Gillette Castle
Gillette Castle is the stunning former home of American actor William Gillette, famous for playing the character of Sherlock Holmes on stage and in silent films in the late 1800s and early 1900s. His 14,000 sq ft mansion has 24 rooms and is built of cement, wood and fieldstone from the local Connecticut quarries. Gillette lived in the mansion from 1919 to 1937. In 1943, Connecticut purchased the mansion and surrounding estate for $5,000. Connecticut created the Gillette Castle State Park and opened the grounds to the public. In 2007 Connecticut funded an $11 million renovation, and the mansion is now open to the public during certain times. Photographers will find the grounds a delight to explore, and the Gillette Castle is a very photogenic location with the age of time visible on its exterior. (East Haddam, Connecticut, USA)
