The Hammond Castle guided tour was a very nice way to spend a few hours in the afternoon. Overall it was worth the visit and would recommend checking it out if in the area. 1-1.5 hours is sufficient to appreciate this very cool castle overlooking the ocean. Hammond Castle takes the cake as the most unusual one we've ever experienced. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lehcar1477/39 http://www.flickr.com/photos/colinj/133735 http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjzii/3805535 http://www.flickr.com/photos/herzogbr/5628 http://www.flickr.com/photos/herzogbr/5623 http://www.flickr.com/photos/herzogbr/5621 http://www.flickr.com/photos/amanda_mc/356 http://www.hammondcastle.org/common/index.php?com=HAMM&div=AA&nav=AA&page=A91, http://www.newenglandtravelplanner.com/go/ma/northshore/gloucester/sights/hammond_castle.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hays_Hammond,_Jr, http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g41580-d260102-r3611831-Hammond_Castle-Gloucester_Cape_Ann_Massachusetts.html#REVIEWS, http://mischiefmysterymagic.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-captured-me-castle.html, http://books.google.com/books?id=X3L-D9i9BOMC&pg=PA120&lpg=PA120&dq=hammond+castle+weather+control&source=bl&ots=n00DQ7nMig&sig=3prUJOCwlY54BxPtuzpXQkzsIn4&hl=en&ei=wlutSs3EM4HBlAf-hIHbBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=hammond%20castle%20weather%20control&f=false. Plan to go early and buy your guided tour tickets online first. Adults $14, Seniors $10,children (ages 6- 12) $9. Hammond Castle Museum, Gloucester: "Can you walk the grounds of Hammond Castle when." | Check out 11 answers, plus see 666 reviews, articles, and 730 photos of Hammond Castle Museum, ranked No.5 on Tripadvisor among 122 attractions in Gloucester. I got bitten about ten times during my time at the estate, resulting in a very swollen ankle for a few days. But the Castle itself is so very interesting and so full of many items he purchased and brought back from Europe and other parts of the world. This space is NOT good for people with mobility issues - the steps are narrow & the stone floors are uneven. On my blog, youll find me talking about my favorite things - travel, history, movies, TV, and reading! AROUND CAPE ANN: Hammond Castle celebrates the season The tour guide was thorough about interesting facts you would not pick up on if you just walked around on your own (and the ticket price was the same). How many hours required for a full tour around? Put this on the top of your list if you're visiting the area -- location has some of the most stunning scenery (hello ocean view!) There were 2 area they ask people to refraine from going to. You can sign up for a guided tour or walk through the castle on your own, as we did. It took about an hour or slightly more, to walk through, and we could have easily spent much more time, but at our age, going up and down a lot of stairs is a bit tiring. I would think that you can. more. I cannot recommend this enough. History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour, Inside the Daniels House: An Interactive House Tour, Self-Guided Smartphone Ghost Walking Tour in Salem, Salem Witch Trials Historical Walking Tour. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Visiting around the castle taking pictures was wonderful. Overall The Hammond Castle is amazing! It is definitely worth it because the castle design, rooms and artifacts from around the world are fantastic; it really does feel like you are entering a medieval fort. The guided portion of the tour lasted just under an hour, and then you were free to explore on your own. Tour opportunities in April are limited, please check our website to learn more. 98% of travellers recommend this experience. There are huge granite stairs just getting from the parking lot to the castle. There are a few seats you can rest on and to the side of the castle, you can walk down to the overlook by the rocky coastal landscape. Hammond Castle Museum, Gloucester: "Can you walk the grounds of Hammond Castle when." | Check out 11 answers, plus see 636 reviews, articles, and 678 photos of Hammond Castle Museum, ranked No.7 on Tripadvisor among 114 attractions in Gloucester. This place is well worth a visit. Yes you can visit the grounds.They are very breathtaking.Make sure to bring a camera as there are many benches in the gardens and Window frames to pose in. I would say to give yourself an hour and a half to two hours. Sep 2022. Hammond Castle is located on the Atlantic coast in the Magnolia area of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Take the draw-bridge into the castle built by inventor John Hammond Jr. $20 will give you either a guided or self guided tour of the castle and grounds. Alnwick Castle and Garden. The tour starts on the grounds where youll walk into the castle through a drawbridge and head to the great hall, which has a number of banners, furniture pieces, paintings and other artifacts. Lots to see and historical facts to learn. Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming about what itd be like to live as royalty in medieval times? Disney privately screened his 1940 masterpiece Fantasia in the Great Hall, which doubled, thanks to Hammond's acoustical innovations, as a concert arena and recording studio where George Gershwin and other prominent musicians performed and played its 7,400-pipe organ. Winner will be selected at random on 07/01/2023. Hammond Castle Museum is now open! The vistas from the arches and back yard are amazing. The view from that area out to the ocean is just marvelous. 33,386 were here. Tripadvisor gives a Travellers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. From there, you enter the main hall and other rooms and another set of stairs, taking you down to another area, or across the courtyard and up into the bedrooms. Vesusvius stands overhead. Can you walk the grounds of Hammond Castle when Note, the stairs to the museum from the parking lot and inside the castle building are narrow, steep and often uneven; strollers and elderly folks (and others) with physical limitations will not be able to comfortably or (at certain spots) safely maneuver around. In Gloucester, Massachussets, fishermen celebrate a successful year at sea by charging a lubed pole to capture an Italian flag. His work was so prolific that he held over four hundred patents in his lifetime. I would say 1 to 1 1/2 hours -- although we probably should have, we did not take the tour and that might have changed how much time we needed. The Museum offers guided tours and numerous educational and cultural events throughout its season. Is there a charge for walking the grounds and interior on your own? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Strollers, backpacks, food, and drinks are not allowed inside the Museum. It was decent. Incredible views. But the Castle itself is so very interesting and so full of many items he purchased and brought back from Europe and other parts of the world. Can you walk the grounds of Hammond Castle when The courtyard had actual 15th century storefronts brought over from France. It felt like something youd see at Disneyland, except it was real! Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Definitely get on a guided tour! $1,200 starting price Get a personalized quote About On WeddingWire since 2015 Where would you like the rest of your history to begin? The garden room and outside the front of the castle were my favorite. Located on the water in Gloucester, this true castle is not to be missed. Built in 1926 by eccentric inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. as home and museum, it showcases a variety of historical architectural styles and has some interesting artifacts on exhibitas well as amazing views of the ocean. Hammond certainly expressed himself in the walls and windows of his New England home: a medieval-style castle complete with a drawbridge which he dubbed Abbadia Mare. Built between 1926 and 1929 on a steep hill overlooking the Atlantic ocean in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the house features a renaissance dining room, round library, a War room, secret passageways and even an indoor pool with a weather control systemthat Hammond could set whenever he felt like swimming in the rain. First, it is such an interesting place, and Mr. Hammond was such an incredible person. When you read the information about him, you learn he had over 1,000 patents. Outside, no. The grounds are beautiful. Today the museum showcases Hammonds fabulous collection of antiques as well as his inventions within the house, along with some cheesier additions as well. A Wonderful Walk Through The Castle - Review of Hammond Castle Museum Hammond Castle Museum - Gloucester, Massachusetts - Atlas Obscura The tour guide is wonderfully helpful and incredibly knowledgeable (Chris). As a little boy he visited Edison's laboratory with his wealthy father John Hays Hammond Sr, a South African mining magnate. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. The Majestic Hammond Castle Is Under 1 Hour From Boston It was decent. The tour guide was very funny and knowledgeable! An enjoyable visit Are the grounds open to the public during the month of November ? Hammond was quite the unique individual. John Hammond was a brilliant inventor and passionate about medieval architecture and artifacts. This home of John Hammond is a MUST SEE when in the Gloucester, MA area. Historic museum perched on the MA coastline at the intersection of science, art and history. Interesting history provided by our guide Brendan. What hotels are near Hammond Castle Museum? He holds many patents and created objects that inspired products that we all use today (including remote control boats, different cooking devices, television advancements, and audio devices that paved the way for Dolby sound). The Hammond Castle Museum is a dynamic STEM museum offering tours, temporary exhibits, cultural events and educational programming.