Franklin Castle
Franklin Castle is a unique little gem sitting along the Tahlequah Creek, overlooking the Northeastern State University campus. It was built between 1927 and 1931 by Marion E. Franklin, an Industrial Arts professor, with the help of his students over nine semesters. The story goes that he asked his wife if she wanted a grand home and she jokingly said yes, so he built her a castle. The walls are native limestone giving the exterior a rough, textured look. It was built during the Great Depression when almost nobody was building homes, which makes it even more unusual. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 and was fully restored between 2017 and 2019 by a master stone mason who preserved the original fireplace, furnace, and coal chute. The grounds now include a stone chapel, terraced gardens, stone walkways, and water features. The castle currently operates as an event venue and vacation rental, so you can only photograph the exterior from the street and will have to check with the owners if you want to photograph the grounds or interior. (Tahlequah, Oklahoma, USA)
