Have you ever looked at a massive historic home and wondered, who actually lived here? How did they keep up with the maintenance? And was it even practical? The U.S. is home to some of the largest and most extravagant historic homes, built during an era when bigger meant better and wealth was meant to be displayed, not hidden. These estates weren’t just homes—they were statements of power, status, and architectural ambition.
But times have changed. Many of these properties, once bustling with life and grandeur, have been converted into museums, event spaces, or left to decay. Today, most homebuyers are more focused on mortgage rates, energy efficiency, and maintenance costs than having a private ballroom or a library big enough to get lost in. Even in states like Massachusetts, known for its rich history and colonial homes, the challenge of maintaining an older estate can outweigh its charm.
In this blog, we’ll explore the five largest historic homes in the U.S. and their stories.
Historic Homes – An Overview
Unlike modern homes, which are built with energy efficiency and low-maintenance materials, historic properties require constant upkeep, specialized restorations, and strict preservation guidelines. The price of repairing an original slate roof or restoring century-old woodwork is far beyond the cost of routine home maintenance.
Another major hurdle? Financing a historic home. Buyers looking to invest in an older estate often find that traditional mortgage structures don’t always apply. Many historic properties require specialized loans or renovation grants, especially if they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places or fall under local preservation laws. This is particularly true in states like Massachusetts, where older homes are abundant, and financing options must be carefully considered.
Prospective buyers often research mortgage rates in Massachusetts to determine whether they can realistically afford not just the purchase price, but the long-term maintenance costs associated with a historic property.
As a result, many of the country’s largest historic homes have been repurposed—turned into museums, luxury hotels, or event venues. Without a steady stream of income, even the grandest estates can become financial liabilities.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the largest historic homes in the U.S. and how their stories reflect the challenges and triumphs of preserving America’s architectural past.
1. Biltmore Estate (Asheville, North Carolina)
When it comes to historic homes that defy logic, the Biltmore Estate stands at the top. Built in 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt II, this 178,926-square-foot masterpiece is the largest privately owned home in the U.S.
Inspired by French châteaux, Biltmore features 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, an indoor swimming pool, a bowling alley, and even a winery. It was designed as a lavish retreat for the Vanderbilt family, but today, it’s a tourist attraction that welcomes over 1 million visitors a year.
2. Oheka Castle (Huntington, New York)
If Oheka Castle looks familiar, it’s probably because it has been featured in films, TV shows, and even Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” music video. Built in 1919 by Otto Hermann Kahn, this 109,000-square-foot estate was once the second-largest private residence in the U.S.
Kahn, a wealthy financier, used Oheka as a summer retreat. With 126 rooms, perfectly manicured gardens, and an extravagant ballroom, it was built for entertaining the elite. But after Kahn’s death, the castle fell into disrepair, spending decades abandoned.
Instead of being lost to history, Oheka was restored and transformed into a luxury hotel and event venue. It’s a rare success story among historic homes, proving that large estates can survive if they find a modern purpose.
3. Lynnewood Hall (Elkins Park, Pennsylvania)
If there’s a cautionary tale in historic home ownership, Lynnewood Hall is it. Built in 1899 by Peter A.B. Widener, this 110-room, 100,000-square-foot estate was once one of the most lavish homes in America.
Widener, an investor with ties to the Titanic, filled Lynnewood with priceless artwork, European antiques, and grandiose architecture inspired by classical palaces. But after his death, the home was largely abandoned. Today, it stands empty, decaying, and in desperate need of restoration.
Lynnewood highlights the real estate risk of large historic homes. While they were once symbols of status, today, they can become financial burdens. Without an owner willing to invest millions in upkeep, many grand estates face uncertain futures.
4. Winterthur (Wilmington, Delaware)
Built by Henry Francis du Pont, Winterthur is 96,582 square feet of historic splendor. Originally a private residence, it was transformed into a museum of American decorative arts, filled with period furniture, paintings, and handcrafted details.
Unlike some historic homes that struggled to stay relevant, Winterthur has thrived as an educational and cultural landmark. Visitors can tour its 175 rooms, walk through its 1,000 acres of gardens, and experience a preserved version of early 20th-century luxury.
5. The Elms (Newport, Rhode Island)
The Elms is one of Newport, Rhode Island’s most well-known Gilded Age mansions, built in 1901 for Edward Julius Berwind, a wealthy coal industry leader. Designed by architect Horace Trumbauer, the mansion was inspired by the Château d’Asnières, an 18th-century French estate near Paris. It spans approximately 60,000 square feet and features elaborate interiors, imported marble, gilded ceilings, and formal gardens.
By the mid-20th century, The Elms faced the threat of demolition due to high maintenance costs. In 1962, the Preservation Society of Newport County acquired the estate and restored it as a museum open to the public. Today, visitors can tour the home’s lavishly furnished rooms, expansive gardens, and even the once-hidden servant quarters, offering a glimpse into the daily operations of a Gilded Age estate.
Ultimately, these grand historic homes tell more than just their own stories. They reveal shifting ideas about wealth, status, and what it means to own a home. Once symbols of permanence, many now struggle to justify their existence.
Preserving history is expensive. Letting it go is irreversible. That’s the dilemma.
Some have found new purpose as museums or hotels. Others sit empty, too costly to save, too important to demolish. Their fate depends on whether we see them as burdens or as pieces of a shared past worth keeping.
So what happens next? Will future generations fight to preserve them, or will they fade away, brick by brick? Only time will tell.