Famous Historic Homes
Let’s take a journey to the past where we’ve unearthed some famous homes pulled straight from the history books — and even a few that are more suited to the gossip pages. Also, be sure to visit our Famous TV Homes, Famous Former Lovers’ Homes, Famous Unique Homes, and Famous Scary Homes.
Storer House
Created by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this 1923 Los Angeles mansion features an exterior made of precast “textile” concrete blocks that are said to have been inspired by Mayan ruins. The home was in disrepair until Hollywood producer Joel Silver snapped it up in 1984 and restored it to its original glory (he’s since sold the home). Think you've seen it before? You’re probably right: The home has been used in numerous films and television shows.
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.
Bourn Mansion
Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll: This 27-room mansion in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood has seen it all. Built in 1896 for William Bourn, the richest man in San Francisco at the time, the mansion was later bought in the 1970s by eccentric Arden Van Upp who is said to have hosted many wild, drug-fueled parties frequented by celebrities, including the Rolling Stones.
Astors' Beechwood Mansion
Sweeping views of the Atlantic can be enjoyed from the Beechwood's perch on tony Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. Built in 1851, the mansion was purchased in 1881 by its most famous inhabitants, Caroline and William Backhouse Astor, Jr., grandson of real estate tycoon John Jacob Astor. Beechwood was used as a summer home and became a social center for the New York upper crust.
Schindler House
Often referred to as the first "modern" house built in the world, the Schindler House was the brainchild of notable architect Rudolf Schindler. The West Hollywood, California, home was designed to be shared by two families, inspired by the communal camp sites that Schindler saw on a trip to Yosemite. The design -- radical by 1922 standards — features an open floor plan (no structured living room, dining room, or bedrooms) that is integrated with the outside environment.
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.
Eames House
Designed by husband-and-wife design pioneers Charles and Ray Eames, the Eames House (a.k.a. Case Study House No. 8) served as a milestone in the mid-century modern architectural movement. Built in 1949 in a meadow in Pacific Palisades, California, the mod structure is known for being the most livable of the usually stark iconic houses of the era. The Eames’ should know — they lived out the rest of their lives in the home.
