The Most Famous House You Can Visit In Every State

If you take a trip to the town of Florence, Alabama, you'll find the state's most famous home: the Rosenbaum House. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1939 — per the Rosenbaum House website — this one-story house is the only house the famed architect has ever created in the state of Alabama. The exact architectural design was actually created as an option for families in the middle class, offered at a lower price than some of Wright's other homes and building plans. Originally, the house was built to be 1,540 square feet — until the Rosenbaum family needed more space for their four children. They actually asked Wright if he would help expand the home, and he agreed. The architect built another 1,084 square feet onto the property.

According to Southern Living, this particular architectural style — called Usonian — was one that Wright continued to improve and perfect as years went on. The Rosenbaum House still stands as one of his original takes on the style, though.

Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, you'll find another of Frank Lloyd Wright's creations: Taliesin West. And, as noted by the Frank Lloyd Wright website, this particular home was (for the most part, at least) actually constructed and preserved by the architect himself and his pupils in 1937. The love and care that went into building this house makes sense, considering Wright used Taliesin West as his home during the winter months. Though he designed plenty of homes in which he didn't live, the architect built this particular structure for himself and as a place to work.

According to ArchDaily, Wright chose Arizona specifically for its warm weather during the winter. About the location, Wright is noted as saying, "Arizona needs its own architecture ... Arizona's long, low, sweeping lines, uptilting planes. Surface patterned after such abstraction in line and color as find 'realism' in the patterns of the rattlesnake, the Gila monster, the chameleon, and the saguaro, cholla or staghorn — or is it the other way around — are inspiration enough."

To quote the Hearst Castle website, this structure is "a museum like no other." The castle is situated in San Simeon, California and has existed since 1865. But the property — which now includes over 250,000 acres — wasn't always as big as it is today. The original owner of the property, George Hearst, only bought 48,000 acres. This was a piece of land called Piedra Blanca Rancho in San Simeon, and the first part of what is now Hearst Castle. Later, George bought two more Ranchos: Santa Rosa and San Simeon.

Long after his death, George's son (William Randolph Hearst) expanded on his family's property. He had spent several years traveling around Europe, and decided to craft his own European-inspired castle right in San Simeon. Hearst enlisted an architect named Julia Morgan to help build his dream home. But even after attempting to build the structure for 28 years, the castle still wasn't finished. Eventually, Hearst had to find medical care outside of San Simeon, and died a few years after. And although you can visit the castle — also called La Casa Grande — today, it was never officially completed.

If you can't make it to Hartford, Connecticut to visit the Mark Twain House, you can actually take a virtual tour of the home — but it's worth seeing in person, too. After all, this house is where, per the Mark Twain House website, the author wrote some of his most notable books. Beginning in 1874, Twain (whose real name was Samuel Clemens) and his family made their home in Hartford, and in the property that is now known as the Mark Twain House.

In the course of 17 years while living in this home, the author penned novels such as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," "The Prince and the Pauper," and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." And, in fact, many of the stories Twain told in his books were clearly inspired by his time in Hartford. To quote the author himself, "To us, our house ... had a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with; and approvals and solicitudes and deep sympathies; it was of us, and we were in its confidence and lived in its grace and in the peace of its benediction."

The city of Miami, Florida isn't all beaches and bars. Tucked away near the water, you'll also find the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens — an estate on 10 acres of land. Originally, this property was the winter home of Charles Deering, who (per Florida Insider) was a preservationist. Due to his anemia, Deering chose to move to Florida part-time, where he could get sun and warmth during the colder months. It was here that he built and developed what is now the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

The property was constructed during the years 1914 to 1922, although Deering officially spent his winters in the house starting in 1916. The Main House was the part of property occupied by Deering, featuring an Italian villa-inspired architectural style with some added Mediterranean flare. As noted by the Vizcaya website, the home was also fitted with heating, refrigerators, elevators, and a vacuum cleaning system.

Welcome to Shangri La in Honolulu, Hawaii — the former home of Doris Duke, built in 1937. Per the Doris Duke Foundation, Doris was the daughter of James Buchanan Duke (one of the people who founded the American Tobacco Company) and Nanaline Holt Inman Duke, who amassed a fortune after her parents' passing. After exploring the world and founding several different charity organizations, Doris and her husband landed in Honolulu. She was reportedly so enamored by the culture of the state that she decided to break ground on Shangri La. Doris hired the architect Marion Sims Wyeth to construct this Honolulu home, and the two worked together to build a house inspired by the Islamic art Doris loved so much.

If you visit Shangri La today, you'll find that it's not merely just a stunning home, but a museum that celebrates Islamic culture, art, and design. There, you can learn more about Doris and explore exhibitions that feature art and intricate murals.

Built for Dr. Edith Farnsworth — according to the Farnsworth House website — the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois is both minimalist and complicated in its architecture. It was crafted by architect Miles van der Rohe in 1945 to serve as Farnsworth's escape in the countryside. In addition to its sleek exterior, one of the more notable aspects of this home is the fact that it sits above the ground on several beams — and we're not talking just a few inches, either. The Farnsworth House is situated five feet and three inches above the ground.

The property sits on 10 acres of land surrounded by trees and woods, and includes windows nearly the entire length of home, giving anyone inside the feeling that they are part of nature right outside. Rather than privacy being achieved by walls and curtains, the woods around the home offer both seclusion and shade.

Though located in Des Moines, Iowa, the Salisbury House looks (and sounds) like a home straight out of England. One peek into the history of this historical house and you'll find that this isn't a coincidence. Per the Salisbury House website, the owner of the house — Carl Weeks, who founded several pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies — had it built to look like one particular home in Salisbury, England. The house after which this Iowan home was designed? The king's, of course.

This Tudor-style mansion cost the Weeks family around $1.5 million — and that was before any decor or furniture was added to the home. To decorate the house, Weeks spent a second $1.5 million. All in all, the property encompasses 11 acres, and includes the house and gardens, as well as a cottage for the manor's caretaker. Inside, you'll find 42 rooms spanning an impressive 22,500 square feet. This massive home was conceived in 1923, but wasn't officially finished for another three years, in 1926.

Step into Lexington, Kentucky, and you'll find the Mary Todd Lincoln House — Mary Todd Lincoln's family home. It has since been turned into a museum to honor Lincoln, featuring artifacts from both the Todd and Lincoln families. When it was first built, though, this property was initially constructed as an inn. That is, of course, until the Todd family moved into the house in 1832. Outfitted with 14 rooms, an outdoor kitchen, and even stables, it is here where Lincoln spent her childhood before moving to Illinois at age 21.

The Todd family remained in the home even after Lincoln left in 1839 — through 1849, specifically. It wasn't until Lincoln's father died that year that the Todds officially left the house and put it up for auction. This was partly due to a few legal battles within the family. Fast forward to 1977 and the house was turned into a restored museum focusing on Lincoln's life.

Built in 1824, Maine's most famous home is none other than Black House — a property that sits within the state's Woodlawn Museum and Gardens. The actual house is architecturally inspired by a particular style (Plate 54 exactly, according to the Society of Architectural Historians) in "The American Builder's Companion," a book by Asher Benjamin. The result? A stunning property in Federal architectural style with hints of Greek revival.

Named after the family who inhabited the home — the Black family — the abode remained in the same family from approximately 1827 until 1929, when it opened to the public. The first members of the Blacks to live in this home were Colonel John Black and his family. Colonel Black was originally from England, but moved to Maine in 1798. He then married Mary Cobb in 1802 — 22 years before Black House was built. The last member of the Black family to live in Black House was George Nixon Black, Jr.

According to the House of the Seven Gables website, the most famous home in Salem, Massachusetts was built hundreds of years ago — in 1668, to be specific. It wasn't until the home was bought by Captain Samuel Ingersoll in 1782, though, that the House of the Seven Gables began its swift journey to fame. After Captain Ingersoll died in 1804, the home was passed on to his daughter, Susanna Ingersoll. And though that name might not ring a bell, you're likely familiar with the name of her second cousin: Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne spent quite a bit of time in Salem in the years 1845 to 1849. After hearing Ingersoll's stories about her life and gazing at her home day after day while in Salem, Hawthorne wrote his most notable novel in 1851: "The House of the Seven Gables."

Eventually, the home ended up in the hands of the Upton family — who decided to allow people to take tours of the House of the Seven Gables in 1833. Then, in 1908, Caroline Emmett turned the home into The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association, helping new immigrant families in the area. She restored the mansion to how it looked when it was first built, and continued to offer tours.

If you head to the town of St. Paul, Minnesota, you'll find the famous James J. Hill House. Per the Minnesota Historical Society, this particular home was finished in 1891 — for a grand total of $931,275.01. The money was spent on making this house worthy of all praise, as it included 36,500 square feet spread amongst five stories. Not only that, but inside the home, you'll find 22 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, a pipe organ that's three stories high, 16 glass chandeliers. Furthermore, the James J. Hill House is also equipped with a reception hall reaching 88 feet tall and its own art gallery. Even the floor of the basement was luxurious, made with marble.

After the mansion left the hands of the Hill family, it was passed to the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul, who used the home from 1925 to 1978. At that time, the Minnesota Historical Society took the reins and made the house into the historical landmark it is today.

Constructed in 1881, Missouri's Vaile Mansion sits in the town of Independence. The Vaile Mansion website points out, too, that this particular home features 31 rooms total — including nine different fireplaces, all outfitted with marble. In addition, you'll find nine fireplaces (also made of marble), a 48,000 gallon wine cellar, and a 6,000 gallon water tank that's actually built into this 19th century property. Architecturally, the mansion features Italianate and Gothic details, including a staircase made of black walnut right inside the home's entrance.

The mansion was initially built for Colonel Harvey Vaile and his wife starting in 1871, but it wasn't completed for another 10 years. Per Atlas Obscura, the home stayed in the hands of the Vaile family until the Colonel's death in 1885. Because the family couldn't agree on who actually owned the mansion at this point, it was purchased by someone outside the family and turned into a mental health facility in 1908. After that, the Vaile Mansion changed hands several times until Roger and Mary Mildred DeWitt bought and renovated it. The family finally turned the mansion over to the city of Independence in 1983, when it was fixed up even more. Today, the Vaile Mansion is run by the Vaile Victorian Society.

Nebraska's most famous house sits in the town of McCook. Built in 1905 by Frank Lloyd Wright, this home was the earliest (and only) house the architect designed in the state. It was constructed for Harvey P. and Eliza Sutton — which lends the home's name, the Harvey P. and Eliza Sutton House, or Sutton House for short — after Eliza saw some of Wright's work in a 1901 edition of the "Ladies Home Journal." The Suttons did, indeed, snag Wright to design their home, and he initially offered them three different floor plans from which to choose.

The Suttons chose an option that had a similar style to "A Small House" — another home built by Wright. According to a 2017 interview with members of the Sutton family (the great-grandchildren of Harvey and Eliza), the interior did not live up to how Wright imagined it would. The architect apparently visited the couple once, and told them that the decor was an "abomination" and an insult to his work. Regardless, the house still stands, and is currently owned by Van and Janett Korell, who live in the restored home.

For 11 years — from 1900 to 1911 — Robert Frost lived in what's now New Hampshire's most famous home. Aptly named the Robert Frost Farm, these 30 acres were the inspiration for many of Frost's poems, per the Robert Frost Farm website. If you visit the home yourself, you'll find this posted just outside, stating just how noteworthy the property really was to Frost: "Some of the best-loved poems in the English language are associated with this small farm owned by the poet from 1900-1911. Here, Frost farmed, taught at nearby Pinkerton Academy and developed the poetic voice which later won him the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times and world fame as one of our foremost poets."

The Robert Frost Farm was built far before Frost himself was born, though. William Prescott Frost, Sr. — Robert Frost's grandfather — originally bought the home in 1900 for Robert and his wife. However, it was officially constructed many years before, in 1884. After New Hampshire bought the property in 1965, the state began to restore the home. And, in 1975, it finally opened for tours.

Not only is the home situated at 215 East de Vargas Street in Santa Fe, New Mexico the state's most famous house, but it's also said to be its oldest. Called the "Oldest" House, this property has been listed in records as the oldest in the state since 1882, and has been seen on maps dating back to 1766. Per the Historic Santa Fe Foundation, this abode was officially purchased in 1881 for $3,000 by Brothers of the Christian Schools. Because its location is near the San Miguel Chapel in the same area, the "Oldest" House is often grouped with that property, too.

Additionally, the structure of the building has changed a few times. In older photographs, the home is shown to have two stories — but the second floor was taken down in 1902. Approximately 25 years later, though, a new floor was added, making it two stories once more. Architecturally, this house is both Indian and Spanish style, still featuring dirt floors to this day.

North Carolina's most famous home is undoubtedly the Biltmore Estate — a property built by George Washington Vanderbilt in the city of Asheville. Per the Biltmore Estate website, the process was a gradual one. George started by acquiring acres of land in Asheville, until he officially had 125,000. Once he'd secured the property, George hired Richard Morris Hunt to help him create his dream home. Their goal was to build a 250-room château.

George and his wife, Edith Vanderbilt, lived happily on the estate, and even raised their daughter there. Cornelia Vanderbilt went on to occupy Biltmore as well, with her husband and children. In fact, the Biltmore estate remains in the Vanderbilt family even now — as the property is managed by newer generations. Biltmore was opened to the public in 1930, and it remains known as America's largest home today. If you visit, you can see the Biltmore Estate Wine Company and even stay at the Inn on Biltmore Estate, opened in 2001.

Hawthorn Hill — Ohio's most famous home — once belonged to Orville Wright and his family. Orville, who made up one half of the Wright brothers, was the world's first plane pilot, as noted by Dayton History. And, if you were to visit this house in the city of Dayton, you'd be stepping foot into the same property as Henry Ford, Charles Lindbergh, and Thomas Edison.

The house was officially finished in 1914, which is when Orville, his sister Katharine Wright, and their father Bishop Milton Wright moved in. Hawthorn Hill remained in the Wright family until the death of Orville in 1948. At that point, it was sold to the National Cash Register (NCR). The NCR operated Hawthorn Hill as a guest house, keeping it in shape (though only occasionally open) until 2006. The property remained unopened to the public for another several years, but was eventually passed to Dayton History and opened in 2013.

Head to Oregon City, Oregon, and see the famous Ermatinger House. Built in a Greek Revival style, as noted by the Architectural Resources Group, this home is one of the oldest houses left standing in the state. Owned by Francis Ermatinger — who was known was Hudson's Bay Company Chief Trader and Treasurer of Oregon's Provisional Government — Ermatinger House was constructed with two stories in 1844. And though it remains in Oregon City, this home has actually been moved twice: The first was in 1910, and then it was moved again in 1986.

Ermatinger House is also partially responsible for how the city of Portland, Oregon got its name. Francis Pettygrove and Asa Lovejoy decided on the name by tossing a coin — and the infamous event actually took place inside Ermatinger House in 1845.

In terms of architectural styles, you'll find this home was built with both Greek and Classical Revival influences, per Oregon City Parks and Recreation. These particular designs weren't common in Oregon at the time, making the Ermatinger House an especially unique piece of historical property.

North Carolina's Biltmore isn't the only famous estate built by the Vanderbilt family. Finished in 1895, The Breakers became the Rhode Island home of Cornelius Vanderbilt, his wife, and their seven kids. Per the Preservation Society of Newport County, The Breakers was designed to look straight out of the Italian Renaissance, reminiscent of the palaces of the 16th century. The completed home featured 70 rooms, decorated by Allard and Sons of Paris, as well as Ogden Codman (who helped design the area of the home in which the family lived).

The Breakers remained in the Vanderbilt family until 1972, when it was sold to the Preservation Society. Prior to this, it was owned by Gladys Vanderbilt — the youngest of the Vanderbilt couple's seven kids. It was her heirs who eventually passed it on to the Preservation Society.

You can either visit the location in Rhode Island, or take a virtual tour of the property. Either way, you'll find yourself lost in the grandeur built by the Vanderbilt family in the 19th century — lavish draperies, statues, chandeliers, and all.

Best known for her "Little House on the Prairie" book series, author Laura Ingalls Wilder grew up in South Dakota — and you can actually visit her childhood home in the city of De Smet. Per Travel South Dakota, tourists are able to see the Surveyor's House from Wilder's book "By the Shores of Silver Lake," visit the same classroom in the First School of De Smet where both Wilder and her sister Carrie Ingalls spent time learning, and admire the house that "Pa" — Charles Ingalls — built in 1887. Guests even have an opportunity to dress up in pioneer-era clothes and reenact their favorite moments from Laura Ingalls Wilder's books — or simply pretend to live in 19th century South Dakota for a moment or two.

If you step inside the Laura Ingalls Wilder home, you'll find plenty of mementos from the author's childhood, too. A piano, butter churners, and items owned by the Ingalls family are strewn throughout the house, giving visitors an accurate picture of life as a pioneer.

Also known as Gresham House, 1892 Bishop's Palace is Texas' most famous home, situated in the city of Galveston. The original owner, Colonel Walter Gresham, was a lawyer in Texas who enlisted Nicholas Clayton to create this home. Built in the Victorian architectural style, construction on the palace began in 1886. Of course, it wasn't completed until the year 1892 — hence the name of the historical property.

As soon as you walk into the palace — per a virtual tour of the home — you're instantly greeted by marble columns and stunning stained glass windows. The house also features a recently-renovated conservatory, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a view of the grounds. Throughout the home, too, you'll see intricate carvings, wallpaper, and other accents that make this Victorian palace truly unique. And, as the tour notes, every piece of furniture in the house is original — giving guests an accurate view of what the palace looked like in the 19th century. 

When Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln were alive, they had one son who lived past childhood: Robert Lincoln. According to the Hildene website, he and his wife, Mary Lincoln, decided to build a summer home — the Hildene estate — in Manchester, Vermont. The home stayed in the hands of Lincoln family members until 1975. That year, the final member of the Lincoln family to live at Hildene died, and she left the estate to the Church of Christ, Scientist. When the church could no longer afford the upkeep, a non-profit called Friends of Hildene bought the property. Renovations began in 1978.

When it was initially constructed, the property sat on 392 acres. Now, however, the estate encompasses 412 acres — including 14 buildings throughout the grounds. If you explore the area, you'll find the mansion where the Lincolns lived, along with a garden and conservatory, welcome center, and the carriage barn (which has been turned into a store for the museum). Inside the home, visitors are able to view different artifacts and mementos from the Lincoln era, getting a taste of what it was like when the Lincoln family lived here.

Situated on three acres of land, Washington's Thornewood Castle is constructed in both the Tudor and Gothic architecture styles. Per the Thornewood Castle website, this home was built for Chester Thorne — a founder of the Port of Tacoma — and his wife in 1908. Of course, the castle wasn't fully completed until three years later in 1911.

This was partly due to the fact that Thorne was bringing parts from a property he'd bought in England into Washington to be used in the construction of Thornewood Castle. Obviously, this took some extra time, as getting building pieces — such as the front door and even the oak staircase — from one country to another wasn't particularly easy in the early 20th century. Thorne had to use three separate ships to get all the parts he wanted into the United States. When the castle was finally finished, though, it proved to be a sturdy structure — made with steel, brick, and concrete. Even the floors were extraordinarily thick, measuring 10 inches of pure concrete.

The beauty of Thornewood Castle has certainly held up, though, and it can be seen in several films. Watch out for the property in Stephen King's "Rose Red," along with the iconic, Oscar-winning movie "There Will Be Blood."

Featuring 800 acres and 37,000 square feet, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin in Wisconsin is a must-visit. Per the Taliesin Wisconsin website, Wright actually moved to this property after leaving Illinois, his home of 20 years. "I meant to live if I could an unconventional life," Wright once said about Taliesin. "I turned to this hill in the Valley as my grandfather before me had turned to America — as a hope and haven." There's no doubt this area was special to Wright, as his grandparents lived in the area and he spent much of his childhood in the hills of Wisconsin.

Wright worked on Taliesin for many years — 1897 to 1959. During this time, he designed the Romeo & Juliet Windmill, Midway Barn, Hillside School, Tan-y Deri, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center. All of these structures sit on the same 800 acres, where Wright poured his soul into creating a truly breathtaking collection of architecture.

Since 1990, Taliesin has been maintained by Taliesin Preservation, as approved by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The property is open to tours, where you can learn more about Wright's architectural style and the history of Taliesin.