Gillette Castle State Park

Gillette Castle State Park, in East Haddam, Connecticut, is built around a fieldstone castle constructed between 1914 and 1919 by actor and playwright William Gillette, best known for popularizing the stage portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. The 24-room castle features hand-carved woodwork and custom mechanical door locks Gillette designed himself, and the surrounding grounds once included a narrow-gauge railroad he built for guests, portions of which survive as walking trails. The castle sits on a bluff overlooking the Connecticut River valley. It remains one of Connecticut's most distinctive historic buildings, open for public tours.