Boldt Castle, Heart Island
Boldt Castle is landmark tourist attraction on Heart Island, so named because of its heart-like shape, in the Thousand Islands region of New York State, USA.
Construction began in 1900, as part of the millionaire George Boldt's plan to give a six-storey stone castle to his wife on Valentine’s Day 1905.
Among the architectural features of the island are; the Yacht House, a huge playhouse, the Power House, and a 120-room ‘fairytale’ castle which was modelled on Rhineland Castle.
However, construction came to an abrupt halt in 1904 when Boldt’s wife, Louise, died. Unable to face returning to the island, Boldt decided to leave the structures as a monument to his love.
The buildings were left in their unfinished state for 73 years, gradually falling victim to harsh weather and vandalism, until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority purchased the island in 1977 for $1. They spent around $15 million restoring the masonry structures to the condition they were in when the original construction was halted. They also completed the stained glass dome, marble floor and grand staircase woodwork.
Since its redevelopment, the island has become a popular tourist attraction, and has a continuing romantic appeal for the many couples who choose it as a wedding destination.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
What they are, how they work and why they are popular in many countries.
Plastic, recycling and its symbol
Student competition winning, M.C.Esher inspired Möbius strip design symbolising continuity within a finite entity.
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.
The Warm Homes Plan details released
What's new and what is not, with industry reactions.
Could AI and VR cause an increase the value of heritage?
The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018
ECA welcomes IET and BSI content sign off.
How neural technologies could transform the design future
Enhancing legacy parametric engines, offering novel ways to explore solutions and generate geometry.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government and other bodies.
From QS to further education teacher
Applying real world skills with the next generation.
A guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes.
Data infrastructure for next-generation materials science
Research Data Express to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.
Wired for the Future with ECA; powering skills and progress
ECA South Wales Business Day 2025, a day to remember.
AI for the conservation professional
A level of sophistication previously reserved for science fiction.
Biomass harvested in cycles of less than ten years.
An interview with the new CIAT President
Usman Yaqub BSc (Hons) PCIAT MFPWS.
Cost benefit model report of building safety regime in Wales
Proposed policy option costs for design and construction stage of the new building safety regime in Wales.
Do you receive our free biweekly newsletter?
If not you can sign up to receive it in your mailbox here.