Famous American Historic Homes
There is a plethora of historic homes that exist in the United States today. Some stand out for their connection to our heritage as a nation. Others are famous for their association with crime, criminals, and movie stars. And, of course, there are the literary greats, the real estate moguls, the media moguls, the publishing giants, and everything in between. Here are some with details that might surprise you.
The former home of Robert E. Lee, also known as the Custis-Lee Mansion, became the home of the honorable Arlington National Cemetery. Overlooking the Potomac River, the Greek Revival-style mansion was selected by the government as the site for the cemetery to ensure that Lee never returned to his home after the Civil War. Situated on 1,100 acres, the mansion houses two kitchens for summer and winter. The most prominent features of the estate are the eight massive 5-foot-diameter columns that support the portico. The mansion is managed by the National Park Service, while the surrounding land, known as Arlington National Cemetery, is managed by the United States Department of the Army.
William Randolph Hearst, newspaper mogul and grandfather of the infamous Patti Hearst, once owned a mansion at 1101 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills, California with his girlfriend, actress Marion Davies. Built in 1926, it has an estimated value of $165 million with 9 bedrooms, 15 baths, 20,570 square feet of living space, and sits on a 153,766 square foot lot. Just a little piece of heaven right outside of Hollywood. If you were in the market to buy the property with a 30-year fixed-rate loan at, say, 4.91 percent with a 20 percent down payment, you’d have estimated monthly payments of just $31,645. Can you say cha-ching?
George Washington Vanderbilt II completed the construction of the Biltmore Estate in 1895, which is located in Asheville, North Carolina. With 250 rooms in 175,000 square feet of living space, the house is the largest private estate in the US and is still owned by Vanderbilt’s grandson, William AV Cecil II. The French Broad River divides the estate in half. Resting magnificently on 8,000 acres, the mansion reflects the sentiment of an elaborate French chateau and the excesses of America’s Gilded Age. It was inducted into the National Historical Society and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Tourists from around the world visit the palatial property throughout the year. Featured are a 70,000-gallon indoor pool, a bowling alley, a two-story library, dated antiques throughout, and 75 acres of formal gardens with a winery and a triple-A, 4-diamond, 213-room hotel called the Inn on Biltmore Estate. Tickets to tour the estate can be purchased in advance on the Biltmore website.
David Gamble of Proctor & Gamble hired the architectural firm Greene & Greene (G&G) to design the Gamble House (also known as the David B. Gamble House), which was completed in 1909. Located in Pasadena, California, the property was declared National hystoric monument. in 1977. G&G designed a matching inlay for the custom furniture and tile surrounds, which were built by contractors Peter and John Hall. A secret door leading to the kitchen is hidden in one of the wooden panels in the entrance hall. Another panel leads to a clothes closet. The three-story Arts and Crafts masterpiece, influenced by Japanese aesthetics, sits on a vast acreage lavishly decorated with Arroyo stone paths that give the effect of streams. Realizing the artistic significance of the estate, the Gamble family deeded Gamble House jointly to the City of Pasadena and the University of Southern California School of Architecture in 1966.
Al Capone surprised law enforcement with his ability to deflect accusations and skirt the law. Infamous for his leadership of the crime syndicate during the Prohibition Era, Capone lived much more modestly in private in contrast to his flamboyant public persona. Located at 7244 S. Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Capone’s modest 4-bedroom, 2-bath unit in the multi-family home was built in 1908. Last known, the home was listed for just $450,000. If you wanted to buy it with a 30-year fixed-rate loan at 4.92 percent with a 20 percent down payment, you’d pay about $1,915 per month.
Nathaniel Hawthorne immortalized the House of Seven Gables in his fictional literary novel of the same name. Located in Salem, Massachusetts, the house is currently a non-profit museum and still functions as an active settlement house that hosts programs for children. Although Hawthorne never lived in the house, he did visit his cousin Susannah Ingersoll, who lived in the house when he was a child. A pretty clever creation found in the home is what looks like a wooden cabinet. The false back, however, opens up to a hidden staircase that leads to the attic.
Erotic king Hugh Hefner lives in his current Playboy Mansion (also known as Playboy Mansion West) in Los Angeles, California. Located at 10236 Charing Cross Road in Holmby Hills, the mansion is famous for its lavish parties and rumors of orgies. Built in 1927, the 14,217-square-foot home sits on a 219,107-square-foot lot and was purchased by Hefner in 1971 for $1.1 million. With 29 rooms, the property is home to a game room, wine cellar, aviary, zoo, tennis courts, waterfall, and swimming pool, along with a sauna and bathhouse. A room in the palatial home known as the “Elvis Suite” has been kept out of public view. Hefner said the room has a feeling because of the one night Elvis Presley stayed there in the early 1970s. He was accompanied by no less than eight girls. Although sports stars, movie stars and rappers request the suite when they come there, Hefner says he has kept it off limits.