The Most Famous Home in Every State (Plus D.C.)

Step inside the most famous digs in America, from Gilded Age mansions to the homes of writers, celebrities and even famed outlaws. See what's the most popular home tour in your state.

By: Deanne Revel

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Alabama

While most of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes are scattered throughout the midwest, down in Florence, Alabama, you can visit the iconic architect’s Rosenbaum House. Unlike other famous homes, like Fallingwater, Rosenbaum House is an example of Wright’s Usonian design. Tours are held Tuesday through Sunday for $10. And students and seniors receive a $5 discount.

Alaska

Built in the early 1800s by the Erskine family, the Erskine House in Kodiak is the oldest home in Alaska. The building is now known as the Baranov Museum and showcases Kodiak’s Russian and American roots. It’s a great stop for cruisers in Kodiak looking for a half-day activity in port. Admission is $5 for adults, and children younger than 12 are admitted free.

Arizona

Below the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, Arizona, sits Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s former winter home. According to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the home was one of the architect’s most personal creations as it was built almost entirely by Wright himself. The architect once said that the home was "a look over the rim of the world." Taliesin West is open year round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

Arkansas

Any Johnny Cash fan should head to Dyess, Arkansas, to visit the singer’s boyhood home and see the legend’s humble beginnings. Constructed under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, The Dyess Colony provided housing for Arkansas farm families hit hard by the Great Depression. The historic site is still open today with tours through the Cash home. According to the museum, the home is furnished "as it appeared when the Cash family lived there, based on family memories."

California

Just 65 miles south of Big Sur on the famed Highway 1 sits Hearst Castle, the former home of publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst. First timers should book the Grand Rooms Tour. This tour focuses on Casa Grande, the castle’s largest house. Don’t miss the Neptune and Roman Pools outside before you leave.

Colorado

Famous for surviving the sinking of the Titanic, Margaret Brown inspired a Broadway musical and movie, but Brown’s philanthropic efforts were just as impressive. Today, her former home in Denver is open as a museum where you can learn more about the "Unsinkable Molly Brown."

Connecticut

Located in Hartford, Connecticut, the Mark Twain House & Museum was once the home of American author Samuel Clemens. It was here that Mark Twain wrote his most iconic works such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Book a guided tour to see this impressive Gilded Age mansion and learn more about Mark Twain’s work and life.

Delaware

Delaware’s "Chateau Country" is packed with stunning estates and historic homes, but none compare to Nemours. One of the four famed DuPont family mansions in Delaware, Nemours Estate was inspired by the palace of Versailles. You’ll actually believe you are in France after strolling through the estate’s formal gardens and immaculate home with gilded statues and rare French furniture.

Florida

Located in the heart of Old Town Key West, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum was once the retreat for one of America’s most celebrated authors. And while the 30-minute guided tour is a must-do, the highlight of the house is the six-toed cats that call it home. When Hemingway was living in Key West, he was given a six-toed kitten and, according to the museum, some of the six-toed cats on property are descendants of that cat.

Georgia

Step back in time and experience the Jazz Age at the Swan House in Atlanta. Built for entertaining, the mansion boasts four floors of decorative arts and history. Book the behind-the-scenes tour to explore the basement, attic and the home’s special collections not open to the general public.

Hawaii

Located in Honolulu, Iolani Palace was the last royal residence of the Hawaiian monarch before the monarchy was overthrown in 1893. Today, the palace is registered as a National Historic Landmark and has been meticulously restored to its former grandeur. The palace is open to the public for tours of the first and second floors as well as the basement exhibits.

Idaho

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the McConnell Mansion in Moscow, Idaho, is the only remaining example of Eastlake architecture in the state. Tours may be enjoyed at your own pace, or you can arrange a guided tour with a docent from the Latah County Historical Society.

Illinois

Oak Park, Illinois, is home to the world’s largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, but if you only have time to visit one, you have to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. This home was Wright’s first house, where he experimented with architectural styles and first created Prairie style.

Indiana

Another Frank Lloyd Wright gem, Samara House, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, gives visitors the chance to see Wright’s Usonian style to its full extent. In addition to the architecture, design and landscape, the home is still completely furnished and decorated in Usonian style. Tours of the home are available from April through November by reservation.

Iowa

Look familiar? Located in Eldon, Iowa, the Dibble House inspired artist Grant Wood to paint American Gothic. Admission is free, and tours include information on Grant Wood and the history of the home. The museum also features fun costumes so visitors can dress up and pose in front of the home for their own American Gothic portrait.

Kansas

Located in Atchison, Kansas, the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum features the childhood home of one of America’s most influential aviators. Today, the home is furnished similarly to the period when Earhart lived there with her grandparents from 1897 to 1909.

Kentucky

In downtown Lexington, you can visit the childhood home of one of the nation’s most famous first ladies. The Mary Todd Lincoln House was actually the first house museum to honor a First Lady. The home is closed in the winter, but docent-led, guided tours are offered from March through November.

Louisiana

Featured in several films and TV shows, Oak Alley Plantation is an iconic home with more than 200 years of history. The home is located in Vacherie, Louisiana, making it a great stop for cruisers coming up the Mississippi River. The plantation is open year round except for New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and, of course, Mardi Gras Tuesday.

Maine

Built in the 1820s for Colonel John Black, The Black House or Woodlawn, stayed in the Black family for three generations until George Nixon Black, Jr. gave the estate to the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations in 1928. Today, the home, known as the Woodlawn Museum, still features all of the Black family’s furnishings, decor and collectibles and, per Black Jr.’s wishes, the estate grounds and trails are open to the public every day.

Maryland

Not far from poet Edgar Allan Poe’s grave in downtown Baltimore sits a tiny, two-story home where Poe lived from 1833 to 1835 with his grandmother, aunt and two cousins. Today, the Edgar Allan Poe Home and Museum celebrates the life and work of the poet with home tours and artifacts such as Poe’s own writing desk and chair.

Massachusetts

Boston’s oldest building was once the home of American Revolutionary War legend Paul Revere. The 17th-century home is still intact and sandwiched between other buildings in downtown Boston. Today, the house serves as a memorial museum with colonial-period furnishings and several pieces from the Revere family.

Michigan

After the success of the Model T, automaker Henry Ford and his wife Clara moved into Fair Lane in 1915. The Dearborn, Michigan, estate was Ford’s final home and boasted over-the-top features such as a bowling alley, indoor pool and pony barn. Currently, the home is undergoing restoration, but the estate grounds are open from April to October each year.

Minnesota

Completed in 1913, the Purcell-Cutts House in Minneapolis is a stunning example of the Prairie School style of architecture. The home features a gorgeous wall of "art windows" in the Prairie style. Today, the home is part of the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Tours are available the second weekend of each month for $5.

Mississippi

Natchez, Mississippi, is home to the country’s largest octagonal building. Built for the prominent Nutt family, construction began on Longwood estate in 1860. Construction stopped, however, in 1861 due to the Civil War. During this time, the family lived in the furnished basement, but, even after the war, the first and second levels were never finished. Today, visitors can tour the unfinished upper floors as well as the fanciest basement you’ve ever seen.

Missouri

In St. Joseph, Missouri, visitors can explore the home of Jesse James, one of America’s most infamous outlaws. It was in this home that James was shot and killed by fellow bank robber Robert Ford. Today, the home has been moved behind the Patee House, where the Pony Express began, and is part of the Patee House Museum.

Montana

Designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, designer of the original Waldorf Astoria and Plaza Hotels, Moss Mansion preserves the extravagant lifestyle of the Moss family at the turn of the century in Billings, Montana. Today, visitors can tour the home, which still has all of its original fixtures and furnishings from the early 1900s. Don’t miss the exquisite Persian carpets.

Nebraska

In North Platte, Nebraska, visitors can tour famed gunman-turned-showman William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody’s home and ranch, preserved just as it was when Buffalo Bill lived there himself from 1886 to 1913. Now a state historical park, the home features tons of Cody memorabilia. The ranch is open to the public from spring through fall each year.

Nevada

Nevada’s most famous home is none other than the Thunderbird Lodge at Lake Tahoe. Built in 1939 by businessman George Whittell, Jr., the "castle in the sky" offers a peek into the lives of the rich and famous. If you go, wear good walking shoes. Guided tours include a walk through the secret 600-foot tunnel down to the home’s boat dock.

New Hampshire

The Robert Frost Farm Historic Site in Derry, New Hampshire, is home to the farm where American poet Robert Frost lived from 1900 to 1911. Frost wasn’t the best farmer, but the area and the people of New England inspired his career in poetry and inspired many of his most popular poems. Today, visitors can tour the Frost home and walk along a new nature and poetry trail with stops such as the road not taken and the mending wall.

New Jersey

In downtown Camden, not too far from Rutgers University, sits the final residence of and only home Walt Whitman ever owned. The celebrated poet bought the two-story home in 1884 for $1,750. Today, the house is open to the public and admission is free.

New Mexico

Georgia O’Keeffe is synonymous with New Mexico, and no visit to Santa Fe is complete without visiting the artist’s former home and studio. Abiquiú gives visitors a peek into O’Keeffe’s life, as well as the desert environment that inspired nearly 30 of her paintings. Don’t miss the patio door that O’Keeffe painted more than 20 times.

New York

While Baltimore is typically associated with Edgar Allan Poe, his final home was in New York City. Located in what is now the Bronx neighborhood, "Poe Cottage" is where the poet lived with his wife and mother-in-law the last three years of his life. The home is open to the public for tours and features an audio guide you can access from your phone.

North Carolina

Nestled in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, you’ll find the closest thing Americans have to a royal fairytale castle. Known as "America’s largest home," Biltmore was built for George Vanderbilt in 1895. The French Renaissance-style chateau features impressive furnishings such as 16th-century tapestries, art by Renoir and a 10,000-volume library. Just as impressive, the 8,000-acre estate features gorgeous formal gardens and a giant conservatory.

North Dakota

One of North Dakota’s most famous and most haunted homes is located along the Missouri River in the town of Mandan. Part of Fort Lincoln, the Custer House was home to Lt. Col. Custer and his wife, Libbie. During the American Indian Wars, Custer and his cavalry rode out on an ill-fated expedition never to return. It’s said that the ghost of Libbie still wanders the grounds waiting for her husband to return from battle.

Ohio

Built during the Industrial Age by F.A. Seiberling (founder of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company), Stan Hywet Hall is a must-see in Akron, Ohio. The estate features a massive Tudor Revival manor, Gothic Revival conservatory and nearly 70 acres of landscaped grounds and formal gardens. Tours are offered from April through December each year.

Oklahoma

Known as the "Palace on the Prairie," Marland Estate in Ponca City, Oklahoma, was the home of oil baron E.W. Marland and his family. The home was designed to showcase fine arts, and today, visitors can tour the intricate arts in the home on a Side Tour. Programs include the home’s ornate ceilings, murals and dragon art.

Oregon

Built in 1914 by Portland newspaper mogul Henry Pittock, the Pittock Mansion was designed to get the best views of downtown Portland and the Cascade Mountains, so the home has a unique oval shape. Pittock was an avid hiker and kept much of the estate grounds wild with maintained trails. Today, the grounds are connected to Portland’s Forest Park, and the home is a popular stop on the Wildwood Trail.

Pennsylvania

Perhaps the most famous and acclaimed Frank Lloyd Wright home, Fallingwater is a must-see for architecture geeks and regular tourists alike. The Mill Run, Pennsylvania, home is a perfect example of Wright’s organic architecture style as the home was built above its famous waterfall. Guided tour programs include a two-hour, in-depth architectural tour as well as a sunset tour that photographers will love.

Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island, is studded with "summer cottages" from the Gilded Age. But don’t let the nickname fool you. These homes are mega estates, and the grandest of all is The Breakers. Built by the Vanderbilts, the Italian Renaissance-style estate boasts five floors, 70 rooms and dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Even if you’re not a history buff, you’ll want to this tour for the 'gram.

South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, has many famous, historic homes but none compare to Drayton Hall. Founded in 1738, the Low Country estate is the oldest plantation in America open to the public. After your tour, don’t miss the program Port to Plantation. The presentation outlines Drayton Hall’s history of slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries.

South Dakota

Little House on the Prairie fans should head to De Smet, South Dakota, to visit the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Guided tours include the Ingalls family home, known as "the house that Pa built," as well as the surveyor's home that inspired By the Shores of Silver Lake and the De Smet schoolhouse, where Wilder and her sister Carrie attended school.

Tennessee

If you’re an Elvis fan, you have to visit Graceland at least once in your life. The Memphis estate and former home of "The King" gives fans a peek into the entertainer’s life. Tours include the famous Jungle Room and Presley’s Meditation Garden. In addition to the home, visitors can tour the King’s private aircraft and check out exhibits featuring costumes and memorabilia.

Texas

Galveston’s Moody Mansion is a must-see. Home to one of the wealthiest families in Texas at the turn of the century, the mansion has been restored to its former grandeur. Visitors can explore 20 rooms that showcase the extravagance of the Moody family.

Utah

Salt Lake City’s Beehive House was built in 1854 for the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Brigham Young and his family. Today, the home serves as a museum for visitors to learn more about the religious leader, and exhibits include personal items that belonged to Young and his family. The beehive structure on the top of the home is said to represent the strong sense of community in the Latter-Day Saints.

Vermont

In Manchester, Vermont, you’ll find the stately Hildene. Robert Lincoln, the only child of President Lincoln to survive into adulthood, built the Georgian Revival mansion in 1905 with his wife, Mary. Today, the estate has evolved into a museum and working farm. In addition to home tours, guests can visit the solar-powered goat dairy farm.

Virginia

Second to the White House, Monticello is one of the most famous homes in America. The home was designed and built by President Thomas Jefferson and memorialized on the back of U.S. nickels. Today, the estate is open for tours, and visitors can learn more about the nation’s third president, from his map collection to his love of fine wines.

Washington

Completed in 1901, the Stimson-Green Mansion is a great example of...a little bit of everything. The Seattle home is mostly English Tudor Revival but also has some Gothic Revival and hints of Moorish, Romanesque, Neoclassical and Renaissance design. Today, The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation offers tours of the home, which include history of the influential Stimson and Green families that lived in the home.

West Virginia

Blennerhassett Mansion, home of colonial politician Harman Blennerhassett, burned to the ground in 1811, but that didn’t stop the state of West Virginia from preserving the history. An exact replica stands in its place today as part of the Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. To get to the home and the tiny island on the Ohio River, visitors must travel via sternwheeler riverboat.

Wisconsin

Home to six Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures, Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin, is a must-see for any architecture geek. The 800-acre estate features a tour of Wright’s former home including his furnishings and collected objects. Don’t miss the gorgeous valley views from the home’s famous loggia.

Wyoming

Located in Sheridan, Wyoming, the Trail End or Kendrick Mansion gives visitors a peek into what life was like during the Jazz Age and the Great Depression. Today, the Flemish Revival mansion and grounds make up the Trail End State Historical Site. One of the best times to visit is during the Spring and Summer as the estate’s flower gardens attract an array of butterflies.

Washington, D.C.

The most famous home in America, the White House is much more than government offices. It has housed the President and the President’s family since 1800, in addition to hosting foreign dignitaries and representatives. The house didn’t earn its name until 1901 when President Theodore Roosevelt officially called it the White House. Tours are free but must be submitted through your congressional representatives no later than 21 days in advance. And it’s recommended to submit tour requests as early as three months in advance.

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The Most Famous Home in Every State (Plus D.C.)

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Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Washington, D.C.