Gillette Castle State Park

Gillette Castle State Park

Gillette Castle State Park is located in East Haddam, Connecticut in the United States. Sitting high above the Connecticut River, the castle was originally a private residence commissioned and designed by William Gillette, an American actor who is most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on stage. After Gillette died, with no wife or children, his will precluded the possession of his castle by any "blithering sap-head who has no conception of where he is or with what surrounded". In 1943, Connecticut's government took the property, re-baptizing it "Gillette's Castle" and "Gillette Castle State Park".

Located at 67 River Road, East Haddam, Connecticut, the park consists of the castle and its grounds and receives 100,000 annual visitors. It reopened in 2002 after four years of restoration, costing 11 million dollars. It now includes a museum, hiking trails, and a picnic area, and holds many theatrical celebrations.

There are a number of oddities in the castle personally designed by Gillette, such as unusual doorknobs and locks, and a system of hidden mirrors for surveillance of the public rooms from the master bedroom.

The grounds used to have a railroad track with a working steam engine that visitors could ride on, also designed by Gillette. Some of the track was purchased by Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut and is in use to transport guests around the lake. The remaining track was pulled up and converted into walking trails. From the castle's garden one can see the Connecticut River.

Image Gallery

External links

* [http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/gillettecastle.htm Connecticut State Park Website]
* [http://www.friendsofgillettecastle.org/ Friends of Gillette Castle State Park]
* [http://www.ctrivervalley.com/4-Connecticut-CT-in-of/Major-attractions-in-CT/gillette_castle_state_park/index.html another Web page about Gillette Castle State Park]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gillette Castle State Park — Der Gillette Castle State Park ist ein 74 Hektar großes Parkgelände in zwischen Lyme und East Haddam im Middlesex County des US Bundesstaates Connecticut. Zwischen 1914 und 1919 wurde dort das Gillette Castle erbaut. 1943 erwarb der Staat das… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Malibu Creek State Park — Malibu Creek State Park, with the Goat Buttes in the background. Coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Chatfield Hollow State Park — Paul F. Wildermann Boardwalk …   Wikipedia

  • Old Furnace State Park — Coordinates: 41°46′55″N 71°52′01″W / 41.78194°N 71.86694°W / 41.78194; 71.86694 …   Wikipedia

  • Mount Tom State Park — is a state park in Litchfield, Washington, and Morris, Connecticut. The main entrance is off of US Route 202 on Old Town Road. Contents 1 Hiking 2 History 3 Geology 4 …   Wikipedia

  • Millers Pond State Park — Coordinates: 41°28′35″N 72°38′0″W / 41.47639°N 72.633333°W / 41.47639; 72.633333 …   Wikipedia

  • Burr Pond State Park — is a state park at Torrington, Connecticut, USA. The park provides facilities for swimming, boating, fishing as well as numerous hiking trails. Contents 1 History 2 Burr Pond 3 Facilities …   Wikipedia

  • State Parks in Connecticut — Dies ist eine Liste der State Parks im US Bundesstaat Connecticut. Dinosaur State Park. Fossile Spuren der Gattung Eubrontes …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Collis P. Huntington State Park — Sculpture of bears at huntington state park …   Wikipedia

  • Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum — Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”