17-07-2025
Best Historical Home Tour
Andrew Low House Museum | Savannah, GA
Photo courtesy of Andrew Low House Museum
Photo courtesy of Andrew Low House Museum
Once owned by Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, the Andrew Low House Museum preserves the rich and complicated heritage of an 1850s Southern seaport city. Throughout, you'll see the family's prized possessions, from 18th-century porcelain to a rosewood writing desk often used by the Lows' famous visitors. And you can stroll through one of Savannah's only remaining antebellum gardens before relaxing under the shade of the Natchez crape myrtles.
Biltmore Estate | Asheville, NC
Photo courtesy of Daniel Wright/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Daniel Wright/iStock by Getty Images
Hidden in Western North Carolina's mountains is the majestic Biltmore Estate, America's largest privately owned home. You can explore its 8,000 acres of pristine gardens, greenhouses and forest trails after a tour of the 250-room Gilded Age mansion (which covers 4 acres) or a tasting at the award-winning winery. The house has more than just period furnishings; world-class art from masters like Albrecht Dürer and Claude Monet graces the walls.
Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum | Key West, FL
Photo courtesy of Petr Kahanek/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Petr Kahanek/iStock by Getty Images
See what inspired one of the 20th century's most influential American writers inside the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, from the massive in-ground pool—the first ever built in Key West—to the famous cat population that has descended from Hemingway's favorite cat, Snow White. Want to channel the creative spirit of Hemingway? The Evening Writing Experience lets you freely wander the grounds and writing studio to hunt for your own inspiration.
Gamble House | Pasadena, CA
Photo courtesy of Kirkikis/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Kirkikis/iStock by Getty Images
Stained glass windows, hand-carved wood at every turn, custom architecture that seamlessly blends into nature: the Gamble House is an icon of the American craftsman style. This 1908 artistic wonder offers all kinds of tours, including one-hour walks through rooms with original furnishings, behind-the-scenes looks at the house's exquisite craftsmanship, guided rambles through the gardens and in-depth explorations with a glass artist.
Georgia O'Keeffe Home & Studio | Abiquiú, NM
Photo courtesy of Ann Talbot/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Ann Talbot/iStock by Getty Images
The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum invites you to tour the home of the famous American painter for a glimpse of what inspired her work. You'll see the studio where O'Keeffe prepared canvases, her wardrobe still hanging in the closet, and the lovely garden and patio where more than two dozen of her artistic ideas sprang to life. Even if you're not an art aficionado, the Southwest-meets-mid-century-modern furnishings are worth a visit.
Hay House | Macon, GA
Photo courtesy of Alex Potemkin/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Alex Potemkin/iStock by Getty Images
From the underground wine cellar to the widow's walk with 360-degree views of downtown Macon, the Hay House is one of the South's architectural treasures. It was also a technological marvel in 1859, with central heat and running water both hot and cold. See for yourself as you look up into the two-story cupola (part of the house's advanced ventilation system) or explore the in-house kitchen, a mid-19th-century rarity.
Hearst Castle | San Simeon, CA
Photo courtesy of simonkr/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of simonkr/iStock by Getty Images
You may forget you're in California and not the European countryside as you take in the grandeur of Hearst Castle. Spanish ceilings from the early 1400s, ancient Egyptian and Greek art, the brilliant blue Neptune Pool—there's so much art and architecture to admire. There's a tour for every taste, whether you want to see the mansion's luxurious rooms, the cozy kitchen and guest cottages, or the moonlit sculpture gardens.
Hills & Dales Estate | LaGrange, GA
Photo courtesy of ablokhin/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of ablokhin/iStock by Getty Images
While the property's Callaway house, a stunning Georgian Italian villa built in 1916, is definitely worth touring, the 35 acres of formal gardens at Hills & Dales Estate is the big attraction. The meticulous flower beds and winding paths existed decades before the house, lovingly designed and planted by one woman who wanted blooms and fragrance year round. It's now one of the best-preserved 19th-century gardens in the nation.
Marland Mansion | Ponca City, OK
Photo courtesy of Gregory_DUBUS/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Gregory_DUBUS/iStock by Getty Images
Known as the "palace on the Plains," the Marland Mansion was the vision of an eccentric Oklahoma oil baron almost a hundred years ago. Life-size statues of the Marland family, extravagant Italian architecture inspired by a palace in Florence, hand-painted ceilings and hand-carved wood walls—every square inch of this National Historic Landmark is lavishly adorned. Want to add some palatial pizzazz to your next party? You can rent the mansion.
McFaddin-Ward House | Beaumont, TX
Photo courtesy of pidjoe/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of pidjoe/iStock by Getty Images
The turn of the 20th century's opulence is on full display at the McFaddin-Ward House, a Beaux Arts beauty built during the first Texas oil boom. Tour guides take you through three furnished floors filled with history as well as seasonal exhibits (the glitzy holiday dresses and priceless dinnerware are popular draws) and the Carriage House's antique gym equipment. The best part? Tours are free!
Molly Brown House Museum | Denver, CO
Photo courtesy of Molly Brown House Museum
Photo courtesy of Molly Brown House Museum
Beautifully eclectic and Victorian, the charming Molly Brown House Museum celebrates the life of the Unsinkable Molly Brown, who became world famous for surviving the Titanic shipwreck. Once you pass the giant lions and sphinx that guard the entrance, you'll be ushered inside to see Molly's collections (almost 10,000 items!) from her years as a world traveler—including a library that's stacked from floor to ceiling with books and souvenirs.
Pabst Mansion | Milwaukee, WI
Photo courtesy of Pabst Mansion
Photo courtesy of Pabst Mansion
Take a trip back to the Gilded Age at the Pabst Mansion, where the family's famous brewery and love for European art shine. On Sundays, you can sip champagne as you wander the elegant home (Blue Ribbon beer tours are available too) and take in its music room that hosted the late 19th century's most popular musicians. All three floors are fully accessible, so everybody can admire the ornate decor.
Taliesin West | Scottsdale, AZ
Photo courtesy of Taliesin West
Photo courtesy of Taliesin West
Frank Lloyd Wright wanted a winter home and studio in a warm place with dramatic landscapes, so he chose the Sonoran Desert for Taliesin West. The nature-inspired complex almost disappears among the rocks and sand used to craft each building. Explore the visionary architect's workspace, including his draft room where some of the world's most iconic buildings were first put on paper. Photos are allowed, so snap some architectural inspiration!
The House of the Seven Gables | Salem, MA
Photo courtesy of The House of the Seven Gables
Photo courtesy of The House of the Seven Gables
Over 350 years old, this mansion by the sea brims with history: the House of the Seven Gables is one of the country's largest timber mansions still on its original foundation. The home features prominently in a Nathaniel Hawthorne novel, adding to its fame. When you're not perusing the Georgian splendor inside or treating your little historian to kid-friendly activities, check out the mansion's events, including spooky bashes in October.
Winchester Mystery House | San Jose, CA
Photo courtesy of Winchester Mystery House
Photo courtesy of Winchester Mystery House
The infamous Winchester Mystery House took 36 years to build, starting as an eight-room farmhouse and ending as a sprawling 160-room mansion. Filled with 19th-century curiosities, architectural oddities and paranormal activities, this bizarre home is a place of intrigue that's drawn millions of visitors over the decades. Each fall, the house comes to life during Festival Fright Nights with food, entertainment and special tours that might leave you haunted.
