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Boldt Castle – the most incredible Valentine gift for a beloved wife


Although the United States is a relatively young state (it’s just a little over 200 years old), there are many attractions built by human hands. A striking example of this is Boldt castle.

Boldt Castle
Heart Island. Photo: remundo / flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

At the beginning of the 20th century, a castle was built on the heart-shaped Heart Island in the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands region. However, its fate was sad.

Boldt Castle
An own power plant that supplied the whole island. Photo: Marco Nürnberger, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mnuernberger/14221642971/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Power house. Photo: Michel Rathwell, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimages1/12647248284/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Power house. Photo: Christine Wagner, https://www.flickr.com/photos/christine-wagner/15608231409/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
The Alster Tower – a place for relaxation and entertainment. Photo: dvs, https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvs/27655973942/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

George Boldt, a well-known architect and a manager of some fashionable hotels in the United States, decided to give his beloved wife a gift for St. Valentine’s Day. He designed it himself and construction was started.

Boldt Castle
Yacht house. Photo: theschulers09, https://www.flickr.com/photos/36791675@N05/3534558336/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
The Gazebo. Photo: Rick Dillon, https://www.flickr.com/photos/numbersguy/2112415325/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Castle interior. Photo: Allen McGregor, https://www.flickr.com/photos/allenmcgregor/4643611686/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

A 6-storey building was erected in the style of ancient German castles. It was supposed to have 127 rooms, 365 windows, a swimming pool, an elevator, plumbing. Besides, there was also built a children’s play tower, laid tunnels, laid out a park. A house for yachts is one of the special places.

Boldt Castle
Castle interior. Photo: Michel Rathwell, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimages1/11088453225/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
The Alster Tower. Photo: saebaryo, https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeba/34936338294/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Castle interior. Photo: Michel Rathwell, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimages1/11088400635/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle. Photo: Michel Rathwell, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimages1/11088452316/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Power house. Photo: saebaryo, https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeba/35645044601/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/)

But in 1904, Louise, Boldt’s wife, dies of tuberculosis. Construction work was stopped, and the island itself, with all the buildings, was abandoned. Time and marauders have done their job. The castle began to collapse. But still, justice prevailed. In 1977, Boldt’s heirs sold the castle to the local authorities for a purely nominal fee. But with the restriction that all the money from the excursions should be spent on the reconstruction of the building.

Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle. Photo: Seabamirum, https://www.flickr.com/photos/seabamirum/22733045321/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle. Photo: Michel Rathwell, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimages1/11088349574/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
A fountain. Photo: Michel Rathwell, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimages1/11088469803/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

The castle has been given new life. It was restored and everything was put in order. Now it is not only a local attraction. People come here from all over the world to admire this creation of human hands.

Boldt Castle
Power house in the mist. Photo: theschulers09, https://www.flickr.com/photos/36791675@N05/3534673586/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Castle gardens. Photo: Michel Rathwell, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimages1/11088564235/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Boldt Castle
Power house. Photo: Michel Rathwell, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimages1/12647175834/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Preview: Christine Wagner, https://www.flickr.com/photos/christine-wagner/15608231409/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

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