With the economy in a super weird place right now, many young people feel like they won’t ever be able to afford to have a place to call their own. Home prices rose over 20% in March alone, compared to the year before, and it can feel like owning even a house or an apartment is a pipe dream. But that won’t stop us from daydreaming about the perfect properties.
The ‘Historical Homes of America’ project posts some of the most beautiful photos of old buildings in the US. And they’re up for sale. Some of these pricetags might make you say, ‘Why is the world so unfair?!’, but just look at how grand and gorgeous these houses are. You should definitely expect these homes to have at least one friendly ghost and a secret attic full of mysterious artifacts.
As you’re scrolling down, upvote the pics that you liked the most, and be sure to tell us in the comments which of these houses you’d love to live in, above all else. Oh, and if you happen to own a historic property, you can tell us all about it, too—we’d love to hear from you.
Meanwhile, read on for Bored Panda’s interview about moving into historical homes, what homeowners should be aware of, and how to give the properties a facelift with Ariane Sherine, the editor at ‘These Three Rooms.’
More info: Instagram | HistoricalHomesOfAmerica.com
#21
Second Empire” Silas W. Robbins House Wethersfield, CT
The Silas W. Robbins House was built in 1873 for Silas Robbins, an owner of the seed business Johnson, Robbins and Co., in the Wethersfield Historic District in Connecticut. Now operating as a unique Bed & Breakfast, the residence offers two full stories with a mansard roof and dormers creating a unique third floor living space.
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103points
“What you decide to do really depends on your style and how much of the house's original character you want to preserve. It's possible to strip out the character elements and add them back in if you have enough money.”
Ariane told us a bit about matching new furniture to the interior of old homes. She said that she encourages people to choose a core color-and-finish scheme for their house, and revealed to us that hers is white, oak, chrome, and rose gold.
#23
This hidden Estate is referred to as the “Jewel of Escondido” sitting upon a huge sprawling yard with its formal gardens, Wrought Iron Victorian Fence, 15ft Hedges, an Award-winning Arbor and Gazebo adding to the ambience of this Estate. The Queen Anne was built in 1896 by Albert H Beach and through the years it has been very well maintained until Harry Parashis came along and spent over a Decade creating an Estate worthy of Museum Quality. Every item is Period appropriate and reflects what an Estate of 1896 would look like for the Wealthy of its time. Each room was Individual Design by 6 Artesian with Bradbury and Bradbury Wallpaper to capture what had existed in 1896. From the Minton Tile surround the Fireplace, with the inset from the home of General Grant to each light fixture from Grand Estates found across the Country. No expense was too much for Mr. Parashis who invested over 3 million to create this Award winning one of a Kind Victorian. The New Owners have gone to great length to maintain the Integrity of the work that Mr. Parashis Achieved, as well as updating the Security System, 24 station sprinkler system, adding a 100% solar system, upgrading the low voltage outdoor lightning (all LED’s) having the House put on the Mill’s Act, which reduces the Property tax greatly and is transferable to the new owner.
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100points
“For instance, if you have oak floorboards as I do, go for oak furniture to match. If you choose most of your furniture to fit into this scheme, the interior will look cohesive and pulled together. You can then add accents in different tones and shades,” she explained. If you’d like to know more about moving, you should definitely check out Ariane’s ultimate advice guide to moving into a new home right over here.
#25
Roseland Cottage, also known as Henry C. Bowen House or as Bowen Cottage, is a historic house built in 1846 located on Route 169 in Woodstock, Connecticut. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992. It is described as one of the best-preserved and best-documented Gothic summer houses in the nation, with virtually intact interior decorations.
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98points
#27
The Gamwell House was designed by architects Longstaff & Black and was built in 1892. It is one of the most distinguished Late Victorian era homes in the area of Bellingham, Washington. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
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95points
While folks over in Manhattan are struggling to keep up with the massively rising rent prices, wealthy Americans are actually holding off from buying as much expensive property as they usually do.
The US saw a 17.8% drop in the sales of luxury homes, from February to the end of April, compared to last year. Meanwhile, the sale of non-luxury homes fell 5.4%. This implies that the very wealthy might look at cheaper buildings to purchase as investments due to the current economic uncertainty. More expensive homes might be left sitting in listings for longer and longer.
#29
The Ransom Gillis House is a historic home located at 205 Alfred Street (formerly 63 Alfred prior to renumbering) in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, within the Brush Park district. It was designed by Henry T. Brush and George D. Mason and built between 1876 and 1878. The structure, unoccupied since the mid-1960s, was "mothballed" by the City of Detroit in 2005/2006, in hopes of restoration in the future. On November 1, 2015, the completely refurbished home opened its doors to the public after a thorough renovation in a joint project between HGTV, Rehab Addict Nicole Curtis and Detroit-based mortgage lender Quicken Loans. The project resulted in an eight-part special that aired on HGTV.
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92points
#30
Kitchen with leaded glass cabinet doors in a Victorian home built in 1882 designed by Rachel Reider in Southport, CT
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91points
#31
The Burrage Mansion, widely regarded as one of the most impressive addresses on Commonwealth Avenue in Back Bay, boasts some of the grandest rooms Boston, MA, has ever seen. The mansion was built for Albert Burrage in 1899.
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91points
#32
The Schofield Building (previously known as the Euclid Ninth Tower) is a high-rise building in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The 172-foot (52 m), 14-story building is located at the southwest corner of East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue, adjacent to the Rose Building and the City Club Building in the city's Historic Gateway District. The top Seven floors of the Building today are residences. The Building was modernized in the 1960’s, on the left, and restored to its original appearance in 2016.
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91points
#34
Edwin Hall House also known as “The Pink House” built in 1868 in Wellsville, NY
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88points
#36
Grand Staircase Of The Marsh Mansion, Built In 1893 And On The Market Earlier This Year For $895,000. The Mansion Is Located In Plainfield, Nj, And Has Been Completely Restored.
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81points
#37
The James F. D. Lanier House is more than a testament to the Gilded Age. It is an exuberant celebration. The magnificent Beaux-Arts mansion at 123 East 35th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues in the historic Manhattan neighborhood of Murray Hill, presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a New York City landmark and a living work of art.
The James F. D. Lanier House stands 33 feet wide, 75 feet deep, and 66 feet tall, with 11,638 square feet of palatial living space across eight levels. One of the city's largest single-family homes, it is also among the grandest. The brick and limestone mansion was built between 1901 and 1903 for James and Harriet Lanier. The renowned architectural firm Hoppin & Koen designed this house. Another Hoppin & Koen's notable work is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York. The James F. D. Lanier House remains one of their finest residential works in New York City.
The original architectural finishes and materials have been meticulously preserved for more than 40 years under the stewardship of the current owner, with thoughtful improvements sensitive to the original design.
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79points
#39
The Marsh Mansion in Plainfield, NJ, on the market last year for $895,000.
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67points
#40
Before and After of Halcyon Hall, Millbrook, NY.
The main building of Bennett College, Halcyon Hall, was built in 1893 by H. J. Davison Jr., a publisher from New York. The 200-room Queen Anne structure was designed by James E. Ware. It has five stories, a basement and sub-basement. Originally built as a luxury hotel, the building became home to Bennett College in 1907 after the hotel failed to catch on. The Bennett campus also included a chapel, stables, dormitories, an outdoor theater, and the Kettering Science Center, a state of the art building completed in late 1972. The cost of constructing the science building (needed to comply with new state science education requirements), along with other campus upgrades, contributed to the school's bankruptcy.
The main building of Bennett College, Halcyon Hall, was built in 1893 by H. J. Davison Jr., a publisher from New York. The 200-room Queen Anne structure was designed by James E. Ware. It has five stories, a basement and sub-basement. Originally built as a luxury hotel, the building became home to Bennett College in 1907 after the hotel failed to catch on. The Bennett campus also included a chapel, stables, dormitories, an outdoor theater, and the Kettering Science Center, a state of the art building completed in late 1972. The cost of constructing the science building (needed to comply with new state science education requirements), along with other campus upgrades, contributed to the school's bankruptcy.
Halcyon Hall was never reopened and quickly fell into ruin. As of early 2021 the building is still standing.
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58points