Castle Hill - The Trustees of Reservations

Property Description	165 acres \| Established 1949
Centuries before becoming a grand summer estate owned by one of America's wealthiest families, Castle Hill was well known by Native Americans who called the area Agawam, referring to its rich fishery. John Winthrop, Jr., son of the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, lay claim to Castle Hill in 1637. For more than two centuries, a succession of owners farmed the land. Beginning in the 1880s, J.B. Brown transformed Castle Hill Farm from an agricultural holding into a gentleman's farm. He improved roadways and plantings and renovated his modest farmhouse into a rambling, shingle-style cottage that is now The Inn at Castle Hill. In the decades following Richard T. Crane, Jr.'s purchase of the property in 1910, Castle Hill came to exemplify the American Country Place Era with its farm and estate buildings, designed grounds and gardens, and diverse natural areas. The Cranes hired some of the century's most notable architects and landscape architects. 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 59-room Stuart-style mansion designed by architect David Adler you see today. The Great House is furnished with period antiques. Castle Hill is also home to a wide diversity of wildlife typical of northeast Massachusetts forests. Deer, fox, turkey, and a multitude of songbirds can be observed from the many trails and roads on Castle Hill. In addition, Castle Hill is home to several pairs of nesting great horned owls and red-tailed hawks. Due to its location on the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent Crane Beach, unusual species such as turkey vultures, migratory hawks, and even an occasional bald eagle can be seen soaring above the landscape.

Trails
Four miles of trails and roads. Moderate hiking. Castle Hill is a link in the Bay Circuit Trail.

Facilities
The Inn at Castle Hill offers luxurious overnight accommodations. Breakfast and lunch are available for guests only, while dinners are available for guests and Trustees members with advance reservations required. The tavern is available for rentals for business meetings and cocktail receptions. The Great House may be rented for private functions. Steep Hill Beach (located at the western end of Crane Beach and at the base of Castle Hill) may be rented for corporate outings.

Tours
Great House Tours: Wednesdays – Saturdays, May 28 – October 13 \| 10am – 1pm (one-hour tour) Closed Friday, July 4 Members: free. Nonmembers: Adult $10, Child $5. Minimum age: 8 years old (16 without adult). Group tours by appointment. Call 978.921.1944 x4009. Fees include admission to grounds. Historic Landscape Tours of Castle Hill: Thursdays & Saturdays, May 29 through October 11 \| 10AM. Take a guided historic walking tour of this grand, early 20th century summer estate by the sea and learn about the designs of Boston landscape architects Olmsted Bros. and Arthur Shurcliff. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Bring comfortable footwear and water bottle. Members: Free. Nonmembers: $5. Minimum age: 8 years old (16 without adult).

Special Events
July 4th Independence Day Celebration, Summer Picnic Concert Series, and Winter Holiday Showcase are among many annual events held at Castle Hill. Consult the Events Calendar for details.

Literature
A Visitor's Guide to the Crane Estate is a self-guided landscape tour booklet introducing visitors to Castle Hill, Crane Beach, and the Crane Wildlife Refuge. It is available from the Castle Hill gatehouse and may be mail ordered in advance of your visit.

Hunting Advisory
Seasonal hunting (deer only) is permitted only as part of a deer management program administered by The Trustees of Reservations. Contact The Trustees' Northeast Regional Ecologist for details. Click here for general information about hunting on Trustees of Reservations land.

Property Acquisition History
Bequeathed by Mrs. Richard T. Crane, Jr. in 1949. Additional land given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Eliot II in 1980; Dr. Robert L. Goodale in 1980; Mr. and Mrs. David C. Crockett in 1981; Mr. and Mrs. David W. Scudder in 1981; and Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Venn in 1982.