Homes With Stories
Some homes stay with me, not for their size or design, but for the lives they’ve held within their walls. I’m fascinated by how a single room can hold laughter, love, and countless moments that linger softly long after time moves on.
Recent Posts
Frederic Church’s Olana
The extraordinary estate of Frederic Edwin Church overlooking the Hudson River is known as Olana. I have made the drive to Hudson, New York more than once simply to revisit this impressive home. The house itself is stunning, but it is the combination of architecture, landscape, and sweeping views that make Olana unlike any other historic home. Every window […]
Clara Barton National Historic Site
One of the most memorable stops during a family road trip was the Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo, Maryland. This tells the story of a woman whose life was devoted to service, compassion and humanitarian aid. The large Victorian house served as Clara Barton’s home during the final fifteen years of her […]
Stephen Phillips House
I drove to Salem to visit the Stephen Phillips Memorial Trust House, one of the city’s finest historic homes. Walking through its rooms felt like stepping back into the period when Salem was one of America’s most important seaports and a center of international trade. More than a museum, the house offers a glimpse into the […]
Sarah Orne Jewett House
One of the highlights of visiting South Berwick, Maine, was touring the Sarah Orne Jewett House, one of New England’s important literary landmarks. Built in 1774 and expanded over generations, the house reflects both the architectural evolution of a prosperous New England family and the rich cultural heritage of the community. Best known as the lifelong home of author […]
Nash Farm
With a few hours to spare after landing in Dallas for our seminar, we decided to make a stop in nearby Grapevine, Texas, to visit Nash Farm. This stop was an introduction to a different chapter of American history. Established in 1859 by Thomas Jefferson Nash, the farm preserves the story of one of the early families […]
Ernest Hemingway House
A trip to the Florida Keys would not be complete without visiting the Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West. During our family vacation, we made our way to this famous house where one of America’s most celebrated writers lived and worked during some of the most productive years of his career. Built in 1851, the house is […]
Edward Gorey House
The Edward Gorey House is one of the more unusual places I have visited. This modest Cape Cod residence draws visitors into the eccentric world of one of America’s distinctive artists and writers. Located in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, the house was the home of author, illustrator, playwright and artist Edward Gorey from 1986 until his death in […]
Nichols House Museum
Many historic houses close for the winter season, making December a challenging time for a house museum enthusiast. When Marty was looking for something to do for my December birthday, he managed to reserve a tour of the Nichols House Museum on Boston’s Beacon Hill. What seemed like a simple outing quickly became an adventure of […]
Ringling’s Ca’d’Zan
Another part of the country, yet still another extraordinary express of wealth and ambition: The Ringley home in Sarasota, Florida. Here the grandeur of America’s Gilded Age is captured as vividly as the mansions of Newport, R.I. Known as Ca’dZen, the waterfront mansion was built in the 1920s for circus magnate John Ringley and his […]
Merchant House
The Merchant House in New York City is a remarkable home that has survived almost completely intact from the nineteenth century. Built in 1832 and later owned by the wealthy Tredwell family, the house preserves not only the architecture of the period, but also the original furnishings, and atmosphere of an upper-middle-class Manhattan home from […]
Smith-Gilbert Gardens
While Erin was in chiropractic school in George, I often found myself looking for small local places to explore with her while visiting. Smith-Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw was one of those discoveries. Tucked quietly within the city, the gardens offer a peaceful retreat filled with winding pathways, artistic sculptures and beautifully designed garden spaces as […]
Castle Hill
Perched high above the salt marshes and Atlantic coastline of Ipswich, Massachusetts, Castle Hill on the Crane Estate is one of the great surviving country estates of New England. The massive brick mansion and endless coastal views create a setting that feels both grand and connected to the natural beauty surrounding it. Built in 1918 for […]
