Yank royalty: 7 outrageous American castles
By Jordan Rane, for CNN
The largest privately owned residence in the United States has 250 rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens and, in case any French diplomats drop by, Napoleon's old chess set.
(CNN) -- For a country that ditched monarchical rule, America has some of the most intriguing "castles" in the world.
The largest privately owned residence in the United States has 250 rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens and, in case any French diplomats drop by, Napoleon's old chess set.
Inspired by Tuscan villas and Venetian palaces, circus tycoon John Ringling and his wife built this 1920s Mediterranean Revival-style dream home. Not exactly a fixer-upper, but does require some maintenance.
After inheriting a piece of property in 1919, newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst told architect Julia Morgan, "I would like to build a little something." In the grand tradition of home contractors, Morgan ran with her client's instructions.
The 70-room Breakers covers 126,000 square feet from attic to basement to mezzanine. Ever humble, 19th-century owner Cornelius Vanderbilt II originally called this a "cottage."
Edsel Ford became president of Ford Motor Company at age 25, posing him the challenge of living up to his father's hulking legacy. No one can say he didn't live it up.
The royal Hawaiian abode was rigged out with 19th-century technological luxuries such as electric lighting -- installed in 1887, four years before the White House got hooked up.
Edward Leedskalnin never loved another after Agnes Scuffs broke off their engagement a day before their wedding. For 28 years, the artist -- as a testimony to lost love -- single-handedly sculpted a castellated compound from locally harvested coral rock. Take that, Taj Mahal.
Inspired by Tuscan villas and Venetian palaces, circus tycoon John Ringling and his wife built this 1920s Mediterranean Revival-style dream home. Not exactly a fixer-upper, but does require some maintenance.
After inheriting a piece of property in 1919, newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst told architect Julia Morgan, "I would like to build a little something." In the grand tradition of home contractors, Morgan ran with her client's instructions.
The 70-room Breakers covers 126,000 square feet from attic to basement to mezzanine. Ever humble, 19th-century owner Cornelius Vanderbilt II originally called this a "cottage."
Edsel Ford became president of Ford Motor Company at age 25, posing him the challenge of living up to his father's hulking legacy. No one can say he didn't live it up.
The royal Hawaiian abode was rigged out with 19th-century technological luxuries such as electric lighting -- installed in 1887, four years before the White House got hooked up.
Edward Leedskalnin never loved another after Agnes Scuffs broke off their engagement a day before their wedding. For 28 years, the artist -- as a testimony to lost love -- single-handedly sculpted a castellated compound from locally harvested coral rock. Take that, Taj Mahal.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The U.S. is home to a melting pot of "royal" domiciles
- All these palatial estates are open to the public
- Edsel Ford's home is a 60-room, 20,000-square-foot masterpiece on Michigan's Gold Coast
- 'Iolani Palace is the only former official residence of a reigning monarch on U.S. soil
OK, maybe not castles in the classic sense.
March 18-23: Weekday Reflections
March 18 Monday (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Doctor
of the Church): Lk 6:36-38: 36 Be merciful, even as your
Father is merciful.37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and
you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it
will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running
over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure
you get back.”
Lent 2 Sunday C - Transfiguration - Shorter one
Readings Gn
15:5-12,17-18; Phil 3:20-4:1; Lk 9:28-36
Theme Jesus’
transfiguration and his agony are complementary
episodes. They highlight the divine and the human dimensions of Jesus.
A movie called Mask is based on a true story of
a 16-year-old boy named Rocky Dennis.
He has a rare disease that causes his skull and the bones in his face
to grow larger than they should.
Lent 2 Sunday C - Liturgy
Greetings (See Second Reading)
The Lord Jesus Christ will transform
our perishable human bodies
and make them glorious like his own.
May his light and peace be with you.
R/ And also with you.
Lent 1st Week, Monday
Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 / Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus talks about judgment
"I was hungry and you gave me food,"
"I was hungry and you gave me food,"
Mike
Peters won the 1981 Pulitzer prize for political cartoons. Reporter Joe Urschel
asked him, "How did you feel when you got the news?"
“I
couldn’t believe it," said Mike.
1st Week of Lent - Tuesday
Isaiah 55:10-11 / Matthew 6:7-15
Jesus teaches about prayer
“This is how you are to pray."
Two men
were arguing about religion.
As the
argument heated up, the one man shouted at the other,
"1'll bet
five bucks you don’t even know the Lord’s Prayer.”
"I’ll
take that bet," the other shouted.
Lent 1 C - Liturgy
Greetings (See Second Reading)
May the Word of God be near you,
on your lips and in your heart.
May your lips confess here
that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.
May his grace be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
Sat After Ash Wed - Liturgy
Introduction
Jesus came to call sinners. It is they who need him, not so much the just or the righteous. It is the sinners who need healing. We are among them, and so we need healing. The Pharisees considered themselves just, but there was little mercy in them; their hearts were dried-up. It is mercy that Jesus wants, not sacrifices. Jesus comes to encounter Levi-Matthew. Just a call from Jesus and Matthew leaves everything behind: his desk, his past. He is a new man, created anew by Christ. He lives now for the future. His converted heart will turn to others too, as he becomes an apostle. In this Eucharist, Jesus comes to call us and to change us; he sits at table with us, as he did with Levi-Matthew.
Jesus came to call sinners. It is they who need him, not so much the just or the righteous. It is the sinners who need healing. We are among them, and so we need healing. The Pharisees considered themselves just, but there was little mercy in them; their hearts were dried-up. It is mercy that Jesus wants, not sacrifices. Jesus comes to encounter Levi-Matthew. Just a call from Jesus and Matthew leaves everything behind: his desk, his past. He is a new man, created anew by Christ. He lives now for the future. His converted heart will turn to others too, as he becomes an apostle. In this Eucharist, Jesus comes to call us and to change us; he sits at table with us, as he did with Levi-Matthew.
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