Have you ever dreamed about spending the night in a castle? A castle with turrets, gargoyles, and suits of armor? Maybe you think you’d have to travel to England or France…and that the price would be steep. Well, you can have that experience in a unique hotel that’s only a little over three hours drive from New York!
This is Amsterdam Castle, located in the small town of Amsterdam, NY. The building was originally designed by Isaac Perry, one of the architects who worked on the capitol building in Albany. Built in 1895, it originally served as an armory. After it was decommissioned, it passed into private hands and was transformed into a hotel.
The hotel is decorated in a whimsical, medieval-inspired style. There are suits of armor:
And gargoyles:
And there are sitting rooms with elegant antique furniture, clocks, and lamps…
The highlight of the castle is the Great Hall, which is created from the armor’s former drill hall, and has its original high ceiling:
The Great Hall houses a bar, and a restaurant, the latter open on Friday and Saturday evenings.
You can view a short video that I made about the hotel here:
Rooms at this unique hotel start at $122 a night (plus tax). As I mentioned, it’s within driving distance of New York, and is also reachable via Amtrak service.
The hotel is filled with fun nooks and crannies, and has colorful objects everywhere you look! If you love history and fanciful artwork, it’s your castle getaway!
I recently traveled to Albany, NY to visit its capitol building…it’s one of the most flamboyant state capitol buildings. It cost more to construct than the U.S. Capitol! Yet it’s undeniably beautiful, having not one, but THREE monumental staircases…it’s also decorated with an astonishing amount of carved stone, featuring portraits of famous people, animals, and natural motifs.
You can view a video that I made of the Capitol building’s highlights:
Video highlights from the Albany Capitol
Albany is about an hour and a half train ride from New York City. Free guided tours of the capitol building are offered several times a day on weekdays. There are also other attractions in the vicinity, such as the New York State Museum (also free!), which has exhibits about natural history, and the history of New York State!
An estate with fountains, gilded statuary, a colonnade…does this sound like France or Italy? No, it’s the Nemours Estate in Wilmington, Delaware!
View of the mansion with a terraced walk with ornamental urns
Nemours Estate (1909-10) was built for Alfred I. DuPont. Alfred’s great-great grandfather had fled France in the wake of the French Revolution (narrowly escaping the guillotine!) and come to the United States. The family began to manufacture gunpowder, which created their fortune in the 1800s.
In 1907, after an extremely bitter divorce from his first wife, Alfred married divorcee Alicia Bradford Maddox. Alicia loved Paris and French style. It’s believed that Alfred commissioned the French-style home to win over his new bride. Designed by the famous firm of Carrere and Hastings, the mansion was completed in 1910.
Here is the impressive Reception Room, with its marble floor and coffered ceiling.
The rest of Alfred’s family, already disapproving of his divorce and remarriage, were startled by the extravagance of the house. They and other members of society gossiped about Alicia and her influence on Alfred.
Here you can see the sweeping staircase. The wrought iron decoration was salvaged from a European house.
Unfortunately, for all its magnificence, the house didn’t have its intended effect on Alicia. It appears she never loved Alfred to the extent that he loved her, though he mourned her when she died unexpectedly in 1920.
This is the Music Room, in an elegant Neo-Classical style, in gold and white.
In 1921, Alfred married Jessie Ball. She had been working as a schoolteacher, though she came from an old Virginia family. She was considerable younger than him, but this marriage turned out to be a happy one. Jessie’s portrait is hanging over the fireplace in the photo above.
Even though Nemours was built in the style of a 1700s chateau, it boasted every convenience for DuPont and his guests. It included an ice making machine, projector and movie screen, and a private bowling alley!
The gardens at Nemours are laid out in a formal French style, with a breathtaking vista that includes fountains, statuary, and a monumental colonnade (seen above). The colonnade includes relief portraits of Alfred’s great-great grandfather and grandfather.
This spectacular fountain, with its ornately carved cherubs, is typical of the style of the gardens. But despite its grand scale, the garden is very harmonious, and extremely pleasant to walk through.
This sculpture, “Achievement,” is covered in real gold leaf! Alfred commissioned it to express “what a man can do with an excellent partner,” a tribute to his wife Jessie. The female figure, said to be modeled upon her likeness, whispers into the ear of the man as he strides forward.
Alfred is buried with Jessie on the grounds of the estate. Just outside the entrance to the property, you can see the Nemours Children’s Hospital…Alfred donated money and land from the estate for the creation of the hospital.
I highly recommend a visit to Nemours! The mansion and gardens are as grand and colorful as Alfred DuPont’s personality, and it’s fascinating to learn about him and his family. The estate is also one of the most beautiful historic homes I’ve visited, with its carefully preserved interiors and lovingly tended gardens. The estate is within driving distance of New Jersey and Pennsylvania…or you can take the Amtrak train to Wilmington. From the train station, you can either take a taxi, or use the DART bus (Route 28), which stops across the road from the mansion at the Children’s Hospital.
To read more about Alfred I. DuPont and Nemours Estate, read Nemours: A Portrait of AlfredI. DuPont’s House by Dwight Young and Grace Gary. It’s filled with historical information and beautiful photographs! (I referred to the book for background when writing this blog post.)
Doylestown, PA is home to an unexpected monument…a castle!
With its fanciful silhouette, chimneys, and towers, Fonthill looks like it could be a school for wizards in training…but it’s actually the brainchild of Henry Chapman Mercer.
Mercer was the son of a prominent local family. He was deeply interested in early trades and crafts, and apprenticed himself to a Pennsylvania German potter. He designed and collected ceramic tiles, founding the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in 1898 (located just next door).
in 1908, Mercer started building Fonthill, which was intended to be both his home and a showcase for his vast collection of tiles. He was not trained as an architect, but drew inspiration from his extensive travels to sites around the world.
The interior recalls styles of the past, with pillars and vaulted ceilings. The layout seems to follow its own logic, a maze of rooms connected by corridors, winding stairs, and secret nooks around every corner.
And…tiles. Many of the tiles are Mercer’s own design, brightly colored scenes, often with narratives. The narratives are sometimes scenes of everyday life, others drawn from history. The tiles are EVERYWHERE… set into walls, fireplaces, and ceilings. Even the bathrooms are decorated with tiles!
The room above is dedicated to the theme of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World. The vaulted ceiling is covered with tiles and ceramic figures portraying the ships, the sailors, and the Native Americans that they encountered.
Mercer’s home also displays his collection of historic tiles, including Dutch, Spanish, Chinese and Persian tiles.
Mercer owned almost 6,000 books, many of which you can see displayed around the home.
You can also see the many paintings, prints, and other artifacts that Mercer collected during his lifetime.
Walking around the house, you really get a sense of Mercer’s offbeat personality. This staircase immortalizes his dog, Rollo, whose pawprints are preserved in the concrete.
While the “castle” draws on the traditions of the past, it’s also quite modern for its time. It’s constructed from poured concrete. It was also equipped with the latest conveniences, featuring numerous bathrooms, an elevator, an intercom and telephones!
Mercer died in 1930, leaving his home to be a museum of tiles and prints. A visit to Fonthill gives us a glimpse into his unique personality and creative process. The museum gives regularly scheduled tours of the building…if you have the chance, visit! It’s a fun and eye-opening experience!
Imagine seeing the ruins of a castle, perched on a rocky island in the middle of a river…it may sound like something from the pages of a gothic novel. But this castle is real…and it’s located only 50 miles from New York City!
Bannerman Castle is on Pollepel Island, just down the river from Beacon, NY. A brief ferry ride took me and the other visitors to the island.
After climbing a 72-step staircase (!), we were rewarded with this view of the castle:
The castle was the brainchild of businessman Francis Bannerman VI, a dealer in military surplus. In 1901, he started building the structure to hold his inventory of guns, ammunition, and other military equipment.
Unfortunately, some of Bannerman’s stored ammunition exploded in 1920 and damaged the building. Later on, in 1969, a fire of unknown origin caused even more severe damage. Steel beams have been added to the walls to support them, and visitors are not allowed to go inside. However, the ruin is still very impressive!
The island itself offers majestic views of the surrounding Hudson Highlands.
You can also follow several walking trails around the island. Along the way, you can enjoy a variety of flowers, like these vibrant tulips.
Another point of interest is the Bannerman family’s home, smaller in scale than the castle, but equally fanciful.
Today the building houses displays about the history of the castle and the Bannerman family.
Before leaving, I walked up to one of the highest spots on the island and enjoyed a peaceful view of the river and neighboring Newburgh, NY…the perfect end to an afternoon’s adventure!
The Bannerman Castle Trust offers regularly scheduled guided tours that depart from Beacon. For more details, visit their website: https://bannermancastle.org/
Vanderbilt Mansion: Gilded Age Glamor in Hyde Park, New York
You’re probably familiar with the lavish Gilded Age mansions of Newport, Rhode Island…but did you know that there’s an equally elegant mansion in Hyde Park, NY?
The stately facade of the mansion
It’s the Vanderbilt Mansion, finished in 1899, home of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt. The home is relatively modest, compared to those of Frederick’s siblings…however, the 50 room dwelling is anything but plain.
The den, suggesting a medieval hunting lodge, with its dark paneling and firearms
The rooms are richly decorated in a mixture of styles, evoking Renaissance Italy and 18th century France. Elements such as antique tapestries and carved stone fireplaces were imported from Europe.
Dining room with coffered ceiling, stone fireplaces, and antique Persian carpet
Louise Vanderbilt was more outgoing than her quiet husband, and enjoyed entertaining guests at the mansion. There was riding, tennis, golf, as well as dinners and dancing.
18th century French style reception room
Louise Vanderbilt’s bedroom, complete with a ceremonial railing around the bed, is quite literally fit for royalty.
Louise Vanderbilt’s very feminine,18th century French style bedroom
Yet despite evoking the splendor of historical royalty, the mansion was equipped with modern convenience: electricity, central heating, and indoor plumbing.
Statue of a veiled dancer, overlooking the reflecting pool
The mansion also retains its formal gardens, with flower beds, pools, and statues. While I visited out of season, you can still admire the terraces and brick pavilions.
View of the Hudson River
The mansion sits in a wooded, park-like setting, with many walking trails. You can also look out at the Hudson River, and the mountains in the distance.
Louise Vanderbilt passed away in 1926. Frederick Vanderbilt continued to live in the house until his death in 1938. His niece eventually gave the property to the National Park Service, allowing us to visit and enjoy it today.
Last month, I got to visit a storybook chateau…but instead of going to France, I traveled to Huntington, NY!
Oheka Castle, named for its owner, financier Otto Hermann Kahn, was completed in 1919. While other area mansions, like Coe Hall at Planting Fields Arboretum and Hempstead House at Sands Point were built in the Tudor Revival style, Kahn’s home was based on French Renaissance models.
You’re greeted by this elegant grand staircase. The wrought iron staircase was created by Samuel Yellin, who produced ironwork for other mansions of the period.
Kahn threw many parties here, entertaining celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and Enrico Caruso. While the decoration of this ballroom is not original, it is faithful to the era, and gives a sense of the luxury that he and his guests enjoyed.
Here’s the stately library, with Kahn’s portrait hanging over the fireplace. (He is said to have been the inspiration for “Mr. Monopoly.”) The walls may look like wood, but they’re actually painted plaster! The castle was constructed to be fireproof.
Oheka still retains a French style garden, with clipped hedges, statues, reflecting pools and statues, like the one seen above. When I visited, the fountains were still turned off for the winter, but it was still a great pleasure to walk around!
After Kahn’s death in 1934, the castle was put to different uses…including being a vacation venue for New York sanitation workers! Eventually, the building was abandoned and fell into a severely neglected state. Luckily, the developer Gary Melius bought the property in 1984 and restored it.
Today, the castle has been reborn as a luxury hotel and event venue. You can visit as I did, by buying a ticket for a guided tour…or you can make a reservation at the hotel’s restaurant. Either way, it’s a treat to experience this beautiful Jazz Age mansion!
So my next task was to choose which artworks to display in the show. I asked my friend and fellow artist, Lauren Curtis, for advice. She suggested I include examples of the different subjects that I’ve produced…symbolic/mystical collages, landscapes and nature scenes, and travel photography.
There is a wall space that is the first thing visitors see when they step out of the elevator. I wanted to be sure I picked visually striking images there. I settled on The Sisters and Radiant Mask.
I wanted to organize groups of images by theme…but also wanted to make certain that the pictures looked pleasing hanging next to each other. I thought that Serpent in the Roses and Imago worked well together.
I grouped my Paris travel photographs on one wall, but made sure that the photographs were different enough to hold the viewer’s interest.
As I have never hung my own artwork for a show before, this was definitely an eye-opening experience! But it encouraged me to think about my art in a different way. It was a satisfying feeling to see all of the pieces hanging on the wall at the end!
In April, Tobe Roberts offered me the opportunity to showcase my artwork at Nomadworks in New York…and of course, I said yes! I’ve spent the past few weeks preparing for the exhibit, “A Nomadic Journey”…
To prepare for the exhibit, I visited Nomadworks and familiarized myself with the space…
Work space at Nomadworks
Nomadworks is a contemporary co-working space that also serves as an art venue. I would be offered exhibition space on the third floor of the facility.
Sitting area with artwork
There were a number of spaces in common areas and in hallways between individual offices. I had to think about which pieces I wanted to display, and where I wanted to display them…
Coffee and tea bar with artwork
It was a challenging process, but a rewarding one! In my next post, I’ll talk about selecting the artwork, and hanging it for display…
Happy holidays, dear friends! I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the strange, uncertain art world of 2020.
The Blue Hat, (c) JoAnn Telemdschinow
There is no question that 2020 has been a very challenging year for creatives like myself. The coronavirus forced the cancellation of most art exhibitions and vending events. No chance to meet people who want to see and possible purchase my artwork. But fortunately, technology was able to lend a helping hand. I was very fortunate to take part in several virtual exhibitions, such as those by the Galerie Westerhoff, Art All Night Trenton, and the New Jersey State Bar Foundation. And through the power of social media like Facebook and Instagram, I’ve still been able to share my artwork with others and even make a few sales.
Russian Landscape, (c) JoAnn Telemdschinow
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me this year, whether by viewing my artwork, purchasing a print or art gift, or even sharing comments on my work. Your interest and encouragement mean more than I can express, and spur me to continue my creative journey!
Just as nature restores and regenerates herself during these quiet winter months, I hope that we are all preparing ourselves for a period of rebirth and growth in the coming year.
Spirit of Winter, (c) JoAnn Telemdschinow
Thank you, friends! Wishing you health, abundance, and happiness for 2021!
JoAnn's Imagined Past 