From being the newfound region in 1492 to becoming the land of opportunities, America has come a long way. In these five centuries, the country has developed a rich heritage and culture. Here are a few of its architectural marvels that are simply breathtaking.
Gaineswood
It is unbelievable that this prized property in Demopolis was actually a dogtrot cabin. In circa 1843, General Nathan Bryan Whitfield, its owner and architect remodeled the structure to give it a better shape.
At present, it is among Alabama’s most picturesque Greek Revival buildings.
Russian Bishop’s House
Imperial Russia surely played a pivotal role in Alaska’s development – a few prominent examples of its colonial roots can be seen in the architecture of many buildings.
The Bishop’s House in the state was constructed in 1842 and is located in Sitka, the colonial capital of the Russians, back in the day.
The Wrigley Mansion
BCFC/Shutterstock: The Wrigley Mansion is a landmark building
It was the year 1929 when chewing gum mogul William Wrigley Jr. started building an extensive Spanish colonial-style house with a beautiful view of Phoenix.
Unfortunately, he passed away shortly after the construction got completed. As a fitting tribute to his legacy, the house tours are named Doublemint, Big Red, and Juicyfruit!
Johnny Cash’s Childhood Home
Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock: Johnny Cash’s childhood home on the Cotton Highway
The suited man from Arkansas was not born with a silver spoon, and his childhood house was a part of the Dyess Colony, a township that was created to give shelter and stable income for over five hundred farm families.
In a recent restoration drive, the state furnished Cash’s home with decors like the ones seen during the ‘30s.
Painted Ladies
Welcome to the most filmed street of San Francisco, the Postcard Row, which was built by a real-estate developer between the years 1892 and 1896. Sadly for us, we cannot take a peek inside these privately owned houses.
Nevertheless, nothing stops us from savoring the pastels of these homes from a nearby picnic spot, the Alamo Square.
The Molly Brown House
Jim Lambert/Shutterstock: The Molly Brown House is located at 1340 Pennsylvania Street in Denver
Some homes become really famous not due to their architecture, but because of who lived in it. Titanic star Margaret Brown’s mansion in Colorado is a rare exception. Not only was she among the most illustrious women in history, but she also lived in an incredible Victorian-era residence.
Like many properties with a deep-rooted history, this building nearly didn’t make it. Historic Denver, a not-for-profit group, stepped in and made a plea to save it from urban renewal.
Mark Twain House
f11photo/Shutterstock: The Mark Twain House in Hartford
Mark Twain was very fascinated with the 11‚500 sq ft. mansion in Hartford that he shared with Olivia, his wife. He lived there between the years 1874 and 1891, the time when he came up with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
The Connecticut property had been saved from a looming wrecking ball by his friend nearly a hundred years ago, and the Gothic Revival structure continues to look as elegant ever.
Nemours
Delaware is synonymous with the DuPonts, a family whose legacy continues to live in a few of the spectacular mansions around Wilmington (also known as the “Chateau Country”).
Alfred DuPont commissioned a reputed New York firm, Carrère& Hastings, who built the New York Public Library, to construct a 102-room estate and specifically wanted a landscape similar to the gardens in Versailles. A visit to the 300-acre Nemours should be on your travel list if you are around Delaware.
These houses just form the tip of the iceberg if we were to list out all the magnificent structures with a rich history. It is important to cherish and preserve them to leave an impression on future generations.
