Saturday was Open House Day at several Connecticut State Parks, including Gillette Castle. While the castle grounds and park area are always open to the public, there is a hefty admission fee to get inside the castle itself, so the girls and I (as well as hundreds of other people) took the opportunity to check it out. William Gillette was an actor during the late nineteenth and early twenthieth centuries and is best remembered for his role as Sherlock Holmes. He was also an inventor, who applied for and received several patents. Today, Gillette is remembered best for his retirement home, a 24 room mansion that sits high above the Connecticut River. The home was built from stone and inside, it has close to 50 intricate and hand-carved wooden doors. It was spectacular and its modern amenities were very eye-opening. Gillette was very forward thinking and his inventions were present all around his home. The girls and I enjoyed touring the castle, the majestic views of the Connecticut River and hiking on the trails on the castle grounds.
The girls in front of the castle.
The girls pose with a portrait of Mr. Gillette.
One of the many, and unique, hand carved wooden doors. Each had a different kind of lever system.
Mr. Gillette's office.
Just a small part of the parlor.
View of the Connecticut River from one of the many terraces.
One of the thrills of our visit was when a helicopter landed in a field across the river.
Elizabeth
No comments:
Post a Comment