Gillette Castle

Project Overview & Specifications
Project Location: East Haddam, CT
Architect: Phase I: Roger S. Clarke, AIA; Phase II: N/A; Phase III: Barkin Andrade Architects P.C.
Owner: State of Connecticut
Completion Date: Phase I: August 2000; Phase II: November 2001; Phase III: February 2003
Cost Range: Phase I: $2,374,569; Phase II: $700,450; Phase III: $2,980,136

Gillette Castle is a 24-room medieval-style mansion that overlooks the Connecticut River in East Haddam, Connecticut. It took from 1914 to 1919 to build, and many local craftspeople several more years to finish. Unprecedented in its style, this elaborate castle was designed and owned by noted actor William H. Gillette, best known for his portrayal of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.

Today, Gillette Castle is a public park owned by the State of Connecticut.

Kronenberger & Sons completed an extensive interior and exterior restoration to both the mansion and grounds while bringing everything up to current building codes and safety standards. This included all masonry work on the castle, outbuildings, and retaining walls, structural work in the castle, building an exit staircase for museum traffic, recreating interior raffia wall dressings, and rebuilding the train station.

Gillette Castle is #86002103 on the National Register of Historic Places.