Mansions: They’re opulent. They’re enormous. And their histories are rife with social drama. No wonder they pique our curiosity.
The exact definition of the word “mansion” varies but in U.S. real estate terms, it’s generally defined as a single family residence of more than 8,000 square feet. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary just calls it “a large and imposing residence.” Either way, these sizeable dwellings are undoubtedly some of the most beautiful and celebrated examples of residential architecture.
Full List: America's Most Beautiful Mansions
To learn more about these American beauties, we turned to experts, including architects, realtors, authors and preservation and restoration specialists. Together, they provided examples that range from looming-and-eerie to gracious. But if you think America’s mansions are just replicas of their European counterparts, think again. According to Gary Lawrance, an architect and author who specializes in homes of the Gilded Age, “[These homes] were the culmination of European style and American technology.”
The Lyndhurst mansion in Tarrytown, New York, is one-of-a-kind. “Lyndhurst is one of those buildings that if it didn't exist any longer [it] would be hard to find any others to compare it to,” says Lawrance. Notable for its Rhineland castle-like details, the early Gothic Revival residence sits on a knoll overlooking the Hudson River. A four-story tower, sometimes used as an observatory, provides views of the entire estate and on clear days, of Manhattan. Stained glass, sharply arched windows, vaulted ceilings and ornate furnishings play to the mansion’s grand-yet-mysterious appearance (the mansion has appeared in several scary movies).
Another East Coast masterpiece comes in the form of 39,000-square-feet in Newport, Rhode Island. Built for Frederick William Vanderbilt, the Rough Point mansion serves as a pristine example of Newport’s famed Gilded Age. Not only is it architecturally significant, it is strategically situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean; its gardens were designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted.
“In my mind, no house in Newport has a better location,” says Jeanine Kober of the Newport Restoration Foundation. “Pound for pound, its natural beauty is just more dramatic than others.” Its other distinction: the great collections of its owner, Doris Duke who died 19 years ago, didn't leave the house. “Everything's still there from the Renoir to the life-size sterling Tiffany swan centerpiece, to the 1980's Merlin phone system,” adds Kober.
In New York City, there is another world-class mansion, this one built for Frank Woolworth of the Woolworth’s retail chain. Designed by C.H.P. Gilbert, an architect famous for his mansions, the neo-French Renaissance residence was completed in 1916. It features all the gilding, plaster work, hand-carved millwork, and precious stone that you might expect to find in a mansion.
Full List: America's Most Beautiful Mansions
Each level of the seven-story mansion offers delightful details that speak to Woolworth’s massive wealth. Its front drawing room alone spans 35 feet and features an ornate carved fireplace, a grand staircase and mosaic-tile floors. A skylight fashioned from stained glass, a solarium, and a formal dining room that seats fifty guests are among its other opulent features. The mansion, on the market for $90 million, is unusual because its renovation stayed true to traditional pre-war style, according to realtor Kathleen Coumou.
