Gillette Castle State Park USA Postcard

Perched high above the Connecticut River, Gillette Castle State Park features a unique, twenty-four room mansion designed by eccentric actor William Gillette, famous for his stage portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Built between 1914 and 1919 out of local fieldstone and supported by a hidden steel framework, the castle looks like a mediaeval fortress from the outside, complete with craggy stone walls, towers, and hand-carved wooden features. The interior is filled with intricate architectural oddities, including built-in couches, secret mirrors, and forty-seven uniquely designed wooden doors, each with its own complex wooden latch mechanism. The surrounding state park grounds complement the castle's whimsical nature, offering stunning panoramic views of the river valley below. Visitors can explore a network of wooded hiking trails that trace the route of Gillette's former three-mile-long narrow-gauge railroad, passing over stone bridges, through a tunnel, and along rugged wooden trestles. The park beautifully merges natural New England woodland charm with the fascinating, theatrical legacy of its original creator.