Where-To-Go Wednesday - Gillette Castle

What: Gillette Castle

Where: 67 River Road

            East Haddam, CT

Who: All ages

Me - I enjoyed visiting Gillette Castle. I don't think I have ever visited a castle before. It's interesting the way it's all made out of stone. It's very big and the inside is very spacious.

The guides in the castle told us all kinds of interesting stories about why everything in the castle was made the way it was. Nothing was done just because, there was a reason behind everything. A lot of it was very unique.

The castle belonged to William Gillette. He was an actor and among other things, he played Sherlock Holmes numerous times. He loved cats. In the castle, there were a bunch of statues and pictures and things of cats. That was my favorite part because I love animals too.

If you are looking for a fun and different place to go in the Connecticut area, you might want to visit Gillette Castle too.

Mom - Gillette Castle is a unique stone dwelling that was once the home of eccentric actor, manager. playwright, and stage manager, William Gillette who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, our vision of what Sherlock Holmes looks like today is due to the way Gillette portrayed him. 

The grounds of the castle are free to visit. Tours of the inside are generally available in the Spring and Summer. There is a fee of $6.00 for ages 13 and up and $2.00 for ages 6-12 and an additional $2.00 fee will be added to online orders. Only 12 people at a time are permitted on a tour. However, tours are quite frequent. They run every 15 minutes between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

The castle is definitely worth a visit. It is quite fascinating to learn about the man and his home. He was quite a character. His home includes such unique facets as places where he could spy on his guests and a table made so that the lower part was a plaything for his cats. The house is also really beautifully crafted inside and out, and it can certainly be appreciated from a strictly architectural perspective. You truly have never seen anything like this one-of-a-kind home.

And that's our view. For more about Gillette Castle or to make a reservation to visit https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Gillette-Castle-State-Park We will be talking about the Gillette Castle Visitor Center in next week's Where-To-Go Wednesday post.

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

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