Famous American Homes of An Era Bygone

American celebrities used to be more than television and sport stars. They were newspaper tycoons, gangsters, and real estate moguls, with homes as eccentric as the fellows who lived in them.  Still, what they wanted from a home is not so different from the famous folks of today – privacy, space and a place to retreat from the world.

In honor of the fourth of July, we’ve decided to take a look back at some of the famous historic homes of the movers and shakers of a bygone era— William Randolph Hearst, William Backhouse Astor, Al Capone, and Henry Pittock.

William Randolph Hearst, Hearst Mansion

It’s not the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, but it certainly has seen its share of glitz, celebrity, and titillating history: This Beverly Hills mansion was once owned by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and actress girlfriend Marion Davies. Many Hollywood parties were held at the mansion, and JFK and Jackie even spent part of their honeymoon there.

William Backhouse Astor, Jr.

The younger son of real estate mogul William Backhouse Astor, Sr. followed in his father’s footsteps, but instead of building an empire, he purchased an estate. The Beechwood Mansion was home to many parties thrown by his wife Caroline Webster Astor though she would sometimes attempt to keep her husband away for fear he would send the guests home. When not at home, Astor could often be found on his  private yacht.

Al Capone
One of the most famous gangsters of all time, Capone made his living leading a crime syndicate during  Prohibition. During an increasingly violent gang war he fortified his Cadillac with armor plating, bullet-proof glass, run-flat tires and a police siren. The car was seized in 1932 by the Treasury Department and was eventually used as a limousine by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Though his car was quite showy, his Chicago, IL home was a modest place in a working-class neighborhood. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms, it is certainly one of the more conventional parts of Capone’s rather outrageous life. Capone’s home is currently listed for sale, with an asking price of $450,000.

Pittock Mansion

An old rose in the City of Roses, this 22-room French Renaissance chateau is located on 46 acres in Portland, Oregon. Constructed in 1914 as a private residence for Oregonian newspaper publisher Henry Pittock and his wife, Georgiana, the ornate mansion enjoys commanding views of the downtown Portland and the Cascade Mountains.

Can’t get enough? See more famous historic homes on Zillow.