America's "royal" residences

Travel America, Sept-Oct, 2004 by M.T. Schwartzman

AMERICA DOESN'T HAVE ANY royalty, but it has plenty of palatial homes. Many are open to the public, usually for a fee. Here's a peek inside a few of the most popular abodes. Among them are the residences of two former presidents, a "king," and a publishing baron who built himself a castle.

* THE WHITE HOUSE. There was a time when you could just show up at the visitors center on a warm summer's day and get in line tot a tour of the White House. Since September 11, however, security procedures have been tightened, and gaining admission to America's first residence now requires advance planning of at least four to six weeks. Access is limited to groups of 10 or more, who must make their request through their member of Congress. Individuals may be included in groups put together by local Congressmen at their discretion, according to the White House Visitors Center. Once inside the home, tours remain self-guided as in the past and include glimpses of the Library, State Dining Room, and other rooms used for ceremonial purposes (you won't get to see the Oval Office). Departures are scheduled from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For information, call the White House Visitors Center at (202) 208-1631 or log on to www.nps.gov/whho.> * GRACELAND. A survey once named Graceland "the most recognizable home in America after the White House." Some 600,000 people a year make a pilgrimage to this mansion in Memphis, the home of Elvis Presley, "The King of Rock 'n' Roll," from 1957 until his death in 1977. The house remains mostly unchanged since Elvis last walked through its doors and is like a time capsule spanning three decades of decor. The self-guided tour includes the music room, where Elvis and friends would gather around a baby grand piano; the "jungle room," which Elvis used as a makeshift recording studio; and the trophy building, which displays Elvis' gold and platinum records. Call Graceland at (800) 238-2000 or visit www.elvispresley.com.

* MOUNT VERNON. George Washington never lived in the White House, but he did live in nearby Virginia at his Mount Vernon Estate. About a million people each year visit the house, located 16 miles south of the nation's capital. Included in the tour is the large dining room, where Washington got word of his election to the presidency. The estate is noteworthy not just for its interior, which represents early American living at its finest, but for its setting--perched above the Potomac. Besides the house and gardens, the site has a colonial farm, where they use Washington's farming techniques. Call Mount Vernon at (703) 780-2000 or log on to www.mountvernon.org.

* MONTICELLO. Thomas Jefferson also lived in Virginia. He personally designed Monticello, which he proudly described as his "essay in architecture." It's the only house in America on the United Nations' World Heritage List of international treasures. Even some of the furniture in the Charlottesville house was designed by Jefferson. More than half a million people visit Monticello every year, taking guided tours of the home and plantation grounds. This year the house saw its 25 millioneth guest since opening to the public in 1924. Jefferson was especially interested in gardening, and he surrounded the main house with a vegetable garden, flower gardens, orchards, vineyards, and groves--now restored to appear as they did in Jefferson's time. Call Monticello at (804) 984-9822 or visit www.monticello.org.

* HEARST CASTLE. William Randolph Hearst's "Castle" at San Simeon has long been considered a must-see for visitors traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles. As a newspaper publisher, Hearst became one of America's first media moguls. His 127-acre estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean took 28 years to build. Styles in the 165-room house and its furnishings include GrecoRoman, Mediterranean, and Gothic. Nearly 800,000 people visit Hearst Castle each year; the grounds are so expansive that four different tours are offered. Call (800) 444-44/15 or log on to www.hearstcastle.org.