50 of the Most Famous Historic Houses in the World
Looking into another person’s life is inevitably fascinating — especially when that person is a celebrity. It’s no wonder, then, that so many people love to visit historic celebrity homes that now serve as museums or (yes) even places to crash.
Well-known figures across the globe have graced us with a physical reminder of their legacies — from Elvis Presley, whose oddball Tennessee mansion is fit for a King; to Mickey Rooney, whose Topanga Canyon oasis can now be rented on Airbnb; to Prince, whose Minnesota estate offers visitors exclusive access to one-of-a-kind memorabilia. More interested in Claude Monet, Johnny Cash, Sigmund Freud or Albert Einstein? They, too, have homes you can visit.
Not only are these spots filled with memories, but they are also places where we can create our own — while honoring the pioneers who shaped the course of human history.
Prince's Paisley Park Estate
Paisley Park, the former estate and music production complex of the dearly departed Purple One, is now open for tours in Chanhassen, Minn. The experience gives visitors a glimpse into the life of the iconic artist, displaying his personal archives, vibrant wardrobe, instruments, motorcycles and video recordings.
Buy tickets and learn more on the Paisley Park website.
How to Visit
Cost: Prices range from $38.50, for general admission, to $160, for the perks-packed "Ultimate Experience," which includes access to unique artifacts and studio spaces.
Hours: Open Thursday-Monday
How to get there: The estate is about a half-hour away from St. Paul, Minn., and accessible via rental car or bus (though bus lines are very limited).
Johnny Cash's Boyhood Home
The Arkansas home that Johnny Cash lived in as a boy with his family from 1935 to 1954 was part of the Dyess Colony — an agricultural resettlement community created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the post-Great Depression New Deal era. The home is furnished as it was when young Johnny was there. Fans will appreciate seeing the place that helped inspire some of his iconic songs, including “Pickin’ Time” and “Five Feet High and Rising.”
In 2011, Arkansas State University acquired the home, with restorations completed thanks to proceeds from the Johnny Cash Music Festival.
How to Visit
Cost: $10
Hours: Tours of the Historic Dyess Colony and Johnny Cash Boyhood Home are conducted Mondays through Saturdays, beginning at 9 a.m. and running until 3 p.m.
How to get there: The home is accessible via rental car from various cities; the closest is Memphis, Tenn., less than an hour away.
Sigmund Freud's Home
When Sigmund Freud and his family escaped Austria following the Nazi annexation in 1938, they lived in a home in Hampstead, London, where they stayed until youngest daughter Anna died in 1982. Anna's wish was to honor her father by converting the family's home into a museum.
Her wish was granted, and today the home holds many valuable and memorable items. The most famous piece is Freud's psychoanalytic couch, which his wife Martha said was given to him by a patient. The couch is covered with a colorful Iranian rug, and is where all of his patients reclined on chenille cushions.
How to Visit
Cost: £8.00
Hours: Open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Guided tours are available on the first Sunday of each month.
How to get there: The London museum is easy to reach via car, foot, Eurostar or train (overground and underground). More details here.
Elvis Presley's Graceland Home
Known for his sultry hip shaking and deep, sexy voice, Elvis Presley left many swooning — and an indelible mark on the world. Even if you aren't an Elvis fan, his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tenn., is well worth the visit.
We recommend an interactive iPad tour hosted by actor John Stamos, known for his classic impersonations of The King while playing Uncle Jesse on “Full House.” Before you leave, don't forget to pay your respects in the Meditation Garden, where Elvis is laid to rest.
How to Visit
Cost: Ticket prices range from $39.75 for mansion-only tours to $169 for the Ultimate VIP Tour, which includes a tour of Elvis’ private jets (it’s good to be King). Learn more by visiting the Graceland website.
Hours: Open daily, all year round.
How to get there: You can drive from downtown Memphis, just 15 minutes away.
George and Edith Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate
George and Edith Vanderbilt enjoyed their elegant lives in this three-story manse in Asheville, N.C. — the largest privately owned home in the United States.
Styled as a French Renaissance château, it features a staggering 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, indoor pool and bowling alley. Almost all of the objects seen throughout the home are original pieces, including 16th century tapestries and art by acclaimed artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Admission tickets include a self-guided tour of the estate, access to the historic gardens and a free wine tasting at the onsite winery.
In 2001, The Inn on Biltmore Estate opened, fulfilling George's original plan in 1900 to create an inn on the property.
How to Visit
Cost: $50-$75 (buy tickets here)
Hours: Biltmore is open 365 days a year; hours vary by day
How to get there: The estate is only 7 minutes away by car from downtown Asheville.
Mickey Rooney's Topanga Canyon Retreat
Not only can you visit actor Mickey Rooney's former home, but you can also book a stay there on Airbnb. The Topanga Canyon, Calif., property features two bedrooms and one bath in the main house, plus a detached bungalow. The property is surrounded by stunning mountain views as well as a growing orchard and herb and vegetable garden.
Exposed beams and bamboo floors give it an eclectic feel.
How to Visit
Cost: At the time of publishing, the nightly booking rate was $256.
How to get there: Inquire with Airbnb for exact info.
George Frederik Handel and Jimi Hendrix's Next-Door Apartments
Handel & Hendrix in London is comprised of two Brook Street residences: one where British composer George Frideric Handel lived, and one — next door — where rock god Jimi Hendrix lived. Handel lived and composed at the Georgian-style home for 36 years, dying in his bed in 1759. Hendrix lived at his abode in the late 1960s with his girlfriend Kathy Etchingham, who furnished the home.
Tours of the property give visitors a look at four restored rooms in Handel's home, including his bedroom and dining room, where he would perform informal recitals for friends. A visit to Hendrix's home includes a tour of the main room of the flat, where he rehearsed, entertained, wrote music and gave press interviews.
How to Visit
Cost: £10
Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Sunday
How to get there: The homes are located in the heart of London’s West End, easy to reach via London underground, bus, rail or car. More info here; get all the details about visiting Handel & Hendrix here.
George Washington's Mount Vernon Mansion
Curious about how George Washington lived? Stop by his colonial mansion in Mount Vernon, Va., to get an idea of what life was like for America's first President.
The property features both George and his wife Martha's tombs. Just 50 yards from the tombs is a memorial cemetery for the slaves who worked at Mount Vernon in the 1700s and 1800s. Also onsite: a distillery that was once one of America’s foremost producers of whiskey. It still makes a mean drink today.
How to Visit
Cost: $20, or a discounted rate of $18 if ordered online
Hours: Open 365 days a year, from 9 a.m. until 4 or 5 p.m. depending on the season
How to get there: Washington, D.C. is 15 miles south; Alexandria, Va., is 8 miles south. The site includes a parking lot, or you can get there via Metro bus and subway transportation.
Louis Armstrong's New York House
In Corona, N.Y., visitors can explore the home where jazz legend Louis Armstrong and his wife Lucille lived. Tours feature audio clips from Louis' homemade recordings, an exhibit on his life and a Japanese-inspired garden.
Don’t miss the home's blue kitchen, excessively mirrored bathroom and "man cave," featuring a large photo of Louis painted by his friend Tony Bennett.
How to Visit
Cost: $10 for a 40-minute guided tour (or free for members)
Hours: The home is closed on Sunday; tours start every hour on the hour, with the last tour of the day at 4 p.m.
How to get there: Located in the northern part of Queens, the house is accessible via car or subway.
More information can be found here.
William Randolph Hearst's Castle
Along the scenic Central California coastline sits Hearst Castle, the former home of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. After purchasing and inheriting thousands of acres of land around San Simeon, Hearst worked with architect Julia Morgan to design his "Enchanted Hill.”
The estate is, in a word, extravagant — with 165 rooms, decadent pools flanked by statues and what was once the world's largest private zoo. Hearst was also an art collector, and many of his pieces are on display at the castle.
How to Visit
Cost: A variety of tour options are available to visitors. Ticket prices start at $25 and can be purchased online.
Hours: Open daily at 9 a.m.
How to get there: San Luis Obispo is about 45 minutes away by car; San Francisco and Los Angeles are each about four hours away. You can take a train from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo and continue to the Visitor Center via public bus.
The Parkers' 'Christmas Story' Home
Taking a detour into the realm of the fiction, fans of 1983's "A Christmas Story" will be delighted to know that the home from the film has been restored to allow for visitors. Located in Cleveland, the museum features original props, costumes and behind-the-scenes photos, including Randy's snowsuit and the family car.
The home is available year round for overnight stays in Ralphie and Randy's beds. Guests have access to the private third-floor loft, which is equipped with a full kitchen, a living room and a full bath.
How to Visit
Cost: All bookings, which start at $395 per night, include a free tour of the museum.
Hours: Tours run seven days a week.
How to get there: Get there via downtown Cleveland, just 5 minutes away.
Claude Monet's Giverny Retreat
Artist Claude Monet called Giverny, France home for more than 40 years, living there with his family until his death in 1926.
His idyllic house is open for visits and features his studio sitting room and Japanese prints collection. The property’s water garden, showcasing oriental vegetation, water lilies and a quaint green bridge, is straight out of one of the master’s iconic paintings.
How to Visit
Cost: €9,50 (house and gardens); €20,50 (with Musée Marmottan Monet); €17 (with Musée des Impressionnismes)
Hours: Open seasonally from March 23 to November 1
How to get there: Drive from Paris, or take a 45-minute train ride; there are also shuttles from Paris and Rouen.
Georgia O'Keeffe’s Home and Studio
In the small village of Abiquiú, about 53 miles outside Santa Fe in New Mexico, Georgia O’Keefe lived and worked in an adobe home and studio that inspired many of her iconic paintings (the ground’s cottonwood trees also served as artistic inspiration).
The home is maintained by the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, which also showcases 3,000 of O'Keeffe's works, including 140 of her oil paintings and almost 700 drawings, at a campus in Santa Fe. Aficionados of O’Keefe’s work should arrange for pilgrimages to both.
How to Visit
Cost: Prices range from $35 to $45. Get ticket information by visiting the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum website.
Hours: The National Historic Landmark home is open for tours between mid-March and mid-November with advance reservations; the museum is open daily all year round.
How to get there: The home is only available via car ride, usually from Santa Fe or Taos.
Anne Frank’s Secret Annex
As a Jewish girl living in Nazi Germany in the 1940s, Anne Frank documented her life in hiding — and left a record that has educated millions on one of the greatest atrocities in human history. She, along with her sister Margot, died at a concentration camp; of her family, only her father survived. After finding Anne's diary, he pushed to get it published, and it has since been translated into over 60 languages.
The Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam maintains the infamous Secret Annex where Anne and others — "the hidden eight" — were concealed from the Nazis. Because all of the furniture was removed during the German occupation, every room in the Secret Annex is empty. But Anne's original diary entries and other items that belonged to the eight people who went into hiding are on display.
How to Visit
Cost: €9
Hours: Open daily all year round
How to get there: In addition to driving, public transit is an option; Central Station is about a 20-minute walk away, and trams 13, 14 and 17 stop nearby, at the “Westermarkt” stop.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio
American architect and interior designer Frank Lloyd Wright used his first home to explore design concepts that would become the cornerstone of his illustrious career. In the adjacent studio, he developed the now-iconic Prairie architecture style. In 1974, the Oak Park, Ill., home where Wright lived was acquired by a nonprofit that operates the property as a historic house and museum.
Guided tours are offered by trained interpreters who give visitors insights into Wright's family life and career. The Home and Studio was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
How to Visit
Cost: $18
Hours: Tours run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
How to get there: The home is a short drive from downtown Chicago, or accessible via a 15-20-minute walk from the Oak Park stop on the CTA or Metra lines.
Albert Einstein's 'Einsteinhaus'
From 1903 to 1905, physicist Albert Einstein, along with his wife and son, lived on the second floor of an apartment in Bern, Switzerland. Now a museum, The Einsteinhaus (Einstein House) has been restored to reflect the style of that period. The spiral staircase to the second floor is still in its original condition.
On the third floor of the museum are exhibits that share details about Einstein's life and groundbreaking scientific work.
How to Visit
Cost: €6
Hours: Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but closed throughout January
How to get there: The house is in the heart of the popular tourist destination of Bern, walkable from downtown.
Amelia Earhart's Childhood Home
Amelia Earhart, famously the first woman to make a solo transatlantic flight, initially took up aviation as a hobby, purchasing her first airplane in 1922.
The pioneering aviator spent her childhood in parts of Kansas and Iowa, later attending schools in Pennsylvania, Toronto, Canada and New York. Her Atchison, Kan., home is now the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. During tours, visitors can admire original decor, period furnishings, family portraits and model airplane replicas from Earhart's flights.
How to Visit
Cost: $6
Hours: Open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
How to get there: The museum is most easily accessed from Topeka or Kansas City, Kan., each about an hour drive away.
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Mansion
President Andrew Jackson purchased The Hermitage in 1804 to live in with his wife, Rachel. Originally a brick, Federal-style home, it was renovated and restored after suffering damage in a fire in 1834. The revamp involved adding Corinthian columns and Greek Revival-style mantles, while still maintaining some original furniture and wallpaper.
The grounds include Andrew and Rachel's tomb, located in the garden, which was Rachel's favorite place. Visitors will also learn about the tragic history of the plantation, where more than 150 people were enslaved.
How to Visit
Cost: The Hermitage offers interpreter-led tours that grant access to the mansion and the garden, with VIP admission available for an additional cost. General admission tickets are $20.
Hours: Open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas
How to get there: While there’s not much in the way of public transit, The Hermitage is just 20 minutes from downtown Nashville and 5 miles from both the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center and the Nashville International Airport.
Robert Frost's Home
From 1900-1911, poet Robert Frost and his family lived on a farm in Derry, N.H.; today, the bucolic site is open to the public. Frost used his experience living in Derry as inspiration for many of his poems. The home, a two-story farmhouse that’s now designated as a National Historic Landmark, is constructed in a typical New England style from the 1880s.
In addition to tours, visitors can partake in free public programs and poetry readings. Inside the home, they’ll find original items and decor owned by the Frost family, including Royal Doulton china and a soapstone sink in the kitchen.
How to Visit
Cost: $4 for residents, $5 for non-residents
Hours: Open daily from June 28 to Sept. 6 and Wednesdays to Sundays from May 5 to June 27
How to get there: Accessible only by car, the museum is closest to the major cities of Concord, N.H. (40 minutes away) and Boston, Mass. (50 minutes away).
Learn more by visiting The Robert Frost Farm website.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Farm
During the last years of his life, French Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir lived on a farm in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France. He had developed rheumatoid arthritis but continued to paint, leading to deformities in his hands. This was the home where he lived until his death in 1919.
At the Renoir Museum (or Musee Renoir), you'll find 14 original Renoir paintings, his drawing room, his bedroom, and his easel and brushes. The surrounding lush grounds include olive trees more than a century old.
How to Visit
Cost: €6
Hours: Guided tours are offered on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with many of the one-hour tours conducted in both French and English. Self-guided tours are offered every day but Tuesdays.
How to get there: Nice, France, is only 25 minutes away by car.
Harewood House
Edwin Lascelles started building England's Harewood House in 1759. He enlisted the help of architect John Carr, interior designer Robert Adam, furniture maker Thomas Chippendale and landscape gardener Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to bring his vision to life. It was through this project that Chippendale, England’s most popular furniture maker, received the largest commission of his career.
Henry Lascelles, Edwin's father, was married to Princess Mary, daughter of King George V. He was the sixth Earl of Harewood and this home was where the couple once lived. Inside are collections of art that date back to the Renaissance. There are gardens on the property that have a planetarium and a waterfall.
How to Visit
Cost: The average ticket price is £16.50 but there are different prices based on age, discounts and tour options.
Hours: You can visit Harewood House from April through November, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
How to get there: Harewood House is about 200 miles from London and 50 miles from Manchester.
Buckingham Palace
The most recognized property in all of London has to be Buckingham Palace. The 19 state rooms, which are open to visitors for just 10 weeks in the summer, are where The Queen and Royal Family members entertain guests.
Then there's Windsor Castle, which has been home to 39 monarchs and is where The Queen can be found on the weekends. The castle is open to visitors all year. Located on the grounds of Windsor Castle is St. George's Chapel, most recently made famous as the church where Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex got married in 2018.
It has been the spot where many royal weddings have taken place over the years. Construction of the Chapel began in 1475 under Edward IV and features a stone ceiling that was later added by Henry VII.
How to Visit
Cost: Adult ticket prices are £24.
Hours: The State Rooms can be toured between July and September and each ticket includes a multimedia guide available in nine languages.
Chatsworth House
Sixteen generations of the Cavendish family have called Chatsworth House home. It is currently the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. There are more than 30 rooms to see, including the state rooms and art galleries. Some of the works of art span 4,000 years and showcase the talents of artists like Rembrandt, Lucian Freud and David Nash.
Outside, visitors can explore 105 acres of garden, which has been growing on the property for almost 500 years. One of the main features is the 1st Duke's Greenhouse. Children will be delighted to check out the playground and farmyard, which offer trailer rides, swings and special holiday activities.
How to Visit
Cost: There are several ticket options that each offer something different.
Hours: Peak season is from the end of May through early September and the home is open between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., depending on the time of year.
The Beehive House
Notorious Mormon leader and Utah's first governor, Brigham Young once lived in The Beehive House. It was built in 1854 from sandstone and adobe and also served as offices for the Church for many years. This was one of Young's many residences. He had several around Salt Lake City to accommodate his many wives and children.
The Beehive House is now a museum located within Brigham Young Historic Park and contains objects that belonged to Young and his family.
How to Visit
Cost: Half-hour long guided tours are free and available to the public.
Hours: Tours are available Sunday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Paul Revere House
Located at 19 North Square in Boston's North End is the home where silversmith Paul Revere once lived. It is downtown Boston's oldest building, built around 1680. Revere lived in the home with his wife Sarah, their five children and his mother from 1770 to 1800.
Amazingly, 90 percent of the home contains original features. On the ground floor is an 18th century kitchen and a restored hall furnished to represent the way it looked back in Revere's day. Upstairs, visitors will encounter additional period furnishings, including some that belonged to the Revere family.
How to Visit
Cost: Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $1 for children ages 5-17.
Hours: Self-guided tours of The Paul Revere House are available year-round, with varying hours during the summer and the winter. Expect to spend about 30 minutes visiting.
Frida Kahlo Museum
In Mexico City, art lovers can visit The Blue House. Also known as Casa Azul, this is the home where renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo grew up and lived with her husband until her death in 1954. Now a museum, the house is located in one of Mexico City's oldest neighborhoods.
Inside the home (which is called The Blue House because of its bright cobalt walls) are some of Kahlo's most famous works, such as Portrait of My Father Wilhelm Kahlo and Frida and the Caesarian Operation. There are also displays of her colorful clothing, paper mache Judas skeletons hanging from the ceiling and her art studio.
How to Visit
Cost: General admission tickets are 200 pesos (about $10). Discounts are available to Mexican citizens, students, teachers and senior citizens.
Hours: The museum is closed on Mondays and certain Mexican holidays during the year. There are also rules against entering the museum with chewing gum. For a full list of prohibited items, visit the museum's website.
Charles Dickens Museum
During the mid-19th century, Charles Dickens lived in a Victorian home in London with his wife, Catherine, and three of their 10 children. It was during this time that he wrote several of his masterpieces, such as "Oliver Twist" and "The Pickwick Papers." Dickens and Catherine hosted many dinner parties in this home, which today displays remnants of the couple's life and Dickens' career.
The author's study is at the center of the house but guests can also explore the family bed chambers and the servant's quarters. Among significant objects in the museum are Catherine's engagement ring, handwritten drafts from Charles' novels, family portraits and the court suit that Dickens wore in 1870 when he was presented to the Prince of Wales.
How to Visit
Cost: Ticket prices are £9.50 for adults, £7.50 for students and seniors, and £4.50 for children ages 6-16.
Hours: Museum hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m, with the last admission into the house at 4 p.m. From January through November the museum is closed on Mondays. In December, it is open seven days a week.
Mark Twain House
Although he was born Samuel Clemens, the world knew him as Mark Twain. He married Olivia "Livy" in 1870 and lived with her and their daughters from 1874 to 1891 in the Hartford, Connecticut home that is now The Mark Twain House & Museum.
In 1873, the couple hired New York architect Edward Tuckerman Potter to design the Victorian Gothic home according to their specifications. Livy was very particular about what she wanted, drawing sketches for Potter and getting feedback from friends. The family finally moved into the house in 1874.
Twain was noted as saying upon the home's completion, “It is a home – and the word never had so much meaning before.” National Geographic even named it "one of the 10 best historic homes in the world."
How to Visit
Cost: Ticket prices for both the home and museum are $20 for adults, $12 for children and $18 for senior citizens. Discounted rates are available for those who choose to only visit the museum.
Hours: Guided tours of The Mark Twain House & Museum are conducted daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Expert guides lead guests through the 25 room mansion, sharing stories and details about the Clemens family, the servants, Twain's work and the family pets.
Shakespeare's Birth Place
Located on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, is the home where poet and playwright William Shakespeare was born and raised. It was in this home that he also spent the first five years of his marriage with wife Anne Hathaway. When you visit this home, you learn about Shakespeare's family, his upbringing and get the chance to experience live theatre on demand.
Also open for visits are four other buildings on the property. These include Hall's Croft (the home of Shakespeare's daughter), Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Mary Arden's Farm (the home of Shakespeare's mother).
How to Visit
Cost: Tickets are available for all five properties, both as a group or individually. When you purchase online, you get a 10 percent discount.
Hours: Hours for each attraction vary throughout the year, so check the website for information.
Daniel Boone Home
Overlooking the Femme Osage Valley in Missouri is the Daniel Boone Home. This is where the American pioneer lived during his last years. The town where the home is located has several 19th century buildings such as a general store, a school house and a grist mill.
Inside the home, guests are brought back in time to when Boone went on many adventures and fought many battles. His legacy and life are honored through tours of the home.
How to Visit
Cost: Admission prices are $8 for adults, $5 for children (ages 5-12) and $6 for seniors. Included with each ticket is a guided tour of three levels of the home. Visitors may also request an extended tour of the property to view several buildings in the village at no extra cost.
Hours: Guided tours of the Daniel Boone Home can be taken any time during park hours, which are generally 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. From Dec. 16 to March 1, winter hours are in effect.
Leonardo da Vinci's Home at Château du Clos Lucé
For the last three years of his life, Leonardo da Vinci lived in Château du Clos Lucé in France, after an invitation by King Francis I to live and work in the home.
The King's Chateau Amboise was not far from Château du Clos Lucé. In fact, there was an underground passage between the two properties that allowed the men to meet as needed. Only the first two meters are still visible today. Da Vinci worked on several projects for King Francis I, until he passed away in his bed chamber in 1519.
Among the exhibits available for vistors to the Château du Clos Lucé are four visitor rooms that showcase da Vinci's engineering skills, his chambers, a garden and a mill.
How to Visit
Cost: Ticket prices depend on what time of year you visit, with family rates and student rates available.
Hours: It is open year-round, except on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
How to get there: The chateau can be accessed via car or train and takes between one and two hours from Paris.
Emily Dickinson Museum
Two historic houses make up the Emily Dickinson Museum: The Homestead and The Evergreens. The first was where Emily Dickinson was born. The second was where her brother lived (next door) with his family. It is likely that The Homestead was the first brick house in Amherst, Mass., which was built for the poet's grandparents in 1813. During her lifetime, Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems and letters. It wasn't until her death in 1886 that her works started to be read and published by the public.
Inside the museum, visitors will find plenty to explore. Between The Homestead and The Evergreens, there are over 8,000 objects with historical and cultural relevance. The Evergreens is fully furnished with original furniture and artwork, some of which belonged to Austin Dickinson and his family, and some that likely came from the former Homestead.
How to Visit
Cost: Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $10 for students. Youth 17 and under are free.
Hours: Guided tours are offered throughout the day during business hours. Check the website for exact dates and times.
Winston Churchill's Chartwell House
In southeast England is the Chartwell House. This is the place that British politician Winston Churchill and his family called home for over 40 years. The home is decorated to reflect the styles of the 1930s, taking guests through rooms like the library, the sitting room, the dining room and the study. It is full of items and gifts, including original pieces that Churchill and his family kept at the home.
Themed highlights tours, which are one hour long, give visitors exclusive access to Winston's bedroom and other select rooms in the house. To visit the entire house, visitors must purchase a timed ticket, which offers a self-guided tour option, as opposed to a guided tour by a knowledgeable expert.
How to Visit
Cost: Ticket prices do vary and the last entry into the home is one hour before closing.
Hours: For hours of operation, check the online calendar.
Osborne House
On the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom sits Osborne House. It was originally built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
One of the home's best features is that it offers panoramic views of the Solent straight. It is said that these views reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples. But the architecture doesn't disappoint either. The Italian style home has terraces connected by flights of stairs and is divided into four connecting blocks that surround two outdoor courtyards.
Inside the home are personal items that reflect the royal couple's tastes and interests. Some of these include gifts that Victoria and Albert gave to one another on holidays. Other items visitors will come across during their visit are mid-19th century art collections.
How to Visit
Cost: Adult £17.20, Child £10.30 (ages 5-17)
Hours: Hours vary throughout the year.
Heyward-Washington House
Built in 1772, this Georgian-style double house in Charleston, S.C., was home to Thomas Heyward, Jr, an artillery officer with the South Carolina militia, and was one of four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Inside the home, visitors will find the only 1740s kitchen open to the public in Charleston. The home is called the Heyward-Washington House because George Washington stayed in it during a weeklong trip to Charleston in 1791.
In 1978, Heyward-Washington House was declared a National Historic Landmark. There is quite the collection of historic furniture, including the Holmes-Edwards Bookcase inside the home. Visitors can choose to visit the home, as well as The Charleston Museum or the Joseph Manigault House.
How to Visit
Cost: Tickets are available for single visits to each individual site, visits to two of the sites, or a ticket that grants admission into all three. Prices vary, depending on which site(s) tickets are bought for.
Hours: Operating hours of the Heyward-Washington House are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The last tour is offered at 4:30 p.m.
Molly Brown House
The mighty and feisty Molly Brown is famous for not going down with the ship. One of the survivors of the Titanic disaster, the wealthy socialite and philanthropist became known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."
Her Victorian home in Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood was built in the late 1880s, well before her fateful sail. As did other homes in the neighborhood, it contained indoor plumbing, electricity, heating and a telephone — all signs of wealth for the time. Molly moved in in 1894, although during her world travels rented it to the Colorado governor for a spell.
The home almost didn't make it until it, too, was rescued. In 1970, Historic Denver purchased the home and transformed it into a museum. Visitors can see it in all of its original splendor.
How to Visit
Cost: Adult $14, Junior $10 (ages 6-18), children under 6 are free. Tickets must be reserved in advance with timed entry available every 20 minutes throughout the day.
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday; entry begins at 10 a.m. with last entry at 3 p.m. The museum closes at 4 p.m.
Winchester Mystery House
The 24,000-square-foot house located in San Jose, California, is clouded with mystery. Home to the Winchester family — the family that created Winchester firearms — it was originally a small home purchased by Sarah Winchester when she relocated to the area after losing her husband and daughter. A medium told Sarah she would always be haunted by the dead killed from the family's firearms and that in order to keep the spirits at bay she would have to continue to build her home to confuse them.
Sarah had construction on her home going 24 hours a day for 38 years. When she died, the Winchester House featured 160 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 2,000 doors (some to nowhere), 10,000 windows, 40 staircases (some to nowhere), 47 fireplaces and a seance room.
Tours include the interior or the gardens with visitors walking more than a mile within the house alone.
How to Visit
Cost: Tour tickets $9.99 - $24.99
Hours: Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Closed on Christmas Day)
Ian Fleming's Goldeneye
Named for the first James Bond novel Ian Fleming published, Goldeneye is the 15-acre estate that the author built in Jamaica in 1946.
Fleming designed the home that is perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean and a private beach. From here, he wrote additional Bond novels, including Casino Royale. In fact, Fleming credits living in paradise for the inspiration of additional books.
Today, the property is a resort with the same name, and Fleming's own home is available as a villa. Up to 10 can stay in the private villa, staffed with your own housekeeper, butler and chef.
How to Visit
Cost: The Fleming Villa rates start at $2,895 and top off at $10,605 per night. Rooms at the resort begin at $480, non peak.
Hours: Open year-round
The American Gothic House
The 1930 painting, "American Gothic," by Grant Wood is one of the most famous works of art by an American painter. In the painting, a farmer and his wife stand in front of a white house with a Gothic window.
The house was an actual house Wood spotted while visiting a small town in Iowa. Inspired by it, he sketched it to use later in his work. His sister, Nan, modeled as the woman in his painting.
The small house, on the National Register of Historic Places, is available for tours on the second Saturday of the month between April and October, and can be found in Eldon, Iowa.
How to Visit
Cost: Free; donations accepted
Hours: Second Saturday, April through October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ann of Green Gables House
When Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote about "a big white beautiful house smothered in orchards that was the wonder castle of my childhood," she was writing about the Cavendish home that is now a part of Prince Edward Island National Park.
"Anne of Green Gables" is a beloved story, and today, Green Gables Heritage Place welcomes visitors enchanted by the red-headed orphan with a variety of sites and activities. You can see the house with the green gables and Anne's recreated room. Interpretation programs are provided from July through Labor Day.
The grounds also include a beach and trails within the Haunted Woods and Balsam Hollow, just like in the book.
How to Visit
Cost: Adult tickets are $6.40 to $7.90. Children 17 and younger are free.
Hours: Open daily May through October from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lizzie Borden House
Just outside of Providence, Rhode Island, the small town of Fall River, Massachusetts, was shaken to the core when Andrew and Abby Borden were found dead in their home on Aug. 4, 1892.
No one is quite certain who committed the ghastly crime, but many say it was the Borden's daughter, Lizzie. A rhyme continues to this day: "Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41."
The original home is now a bed and breakfast, and you can spend the night or enjoy a tour of the home. For overnight stays, you may choose one of six rooms and suites, including the John V. Morse Room where Abby was murdered.
How to Visit
Cost: Adults $22, Child $17 (ages 7-15), children 6 and under are free.
Hours: Tours are every half hour between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. every day but Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Guests staying at the B&B receive a complimentary tour that is more in-depth, beginning at 8 p.m. in the basement (not open for day tours).
Rooms range between $250 and $300 per night, depending on choice.
Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home
All American students are taught that Abe Lincoln grew up in a log cabin. You can see his birthplace and boyhood home in Hodgenville, Kentucky, which is now a part of the National Park Service.
The 16th president of the United States was born in a one-room cabin in what was then referred to as Knob Creek. Enshrining the cabin is a memorial — the first erected for the president.
How to Visit
Cost: Free
Hours: Memorial Building open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Visitor Center open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; grounds open daylight hours year-round. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms
The legendary crooner and actor Ol' Blue Eyes himself lived in Palm Springs, California, in the 1940s and turned a desert town into the place to be for the rich and famous.
The weekend home was meant to be a getaway from Hollywood, and Sinatra brought his children to the house he called Twin Palms for its two towering palm trees. He also brought the like of Ava Gardner, his second wife.
The house was used as a film location for the Joan Crawford-starring "The Damned Don't Cry." Today, it is available for rent as a four-bedroom house for private use or parties.
How to Visit
The home is available for vacation rentals, private events and parties, and private tours. Prices are not available and vary per usage and desired date. Visit Sinatra House to inquire.
Irving Washington's Sunnyside
Irving Washington, the mastermind behind "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," which continues to terrorize children every Halloween since it was published in 1820, wrote about the neighboring town in Hudson Valley, New York. Washington is buried in Sleepy Hollow but lived in Tarrytown.
You can visit Sunnyside (so very opposite by name in his scary stories) where Irving wrote his stories that also included “Rip Van Winkle.”
The cottage is a mix of Dutch Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and Scottish Gothic and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962. Now a museum operated by the Historic Hudson Valley, tours of the home are led in period costume and showcase Irving’s original study, dining room, bedrooms, kitchen and furnishings.
How to Visit
Cost: Adults $10, Child $8 (ages 3-17); advanced tickets are required.
Hours: Fridays through Sundays through Sept. 7, 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the time of publication
Hyde Park, Home of the Roosevelts
The National Park Service also manages the homes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. Hyde Park was Franklin's New York retreat and home to the first-ever presidential library.
Although married for quite some time, the Roosevelts lived a rather unconventional life. Located on the same property is Eleanor's home, which she used when she was not pretending to have a happy marriage to the nation's 32nd president. Eleanor's home, Val-Kill, is where she entertained her friends and housed state visitors when they came to Hyde Park.
There are more than a thousand acres and 50 historic buildings in the town of Hyde Park due to the Roosevelts' conservation efforts. You'll also find 34 miles of trails and six gardens to explore.
How to Visit
Cost: $20 for the FDR Presidential Library and Museum, the home of FDR with a self-tour or guided tour by a park ranger and Val-Kill, which is only available by guided tour.
Hours: Hyde Park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the exception of national holidays. Val-Kill is open 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except for Tuesday and Wednesday and national holidays.
Marie Antoinette's Le Hameau de la Reine
While Versailles itself is a palace to be seen, we think a visit to Le Hameau de La Reine (the Hamlet of the Queen) gives you more insight into Marie Antoinette. Built as part of the Estate of Trianon on the grounds of the palace by her husband, King Louis IV, Marie Antoinette was given the home for her privacy and to host her friends.
The Queen's House was originally meant to be a temporary structure but was restored and decorated in the style of the furnishings of the queen.
Visitors can enjoy the Yellow Salon, dining room, a bedroom, billiards room, boudoir and the gardens surrounding it on a separate ticket from the Palace at Versailles.
How to Visit
Cost: Adults €20; free for visitors under 18
Hours: The interior of the Queen's House is accessible only on a guided tour at scheduled times, which you can book at the Versailles website.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater
When the Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh asked legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright to build them a house at Bear Run, Pennsylvania, their intention was to be able to look upon the waterfall when visiting their vacation home. Wright took it a step further and built the house into the waterfall.
Using stones from the river and blending the architecture into the environment, even the interior is made with rock and wood to allow the water to flow through. So invested in the design was Wright, he even designed built-in furnishings so the Kaufmanns couldn't alter the aesthetics he created.
The home, aptly called Fallingwater, is considered an architectural masterpiece.
How to Visit
Cost: $18 per person for a self-guided tour; $28 per person for private tours
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Wednesdays
John Wayne's Boyhood Home
American leading man John Wayne, aka "The Duke," made nearly 100 movies during his career, many of which were Westerns. But before he became a movie star, he was born Marion Michael Morrison in Winterset, Iowa.
Tour the modest four-bedroom home Wayne was born and raised in, which was restored to resemble his time in the home in the early 1900s.
An adjoining museum is included in the tour and showcases Wayne's career.
How to Visit
Cost: Adults $15, Child $8 (ages 8-12), free for children under 7
Hours: March through November, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; December through February, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Ernest Hemingway Home
Acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway famously spent his later years in Key West, Florida. Choosing a mid-19th century Spanish Colonial home for himself and his wife, Pauline, to reside in from 1931 and 1940, the home today is one of the biggest attractions on the small island.
More than 40 cats still call the house and gardens home, and they are direct descendants of Hemingway's cats, some of which are six-toed.
Tours through the home that showcases Hemingway's own furnishings, art and photography.
How to Visit
Cost: Adults $16, Child $6 (ages 6-12), free for children 5 and under
Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cinderella's Castle
Walt Disney is said to have designed Cinderella Castle after Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle, home to Lugwig II, King of Bavaria. When the king passed away in 1886, his palace was opened to the public and has remained so ever since.
This "Mad" king is said to have been obsessed with fairytales (and opera) and built numerous castles across Bavaria as a result.
Tours of 14 rooms of the castle include the apartment and staterooms of the king, including Throne Hall, the dining room, and the grotto and conservatory.
How to Visit
Cost: Adults €15.50, Child €2.50 (ages up to 17)
Hours: Open daily for guided tours 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1.