Stokes Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stokes Castle
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 Location in Nevada
Location in the United States
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| Location | Castle, US 50 W of Austin, Austin, Nevada |
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| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Anson Phelps Stokes; Wholey, John C. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000757 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 2003 |
Stokes Castle is a unique three-story stone tower. It stands near Austin, Nevada. A wealthy man named Anson Phelps Stokes built it. He was a mine owner, railroad builder, and banker. He wanted it as a summer home. Construction began in 1896 and finished in 1897.
Contents
Building a Castle in the Desert
This castle looks like a tower Stokes admired in Italy. It was built from local granite stones. Workers lifted the heavy stones using a hand winch. They held them together with rock wedges and clay mortar.
Inside the Castle
The first floor of the castle held the kitchen and dining room. The second floor was the living room. On the third floor, there were two bedrooms. Each floor had its own fireplace. The second and third floors also had balconies. The roof had a special wall called a battlement, like old forts.
A Short Stay
The Stokes family did not live in the castle for very long. They visited in June 1897 with friends. They stayed for about a month. They came back for a few days in October 1897. In the summer of 1898, they returned once more. Soon after, they sold their mine, their equipment, and the castle. They never came back to Austin.
Saving the Castle
Over time, Stokes Castle started to fall apart. In 1956, Molly Magee Knudsen, a cousin of Anson Phelps Stokes, bought the castle. She helped to save it. In 2003, the tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical sites.
Who Owns it Now?
The "Castle" was owned by HW Trapnell until he passed away in 2018. Today, the Austin Historical Society takes care of Stokes Castle. They help preserve it for everyone to see.
