Berkshire Cottages and Other Historic Homes

Many of our guests come to western Massachusetts just to visit the Berkshire cottages and other historic homes that remain here. During the heyday of the Gilded Age (1865-1902), lavish homes sprung up all over the countryside to house the rich and famous.

Much like the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, the Gilded Age cottages of the Berkshire Hills attract visitors worldwide who want to experience life in that bygone era.
Due to the unprecedented prosperity that followed the Civil War, some of the nation’s wealthiest families built opulent country estates among the rolling hills of the Berkshires.
Wealthy industrialists George Westinghouse and Andrew Carnegie are among the many who constructed sumptuous mansions to showcase their wealth.
Then followed artists, authors, and other creative geniuses.
Though many historic estates have since been turned into wellness retreats, hotels, and resorts, some have been maintained and restored for the public’s enjoyment.

Carol Owens, author of Berkshire Cottages, simply describes the motivation for building such extravagant estates. She states, “It was a material world. Who you were was determined by what could be seen.” Hence, the opulence of the Gilded Age cottages of the Berkshire hills.

But, for today’s visitors, viewing the grandiosity of these homes remains an eye-opening experience and a worthwhile reason to visit the Berkshires. Here’s what to expect when visiting these historic sites.

The Mount

Edith Wharton’s historic estate, The Mount, overlooks Laurel Lake in Lenox. Meticulously designed to enhance each room’s primary purpose, the home resembles a 17th-century English country estate. As grand as the home itself is, the gardens are equally impressive. Wharton envisioned elegant outdoor rooms that blended naturally into the landscape. The grounds are free and open to the public. Admission to the main house requires an additional fee.

Hancock Shaker Village

A vibrant living history museum, Hancock Shaker Village introduces visitors to the Shakers’ simple way of life. The exhibits include furniture, textiles, tools, an expansive garden, and heritage livestock. Visit the gift shop to take home handmade shaker boxes, beeswax candles and soap, and shaker straw hats.

Norman Rockwell Museum

At one time, the most loved American artist, Norman Rockwell, captured the often candid and humorous side of the American lifestyle. Best known for his cover illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post, Rockwell chose to live out his remaining years in Stockbridge, MA.

The museum holds a vast collection of Rockwell’s most important works, and the grounds surrounding the museum reflect the beauty of the Berkshires.

Chesterwood Museum

Located just a mile south of the Norman Rockwell Museum, Chesterwood, the former home and studio of Daniel Chester French, the creator of the seated Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., sits proudly overlooking the rolling hills of the Berkshires.

His residence, studio, and grounds recently reopened after a four-year restoration, showcasing the talents of this magnificent sculptor.

Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum was once a famous Gilded Age resort. Built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, sister of J.P. Morgan, the style is reminiscent of Jacobean mansions with intricate stonework and imposing parapets. After many years of decay, the mansion was carefully restored to its former grandeur. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the Mansion for a small fee.

Naumkeag

Once the summer home of a prominent New York lawyer, Naumkeag is one of the best examples of the Gilded Age cottages of the Berkshires. The gardens that surround the estate, both formal and informal, serve as a lovely setting for its annual daffodil and Tulip Festival, The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show, and Winterlights.

Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio

The former home of abstract artists George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen, the Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio encompasses both art and architecture. It has incredible exhibits of fellow abstract artists, including Cubist masters Braque, Gris and Leger. Open late June through Columbus Day, this spectacular home and studio is an art lover’s absolute must-see.

Herman Melville’s Arrowhead

Home to author Herman Melville, Arrowhead served as the author’s muse as he finished his most famous work, Moby Dick, and many other inspirational novels.

Initially, it was a small farmhouse and inn, but Melville found the area through his uncle, who owned a property next door. Now a non-profit historic house museum, Arrowhead is maintained by the Berkshire County Historical Society and is open to the public for tours in season.

Bidwell House

This elegant Georgian saltbox home began as a parsonage. Now a museum lovingly restored to its original appearance, guided tours are offered in season—Memorial Day through October—on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday by appointment only. The gardens and walking trails are open year-round.

Mission House

Built by missionary John Sergeant, who came to the region to assimilate the Mohican people, the Mission House now houses a collection of Mohican artifacts. The exhibit, “Our Lands, Our Home, Our Heart / Nda’keenã, Weekeyaak, Nda’anã,” was curated by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community’s Cultural Affairs Department to tell the story of the indigenous tribe who moved freely across the land until the mid-1700s. The exhibit is open for self-guided tours on Thursdays through Sundays from late May 24 through September 1.

These elegant Gilded Age cottages and historic homes add to the beauty of the Berkshires. Nestled in and among the rolling hills of western Massachusetts, their impressive architecture, lavish landscaping, and gardens add to the mystique of this bygone era.

The next time you stay at Devonfield Inn, plan a tour of some of these magnificent Berkshire cottages and other historic homes.