The City of Canals - Venice, Italy
When I took the ferry from the airport via the Grand Canal, which runs through the heart of the city, I started to fall in love with the enchanting city, and knew this bucket list destination was not going to disappoint. Venice is incredibly unique with 117 islands, 150 canals, over 400 bridges and no cars. Venice, Italy is mostly known for its canals, but I will tell you it is an architectural photo walk. The city’s architecture reflects so many influences including Byzantine, Islamic, and Gothic.
“The Garden By The Sea” - Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Thomas Rogers first settled the area in 1657 and dubbed it “The Garden by the Sea”. The town takes its name from Rogers’ family abandoned apple orchards. Old Orchard Beach first was promoted as a tourist designation in 1631. A steady flow of tourists started coming to Old Orchard Beach when railroad service from Portland and Boston was established in 1842.
Roadside Maine - Calais and Robbinston
Calais, Maine has three US-Canada crossings over the St. Croix River. It was the home of the first railroad in Maine, incorporated in 1832.
A French Chateau in the Brandywine Valley - Nemours
Nemours stands as an extraordinary example of the Gilded Age fascination with European culture and serves as a lasting testament to the wealth, interests, and ambitions of the du Pont family.
The House That A Lincoln Built - Hildene
Robert Lincoln, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, retained the architecture firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge to built his summer home on 392 acres in Manchester, Vermont. Lincoln had served as Secretary of War and Minister to the Court of St. James, and made his fortune as a lawyer before becoming President of the Pullman Company. Robert Lincoln and his wife, Mary Harlan Lincoln, lived at Hildene in high style.
George & Martha’s Place On The Potomac - Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is an American landmark and once a vibrant 18th century plantation and home to the first President of the United States. The estate is located on the banks on the Potomac River.
A Stockbridge Gilded Age Cottage - Naumkeag
Naumkeag is the former Berkshire estate of New York City lawyer and U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, Joseph Hodges Choate, and his wife Caroline, located in Stockbridge, Massachusettes. The Choate’s, who were part of the newly-rich, traveled in well-to-do social circles. They decided to build a 44-room shingle-style “cottage” with brick and stone details, designed by the architect of the day, Stanford White.
World’s Fair Remnants - Flushing Meadow Corona Park
In “The Great Gatsby”, F. Scott Fitzgerald described this area as “a valley of ashes”. It would later be transformed into the 1,200-acre site where the world would converge in 1939, to witness highlights that included exhibitions by companies like General Electric, IBM, RCA, Borden, American Tobacco and Coca Cola.
Lavish Gold Coast Estate Turned State Park - Planting Fields Arboretum
Coe Hall is the 65-room centerpiece of the 409-acre Planting Fields Historic State Park located in Oyster Bay, New York. The estate was originally landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, featuring greenhouses, rolling lawns, formal gardens, woodland paths and outstanding plant collections.
A Long Island Gilded Age Riverside Retreat - Cutting Arboretum
Westbook Farms started when William Bayard Cutting purchased the George C. Lorillard estate on the Connetiquot River in the Long Island town of Great River. Cutting was a New York City lawyer and sugar beet refiner, who made his fortune in railroads and in the development of the Red Hook, Brooklyn waterfront.
An Island With A Heart - Boldt Castle
George C. Boldt, a millionaire associated with the Waldorf Astoria and the Bellevue-Stratford Hotels in New York City, built this 120-room castle to display his love for his wife, Louise, on picturesque Hart Island, which he re-named Heart Island.
A Scenic, Vibrant Swiss City - Lucerne, Switzerland
The pedestrian-friendly Old Town is on the right bank of the Reuss and consists of squares with tall timber-framed buildings painted in bright colors and some with elaborate frescos all connected by cobblestone streets.
Named Best US Main Street - Bethlehem, PA
A visit to walkable Main Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a blend of small-town charm, rich history, and vibrant local culture.
Druid Ruins And Amphitheater on Long Island - Remnants of Rosemary’s Farm
Rosemary’s Farm or sometimes called the Conklin Estate was a Long Island Gold Coast estate on the hills overlooking Cold Spring Harbor. The estate was owned by Ronald Conklin, who operated realty firms, and his wife who was an opera singer and had her own private outdoor amphitheater.
Assembly Line Housing With A Custom Look - The Alexander House
The concept of assembly-line housing refers to prefabricated or modular homes created for mass production while still allowing for some customization to reflect individual tastes.
A Modern Architect’s Longtime Hillside Residence - Frey House II
Built in 1964, this residence was designed by influential architect, Albert Frey as his personal retreat.
Wandering The Streets With A Rich Past - Greenwich Village
The Village is one of New York’s most historically rich neighborhoods and it has architecture spanning all eras. It is almost like a time capsule that has embraced culture and counter-culture alike. Originally attracting artists, writers, musicians and actors, this area is full of old New York charm with buildings tucked away on winding streets created before the existence of the grid.
The Pearl of the Danube - Budapest
Did you know that that the capital city of Budapest was formed in 1873 joining together two different cities, Buda (on the west bank of the Danube) and the Pest (pronounced Pescht, on the east bank)? Although they are united under one name, they are still referred to separately.
An 1800’s New England Village - Old Sturbridge Village
The 200-acres site portrays a portrait of country life in New England in the 1830’s with a collection of more than 40 historic buildings, including homes, meetinghouses, shops, mills and working farms.
History In The Middle Of The East River - Roosevelt Island, NY
The island was known as Blackwell’s Island and Welfare Island and finally becoming Roosevelt Island in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1973.