone quarried from the nearby hills. The design was inspired by castles Lambert recalled in Great Britain from his childhood, in a Medieval Revival architectural style. In 1896, the castle added a summerhouse, a 100-foot by 35-foot official art gallery and, separately, Lambert constructed a 70-foot observation tower on the crest of the cliff. When the castle was completed in 1898, it was visited by then-President William McKinley, who described it as the "Louvre of America."

After Isabella died in 1901, Lambert named the home Bella Vista after his late wife. Though problems in the silk industry in 1913 forced him to sell his art collection within the following three years, he remained at Bella Vista until he passed away in 1923. His family sold the building to the City of Paterson, which later sold it to Passaic County. Passaic County later provided one room to the Passaic County Historical Society in 1936 to serve as a museum.

The museum grew until it filled up the entire first floor, and the Passaic County Historical Society now owns the Lambert Castle. In 2014, the Garret Rock Observation tower was renovated and reopened to the public for free, featuring stunning panoramic views from the top. Though the main building is currently closed for renovations, it's scheduled to reopen in 2026. However, the exterior is still a historical sight of impressive architecture in the US, and the observation tower is open for business!

As you drive from coast to coast, looking for an air-conditioned stop for the whole family to enjoy, and enough variety to explore for several hours, check out one of our country's castles! Whether it's the Joslyn Castle in Omaha, Nebraska, or the Lambert Castle in New Jersey, remember that Interstate Signways guided the way!