Historic Spaces: 6 Prominent Homes with Unique History

Great art comes down to us through many hands. Its past ownership, its provenance, offers not only proof of authenticity, but also a connection to our history. The same is true of great houses, carrying their owners and inhabitants through time, accumulating the patina of history. 

In these historic spaces, we encounter more than names, dates, and the blunt facts of what went before. “If these walls could talk …” the saying goes. 

We say they do.  

All great houses have a tale to tell, but in these remarkable properties, history and its legends live on. 

Luxury Defined herewith offers a collection of elegant homes with great provenance. 

Consider a grand, Gilded Age New York City mansion; the Georgia estate of automobile tycoon Henry Ford; one of Maine’s historic summer “cottages”; and a Bavarian castle that was the girlhood home of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.  

Inherit the lustrous legacy of time, to live in luxury within. 

1. The James F.D. Lanier House in New York City 

The James F. D. Lanier House is a magnificent Beaux-Arts mansion at 123 East 35th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues in the historic Manhattan neighborhood of Murray Hill. 

Standing 33 feet wide, 75 feet deep, and 66 feet tall, with 11,638 square feet of palatial living space across eight levels, the Gilded Age mansion is one of New York City’s largest—and grandest—single-family homes. 

The circa-1901 brick and limestone mansion was designed by the architectural firm Hoppin & Koen. It was built for the Laniers, prominent New York socialites and, emblematic of the Gilded Age itself, listed at No. 137 and 138 on self-appointed social arbiter Ward McAllister’s famous “Four Hundred.”  

The original architectural finishes and materials have been meticulously preserved for more than 40 years under the stewardship of the current owner, with thoughtful improvements sensitive to the original design. 

Among the significant features of this extraordinary mansion are the fluted Ionic pilasters, dentil and modillion cornices, carved stonework, stately stone porch, and copper mansard roof with three dormers. The James F.D. Lanier House has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. 

2. Cherry Hill House in Richmond Hill, Georgia 

Built in 1870, Cherry Hill House was the winter residence of Henry Ford. This is where the automotive pioneer and his wife, Clara, dwelled before building their Richmond Hill Plantation mansion nearby. 

The stately residence, now beautifully restored, sits on nearly an acre of grounds within the prestigious Ford Field and River Club in Richmond Hill, Georgia.  

All the updates and improvements are in keeping with the original design and Ford’s conservative tastes. The renovation, concluded in February 2024, refreshed the home’s 4,215 square feet of gracious interior spaces—and its 2,022 square feet of porches.  

There are four en suite bedrooms, two partial baths, and an understated, contemporary island kitchen with a breakfast bar and scullery, which serves an open dining space and family lounge with a great, corner wall of glass.   

In addition to the luxurious office space, there is a separate owner’s entrance. The upper porch is a starry sanctuary at night, complemented by a bespoke beverage nook, with views overlooking Lake Clara and the Ford Field and River Club golf course. 

The new, 1,184-square-foot, four-bay dogtrot garage is air conditioned. 

3. The Son Bielo Estate in Alaró, Mallorca, Spain 

The Son Bielo Estate sits in splendid isolation in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Balearic island of Mallorca. It’s a world apart, yet just 30 minutes from historic Palma Old Town, the jet-set glamour of Port d’Andratx, and the island’s famous golden-sand beaches. 

The property was built circa 1500 as the summer retreat for the bishops of Palma de Mallorca. It has also entertained royalty, including King Juan Carlos I, a frequent visitor whose cousin once owned part of the estate.   

The present owners have carefully maintained and sensitively updated the property for the 21st century, while preserving the architectural integrity of the original design. 

The main house is a two-story villa cloaked in ivy and accessed by a sweeping stone stairway. Inside await a chapel, a formal living room, library, banquet-scale kitchen, and dining and lounging spaces opening to a pool terrace, pavilion with a summer kitchen, and gardens planted with fruit trees and olive groves. 

Two guest houses offer private accommodations, as well as an artist’s atelier. Additionally, there is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom staff apartment. 

Related: Read How To Live with Art in the Home

4. Schloss Possenhofen in Pocking, Bavaria, Germany 

Schloss Possenhofen, a magnificent castle on the shores of Lake Starnberg in Bavaria, Germany, was built in 1536 for Jacob Rosenbusch, Chancellor of Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria. 

In 1834, it was purchased by Duke Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria, best known as the father of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Queen of Hungary and great-grandfather of King Leopold III of Belgium.   

In the 1980s, the castle was extensively renovated and reconfigured into condominiums. Just four units are in the old palace, including the property on offer here: The Beletage, “the beautiful floor,” where the private apartments of Duke Maximilian and his family were housed.  

Extending to more than 2,900 square feet (the entire second level of the castle), the luxuriously appointed living spaces are adorned with exquisite details, such as fine panel parquet flooring, ceiling stucco, and lattice box windows to capture the panoramic vistas of the castle grounds, Lake Starnberg, and Bavarian Alps. 

The attic offers an additional 2,712 square feet of unfinished space. Also included are garages and a landscaped, lakeside plot with private lake access to Possenhofen yacht club. 

5. The Grace Estate in Islesboro, Maine 

Situated at the end of a private peninsula, The Grace Estate offers complete privacy and views extending from Penobscot Bay to Camden Hills and Seal Harbor.

Philadelphia architect Wilson Eyre designed the Renaissance Revival stucco “cottage” in 1918 for Louise Grace at the behest of William Russell Grace, the shipping magnate and former mayor of New York City. 

The property has been updated for contemporary tastes, while retaining its classic period character. The main residence is grand and welcoming with its spacious living and dining areas, and intimate areas—indoors and outside—for quiet contemplation.  

In addition to the owner’s suite, there are seven en suite guest bedrooms. A stone guest house at the water’s edge offers potential for further development. 

The landscaped, wooded grounds include a saltwater swimming pool, a paddle tennis court, a recreation pavilion, and a chicken coop. 

The property has some 3,570 feet of shorefront with a boathouse and a custom-built deepwater dock with a kayak ramp. The mainland, three miles distant, is a 20-minute ferry ride across upper Penobscot Bay or private aircraft landing on Islesboro island’s 2,500-foot airstrip. 

6. Spanish Colonial Estate in Silicon Valley, California 

For more than half a century, this rambling Silicon Valley estate was the cherished home of tech pioneer E. Floyd Kvamme, co-founder of National Semiconductor and former executive vice president of sales and marketing for Apple Inc. 

Built in 1930, the Spanish Colonial main house has been lovingly preserved and maintained, its original elements beautifully intact: the low-sloped gabled roof, topped with red barrel tiles; shallow eaves; heavy wood corbels; stuccoed walls; and wrought-iron railings. 

Inside are 4,391 square feet of elegant interiors with terracotta tile floors, hand hewn wood-beamed ceilings with decorative wrought-iron light fixtures, solid wood doors and staircases, and picture windows that flood the space with natural light.   

Several additions crafted by local artisans pay homage to the original design. The residential complex includes a recreation suite with a bar and lounge, a one-bedroom guest cottage, a garage, and a courtyard with a pool and spa. Beyond are lovely gardens with a koi pond, a boules court, and tennis court. 

Looking for a home with the patina of history? Start here.