There are many reasons why new homes are popular today. They’re fresh and almost a blank canvas waiting for the new owner to mold it into their dream home. This sounds appealing, doesn’t it? On the other hand, picture yourself roaming around in a truly old historic home that’s filled with history and mystery. We must admit that we also love new homes – sometimes! More times than not, old historic homes really pique our interest. They are filled with history and intrigue from the historic foundations up to the roofs! Here are a couple of beautiful historic homes outside of Florida that we love.
Mark Twain House
Built in 1874, the Mark Twain house in Hartford, CT was constructed in the gothic style. Architecture buffs flock to it to marvel over the styling of the 25 rooms spread over 11,500 square feet. Mark Twain is quoted as saying “To us, our house…had a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with; and approvals and solitudes and deep sympathies; it was of us, and we were in its confidence and lived in its grace and in the peace of its benediction.”
This is a home whose foundation is sturdy, both literally and metaphorically.
Molly Brown House
Another historic home that intrigues us is the Queen Anne style Molly Brown house in Denver, CO. We remember Molly Brown as one of the survivors of the Titanic (the unsinkable Molly Brown) and as a philanthropist and activist. Today her home, dating back to the 1880s, is a Victorian-era museum filled with memorabilia of Brown’s life.
The house was deteriorating and even set for demolition. Thankfully, this beautiful home, built on a solid foundation was restored. Some even say it’s haunted. Visitors often report seeing apparitions, smelling cigar smoke and witnessing curtains open mysteriously. Of course, when the renovation was undertaken, special attention was paid to the unique historic nature of the foundation. Or whilst, the whole house would come crumbling down.
We agree with Mark Twain that historic houses have “a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with.”