Castle Hill Tours
Take a guided tour of the Great House and its walled gardens at Castle Hill
After Chicago industrialist Richard T. Crane, Jr., purchased the property in 1910, the former farmland of Castle Hill came to exemplify a European-inspired country estate of the era, with its farm and estate buildings, designed grounds and gardens, and diverse natural areas. The first house built atop Castle Hill, an Italian Renaissance Revival villa designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, was razed and replaced in 1928 with the Great House, the 59-room Stuart-style mansion designed by architect David Adler that you see today. The grounds and gardens would be molded by the talented designs of the Olmsted Brothers and Arthur Shurcliff. Castle Hill would become the centerpiece of an estate encompassing 3500 acres, emphasizing the natural landscapes, their stewardship, and protection.
In 1910, the same year they purchased the property, the Cranes amended their wills to reflect that The Trustees would be bequeathed this astounding property. They understood the value of land preservation. Castle Hill comprises 365 acres of the 2100 currently stewarded by The Trustees, and captures the essence of summer living at a grand gentlemen’s estate.
With wonderful walking and hiking paths, curated gardens, 360-degree views, and glorious architecture, there is something to interest everyone. Choose from six guided tours of the house, gardens, and grounds with our expert interpreters, or plan a day of your own devising. Group rates are available, as are private tours.
Grounds admission is included in tour ticket pricing, or available a la carte, and covers a 3-hour visit.
- Guest of the Cranes
- The Cat’s Meow
- Cupola with a View
- Behind the Scenes at the Great House
- Little Women at Castle Hill
- The Grand Design: A Landscape Tour of Castle Hill
- Formal Flowers: A Tour For Gardeners
Guest of the Cranes
It’s 1929 and you’ve just arrived after a long journey to see the Great House at Castle Hill and to visit your friends, the Crane family, of Crane plumbing fame. You are greeted at the door by household staff and your adventure as a “Guest of the Cranes” begins. A tour through the house will show you the luxury and conveniences that will be at your disposal during your summertime visit to Ipswich. An invitation from the Crane family is a coveted prize. Welcome to Castle Hill!
Our hourly tour is a time capsule experience that takes you back to 1929, the Crane family’s first summer in brand new Great House. It is the second one the Cranes built at Castle Hill and it’s a stunner! The tour includes the family bedrooms, bathrooms, and guest rooms.
Tours leave on the hour and have a run time of approximately 50-60 minutes. Tours run from 10AM-3PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance, or first-come-first-serve on property.
Accessibility: The Grand Stair has 30 steps. We’re sorry, but there is no elevator. Headset amplifier available upon request.
The Cat’s Meow
Our imagination is one of our greatest assets. Imagine living in 1929 and visiting the Crane family at their summer home in Ipswich. The house is so big and Mrs. Crane’s kitty, Ptolemy, has gone missing just before the party! Can you help a family servant find our mischievous Siamese? Once he’s found, we’ll have just enough time to dress for the party!
This tour has a run time of approximately 30-40 minutes and is recommended for children 3-8 and their families. It takes you through the family and guest living spaces of the Great House.
Accessibility: The Grand Stair has 30 steps. We’re sorry, but there is no elevator. Headset amplifier available upon request.
Cupola with a View
This is our most Instagram-able tour experience and a particular treat for those interested in the architecture of the Great House and its surrounding property. You’ll gain insight into the architectural choices made by David Adler as he designed and built the Great House, the second home the Cranes built atop majestic Castle Hill. The exterior and interior spaces are a feast for the eyes. Learn how this architectural feat fits into the history of the property even beyond the Crane family, peek into servant life in the house, but most importantly – you will get to step out onto the roof and take in the panoramic views of Castle Hill!
Accessibility: This tour climbs 3 flights of stairs. We’re sorry, there is no elevator. Headset amplifier available upon request.
Behind the Scenes at the Great House
Do you love checking out basements, kitchens, and other nooks and crannies? Our behind-the-scenes tour takes you into the world of service and explores how the house ran when the Cranes were in residence. You’ll see how a plumbing magnate incorporated the latest technology of the era into his summer home to maximize efficiency, including electric wind indicators and an advanced telephone system.
This tour has a run time of approximately 50-60 minutes.
Accessibility: This tour utilizes several staircases and is not accessible to those with mobility issues. We’re sorry, there is no elevator. Headset amplifier available upon request.
Little Women at Castle Hill
This 90-minute guided walking tour highlights the magnificent sites at Castle Hill where the acclaimed 2019 movie was filmed.
Hear behind-the-scenes stories about the production. Experience the places where Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Meryl Streep, and other actors filmed scenes.
Learn the fascinating history of Castle Hill and the family who once called this breathtaking location their summer home.
Accessibility: This is an outdoor tour and will involve approximately 1/4 mile of walking on grass and pavement, with some uneven stairs. Headset amplifier available upon request.
This tour has a run time of approximately 90 minutes. Tickets can be purchased in advance, or on a first-come-first-serve basis on property.
The Grand Design: A Landscape Tour of Castle Hill
This 90-minute walking tour explores the magnificent living masterpiece that is Castle Hill. Step into scenes of expansive grandeur designed by some of the most influential landscape architects of their time.
Accessibility: This outdoor walking tour covers approximately a half mile and utilizes stairs. The full tour is not accessible to those with mobility issues. Voice amplification will be used.
This tour has a run time of approximately 90 minutes. Tickets can be purchased in advance, or first-come-first-serve on property. If weather prevents the tour, refunds will be issued automatically.
Formal Flowers: A Tour For Gardeners
Calling all gardeners! Are you interested in how the formal gardens at Castle Hill have grown and changed over the years? Are you looking for inspiration for your own garden? Formal Flowers will take you on a detailed journey into the way the Italian and Rose Gardens were designed and planted in the Crane’s day, and how the gardens were re-imagined in 2016 and 2020. Tours include information on the current plantings with emphasis on those that are in bloom at the time of your tour.
Accessibility: This tour is an outdoor walking tour and utilizes stairs to access the garden spaces. The full tour is not accessible to those with mobility issues. Voice amplification will be used.
This tour has a run time of approximately 50-60 minutes. Tickets can be purchased in advance, or first-come-first-serve on property. If weather prevents the tour, refunds will be issued automatically. Grounds admission is included in the ticket price and covers a 3-hour visit.
