Hammond Castle is a hidden gem in Massachusetts. Located just about an hour away from Boston, and yet it can transport visitors to Medieval times in Europe from the 5th to the 15th century.
The Castle was built in the late 1929 and overlooks the beautiful Gloucester Harbor. Who built it? John Hays Hammond Junior was an inventor and a collector of an array of artifacts, and antiques used to decorate the castle. He was also a scientific in the “remote work” experimenting with radio waves and thus, earning the title of “Father of Remote Control.” As an inventor, John Hammond brought innovation while building the castle.
Hammond Castle displays a medieval-style with two Towers, stone walls, a drawbridge, arch doors, and beautiful gardens. Inside, the castle features a renaissance dining room, a great hall with an organ, a round library known as the “whisper room” because of the acoustic effects (a whispering ceiling) an indoor pool with weather control mechanism, secret corridors, and stained-glass windows and doorways imported from old castles in Europe. John Hays Hammond also incorporated a Moroccan style and a French village inspiration into the castle’s architecture. It was also an expression of love, as John Hammond offered it to his wife, Irene Fenton Hammond.
One of the most intriguing artifacts in display is a human’s skull which is believed to be from someone who sailed together with Christopher Columbus.
Today, the Castle is a museum and visitor can enjoy a vast collection of antiques including joust armor, and simply experience a medieval world in the new world!
As an added bonus, the castle is considered to be haunted and it’s a popular destination during Halloween.
