Castle in the Clouds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lucknow
(Castle in the Clouds) |
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The mansion overlooks Lake Winnipesaukee
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 455 Old Mountain Rd, Moultonborough, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 5,294 acres (21.42 km2) |
| Built | 1913 |
| Built by | Thomas Gustave Plant |
| Architect | J. Williams Beal et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 100002642 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 2018 |
Castle in the Clouds is a huge house with 16 rooms. It sits on a mountain in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. This amazing place is also known as Lucknow. It's open to visitors for part of the year. From the castle, you can see beautiful views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains. It's like a castle floating above the clouds!
A Mansion in the Clouds
This special home was built between 1913 and 1914. A rich shoe maker named Thomas Gustave Plant (1859–1941) had it built. He wanted it for his second wife, Olive Cornelia Dewey. The house was designed in the Craftsman style. This style uses natural materials and handmade details.
Thomas Plant named his estate Lucknow. He might have named it after a city in India. He bought several pieces of land to create this huge property. It included an old observation area called "The Crow's Nest." He removed old buildings and built the mansion. He also added a stable, gatehouses, a greenhouse, and even a golf course. The property grew to be over 6,300 acres!
Smart Design and Cool Features
A famous architect from Boston, J. Williams Beal, designed the house. His sons also helped him. The house had many new and exciting features for its time. Imagine having a circular shower or a central vacuum system in 1913! The kitchen even had special interlocking tiles.
The inside of the house was also very fancy. Companies like Irving & Casson-A.H. Davenport designed the rooms. Beautiful bronze and tile work were made by William Jackson & Company. The electric lights were from Edward F. Caldwell & Co. Even the glass was special, made by Tiffany.
From Private Home to Public Gem
In the 1930s, Thomas Plant lost a lot of his money. This happened because of some bad investments. The bank took over the house, but they let him live there until he passed away. All the furniture stayed in the house too.
Thomas Plant died in 1941. A man named Fred C. Tobey bought the property. He used it as a summer home for his family. In 1956, Richard and Donald Robie bought the estate. They decided to open it to the public as a tourist attraction.
Today, the Castle in the Clouds is owned by the Castle Preservation Society. This is a non-profit group that takes care of the property. The Castle, Carriage House, gift shop, and cafe are open to visitors. You can usually visit from late May to early October. In 2018, the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site.
