In 1929, William Wrigley, Jr., aka the creator of the Wrigley chewing gum, started his journey to build his Spanish colonial-style mansion. It was built on a large hilltop overlooking the city of Phoenix. Even though he died shortly after the mansion was completed, the spirit of the home remains alive.
Today, it serves as a museum as well as events host, holding weddings, festivals, concerts, and more. It also boasts a fancy restaurant that visitors flock to. Also in Arizona: Scottsdale’s Taliesin West used to be the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, and now it serves as the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.
Florida - Ernest Hemingway’s Home
In Key West, Florida is where Ernest Hemingway’s home lies, where he lived with his wife from 1931 to 1940. The Spanish Colonial style of architecture is what really makes the house stand out. However, before the Hemingways bought this home, it was in desperate need of renovation. Interestingly enough, this is now the home of approximately 40 to 50 polydactyl (six-toed) cats.
In 1964 the home was converted into a museum where visitors can see Hemingway's original study as he used it. Also in Florida: Ca’ d’Zan is American circus owner John Ringling’s famous estate, located in Sarasota, Florida, neighboring Sarasota Bay.
Minnesota - Glensheen
Glensheen is a house owned by Clara Congdon, who always used to joke about having quiet neighbors - there is a huge cemetery on the plot of land next to it. This would definitely be considered a mansion, as it has a whopping 39 rooms. Years later, the house was donated to the University of Minnesota, and it was renovated into a house museum.
A guided tour of the full mansion takes around 1.5 hours - and that's without exploring the estate itself. Also in Minnesota: The 1891 James J. Hill House in St. Paul was, at its time, the largest and most expensive home built in Minnesota, at 36,500 square feet.
Michigan - The Henry Ford Estate
This was the home of Henry Ford and his wife Clara from 1915 to 1950. They wanted this house not only because of the architectural popularity it had, but also because it set them aside from the public eye. The house has a gorgeous stone exterior, and it is planted on a whopping 1,300 acres of land.
The 56-room mansion is open to the public today for tours. Also in Michigan: The self-titled Alden B. Dow Home & Studio is the home of the 20th-century architect who is well-known for being an influence in curating the modern style native to Michigan.
Massachusetts - The House of the Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables is one of America’s oldest homes still in existence today - it was built in 1668! But that is not the only thing that makes this house so special. It is also the place where Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote some of his famous novels, which were inspired by the historic setting.
This black-and-red home looks like it's straight out of a horror film. But, hey, the tourists love it. Also in Massachusetts: The Mount, located in Massachusetts, is Edith Wharton’s 1902 country home, and it is an example of the principles written in her book "The Decoration of Houses."