1

Bannerman Castle, New York

Image: Erim Berk Benli

This crumbling fortress sits on a tiny island in the Hudson River, looking like something straight out of a Gothic novel . Francis Bannerman VI built it in 1901 to store his surplus military weapons because, apparently, his wife refused to keep thousands of munitions in the basement anymore.

The castle partially exploded in 1920 when some gunpowder got a little too excited, and it's been slowly deteriorating ever since. You can kayak out to the island or take a boat tour to see the ruins up close, where nature is slowly reclaiming the stone walls in a beautiful, apocalyptic sort of way.

2

Fonthill Castle, Pennsylvania

Image: Leyla M

Henry Mercer built this concrete monstrosity between 1908 and 1912. The guy was obsessed with tiles and built his castle as a showcase for his handmade ceramic collection , resulting in 44 rooms, 32 stairwells, and 18 fireplaces.

The castle has no blueprints because Mercer apparently just made it up as he went along, adding rooms and towers whenever the mood struck.

3

Gillette Castle, Connecticut

Image: Darya Tryfanava

William Gillette, famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on stage, built this eccentric castle in the 1910s and filled it with spy mirrors, secret doors, and wooden locks he carved himself . The place looks like someone dropped a medieval fortress into a blender with a detective novel.

The castle has 47 doors, none of which work like normal doors should, because Gillette apparently thought regular doorknobs were for boring people. Now it's a state park where you can wander through rooms designed by someone who clearly never met a quirk he didn't like.

4

Boldt Castle, New York

Image: Pascal Bernardon

George Boldt started building this Rhineland-style castle in 1900 as a Valentine's Day gift for his wife Louise . Then she died suddenly in 1904, and he immediately halted construction and never returned, leaving behind a monument to heartbreak on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands.

The castle sat abandoned for 73 years until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority took it over and began restoration. Today you can visit via ferry and explore the grand halls, the powerhouse, and the perfectly intact bowling alley.

5

Castello di Amorosa, California

Image: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

This one's a bit of a cheat since it was built in 2007, but it's so ridiculously authentic that it deserves a spot . Winemaker Dario Sattui spent 14 years and $40 million building a 13th-century Tuscan castle in Napa Valley, complete with a moat, drawbridge, and torture chamber, because apparently wine tastings needed more medieval flair.

The castle used 8,000 tons of hand-chiseled stone and over a million antique bricks imported from Europe. You can tour the dungeons, great hall, and of course, taste wine in a setting that makes you feel like you should be wearing chainmail instead of your Costco polo shirt.

6

Belvedere Castle, New York

Image: Birmingham Museum Trust

Perched on Vista Rock in Central Park, this miniature castle was built in 1869 as a Victorian folly —basically an expensive decoration that serves no practical purpose. It's now home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory and offers panoramic views of the park, which is considerably more useful than its original job of just looking pretty.

The castle got a major renovation in the 1980s after decades of neglect left it looking more "haunted" than "enchanting." Today it's one of Central Park's most popular spots.

7

Bishop Castle, Colorado

Image: Art Institute of Chicago

Jim Bishop started building this castle by himself in 1969 and worked on it for over 55 years until his death in 2024 . The hand-built stone structure rises 160 feet into the Colorado sky and includes towers, walkways, and a dragon that breathes actual fire—all constructed by one incredibly dedicated (and possibly slightly unhinged) man.

There are no railings on many of the precarious walkways because Bishop didn't believe in them. Admission is still free, though you might want to update your will before climbing to the top of the tallest tower, where the views are spectacular, and the safety regulations remain charmingly absent.

8

Searles Castle, Massachusetts

Image: John Phelan

Edward Searles built this castle in 1888 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, creating a 40-room mansion that combined Romanesque and Gothic styles into something that can only be described as "aggressively architectural." The castle features stained glass windows, carved woodwork, and enough turrets to repel a small army.

After changing hands several times, the castle is now home to the John Dewey Academy. You can't tour the interior since it's a school, but you can admire the exterior and imagine what it's like to do algebra homework in a building that looks like it should contain dragons.

9

Kip's Castle, New Jersey

Image: Birmingham Museum Trust

This English Tudor-style castle was built in 1902 by textile businessman Frederic Kip on a mountain in Montclair . The castle features towers, battlements, and spectacular views of Manhattan, proving that even early 1900s commuters wanted homes with dramatic flair and manageable drive times.

The castle has been through various owners and purposes, including a brief stint as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, because apparently nothing says "secret illegal bar" like a castle. Today it's used for private events, but the grounds are part of a county park where you can hike around and pretend you're visiting distant relatives who happen to be slightly eccentric nobility.

10

Chateau Laroche (Loveland Castle), Ohio

Image: ConlonTT

Harry Andrews started building this medieval castle in 1929 using stones from the Little Miami River , spending over 50 years creating his dream fortress. Andrews was inspired by his time in Europe during World War I and decided Ohio needed more castles, which is hard to argue with.

He built most of it himself using ancient techniques, including a primitive pulley system and sheer determination. Today, the castle is maintained by the Knights of the Golden Trail, a Boy Scout-like organization Andrews founded. You can tour the castle for a few bucks and marvel at what one man with too much time and enough river rocks can accomplish.

1

Elvis & Priscilla

Image: pasja1000

Elvis (2022) is an original script based on the life of Elvis Presley, directed by Baz Luhrmann, starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. On the other hand, Priscilla (2023) is based on the autobiography Elvis and Me, written by Priscilla Presley and directed by Sofia Coppola.

Although based on the life of the same public figure, the two films have their unique tone, extremely distinct executions, and different goals in mind. While Elvis focuses on the King of Rock and Roll himself and covers a lot more ground, Priscilla is much more intimate and has his wife and her experience at the center of the plot.

2

Top Gun & Iron Eagle

Image: LCdr. David Baranek, U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

You've almost certainly seen Top Gun at some point. The 1986 hit that launched a young Tom Cruise to stardom as naval aviator Pete "Maverick" Mitchell was the highest-grossing title of that year, even though it was not only competing with a very similar film but wasn't even the first to be released.

Four months earlier, Iron Eagle , the story of brave fighter pilots battling in the skies, had been premiered. Although the Jason Gedrick-starring film had three sequels, none came close to the $1 billion mark that Top Gun grossed.

3

The Truman Show & EDtv

Image: Nathy dog

The Truman Show (1998) and EDtv (1999), both about a man whose life is filmed 24 hours a day for a TV show, were inspired by the then-emerging reality television.

While Truman is unaware that his life has been broadcast since he was a baby, Ed Pekurny is fully willing to air his daily life on TV —at least at first. Perhaps that lack of mystery, combined with a premiere just a few months after The Truman Show , meant that EDtv couldn't win over the audience. Would it be more popular if it had premiered earlier? Maybe, but it's hard to deny that The Truman Show is a masterpiece that will go down in cinema history.

4

Capote & Infamous

Image: Eric Koch for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Truman Capote was a seminal writer in American literature. His life is full of exciting stories, so it's not surprising that his biography inspired several movies and TV series. Yet, in the case of Capote (2005) and Infamous (2006), this happened almost simultaneously.

Even more unusual, both films chose to tell the author's process that led him to interview the killers of the Clutter family and that would later become his most successful work, In Cold Blood . Capote stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toby Jones gives an excellent performance in Infamous . Which was your favorite?

5

Deep Impact & Armageddon

Image: Javier Miranda

In the summer of 1998, Deep Impact hit the cinemas, and just a few months later, Armageddon was released. Since both movies have similar plots —basically a comet or asteroid threatens to destroy the Earth—we can focus on which one had the better cast. On one side, you have Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Tia Leone, and Morgan Freeman. On the other, Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, Steve Buscemi, and Liv Tyler team up to save the world.

Looking at the box office returns, however, it's clear which one reigned supreme. Armageddon became the highest-grossing film that year, even though it received mostly negative reviews and was criticized for its scientific inaccuracies. All that said, Armageddon and Deep Impact are the pairing to go with if you're ever in the mood for a double feature.

6

Saving Private Ryan & The Thin Red Line

Image: Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHOM) Robert F. Sargent, U.S. Coast Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1998, Saving Private Ryan was one of the defining films of the year and captivated audiences with its heart-wrenching story and realistic portrayal of World War II. Shortly after making a fortune at the box office and scoring 11 Oscar nominations, The Thin Red Line hit the cinemas.

Both films feature similar themes and setups, but while Steven Spielberg’s take is a bit commercial and has a more straightforward narrative, the nearly three-hour-long version of Terrence Malick is more on the artistic side. That said, and despite the unfortunate coincidence, both movies are worth seeing if you like crude, realistic depictions of war.

7

The Prestige & The Illusionist

Image: jasper benning

For some reason, magic, a centuries-old form of entertainment, had its revival at the beginning of the 21st century thanks to cinema. While The Illusionist (2006) tells the story of Eisenheim, a Viennese magician who must confront Prince Leopold to avoid being discredited, The Prestige (2006) focuses on two rival magicians competing to win over late 19th-century London audiences. The two films, though different in style and tone, are excellent for any magic enthusiast.

8

Churchill & Darkest Hour

Image: Barthelemy de Mazenod

England's most famous Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, is one of the most revered leaders of World War II. Proof of that are the biographical films Churchill and Darkest Hour , released in 2017. Although both follow the same historical figure, they are very different in style, tone, and setting.

Churchill , starring Brian Cox, focuses on the last period of his wartime career, before the Normandy invasion. Released later but set earlier in time, Darkest Hour portrays Winston Churchill, played by Gary Oldman, as he holds the fate of Western Europe at the beginning of the war. The latter film turned out to be the more successful of the two, even winning an Academy Award for best actor.

9

K-9 & Turner and Hooch

Image: Martin Podsiad

In 1989, there were not one but two films that portrayed police officers teaming up with a dog to fight crime. The first was K-9 , starring Jim Belushi as the angry police detective Michael Dooley. Instead of taking a human partner, Dooley decides to get a German Shepherd named Jerry Lee. From there, all kinds of antics ensue.

Just a few months later, Tom Hanks played a meticulous police investigator who's forced to take a troublesome dog who's the only witness to a horrible crime in Turner and Hooch . Obviously, a lot of the humor from both of these movies stems from the erratic behaviors of their titular canines. So, if you are into dog jokes, then you'll probably find something to like here.

10

No Strings Attached & Friends with Benefits

Image: cottonbro studio

In 2011, two romantic comedies were released centered around the idea of friends casually hooking up to end up realizing they were in love. No Strings Attached had Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher in the leading roles, while Friends with Benefits starred Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake.

Although they are practically the same movie, they had some success. Both of them made about 150 million at the box office. However, if you have a problem telling them apart, don't worry, you are not alone!

1

Pecan pie: the South’s nutty masterpiece

Image: Keighla Exum

This rich, sticky dessert has deep Southern roots. French settlers in New Orleans encountered Native Americans who introduced them to pecans, and that’s when the magic began. Texas cookbooks helped spread the word, and Karo syrup sealed the deal in the 1930s with its bottle-side recipes. Today, pecan pie is a holiday must-have.

2

The California roll’s West Coast switch-up

Image: Ben Lei

Sushi purists may scoff, but the California roll is what got a lot of Americans eating sushi. Well, kind of. Created in Los Angeles (though Vancouver, Canada, also claims the credit), this roll swapped raw tuna for avocado and imitation crab, making sushi less scary and way more approachable.

3

Fajitas, from cattle hands to cast iron

Image: Nadine Primeau

Back in the day, ranch workers along the Texas-Mexico border made the most of tough skirt steak by grilling it and tossing it into tortillas. That no-frills meal eventually became the sizzling skillet spectacle we now call fajitas. Toss in onions, peppers, and a dollop of guac, and boom! Tex-Mex gold.

4

Corn dogs and the mystery on a stick

Image: Taylor

A hot dog on a stick sounds simple—we know—but getting to the modern corn dog took some trial and error. Patents were filed, batter recipes tweaked, and somewhere between a beach shack in Illinois and a fairground in Texas or Oregon, the corn dog was born. One thing’s for sure: once Americans figured out how to deep-fry a hot dog in cornmeal, there was no going back!

5

S’mores and the sweet tooth showdown

Image: Jonathan Taylor

Did you know the Girl Scouts have such a legacy? Their 1927 handbook gave us the first printed recipe for s’mores, and we’ve been hooked ever since. Roast a marshmallow, squish it between graham crackers and chocolate, and try not to eat five. Campfire memories wouldn’t be the same without this gooey, finger-sticky treat. And yes, of course—they stand for "some more."

6

The Caesar salad’s border-crossing fame

Image: Frames For Your Heart

Italian chef Caesar Cardini whipped up this leafy dish not in Rome, but in Tijuana. During the Prohibition era, Americans sneaked over the border for a legal drink and left raving about the crunchy, garlicky salad. It may have Mexican birth papers, but with Hollywood stars singing its praises and the dressing later patented in the US, the Caesar salad became a true celebrity.

7

Philly cheesesteaks: city of hoagie love

Image: Syed F Hashemi

Philadelphia's most famous sandwich started with a hot dog stand and a hunk of beef! Pat Olivieri slapped some steak on a roll, later added cheese, and boom—the cheesesteak was born, and the rest is history. Locals still argue over where to get the best one, but everyone agrees it’s a sandwich worth standing in line for.

8

Spaghetti and meatballs, made the American way

Image: Ivy Farm

If you order spaghetti and meatballs in Italy, they’ll look at you funny. Why? Because this comfort food classic was created by Italian immigrants in New York. Meat was cheaper here, sauce was plentiful, and suddenly, Sunday dinner had a new star. It’s Italian by ancestry but all-American in execution.

9

Chocolate chip cookies, thanks to a happy accident

Image: SJ 📸

Sometimes the best things happen by mistake. Here’s an example: Ruth Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Inn, wanted to make chocolate cookies but didn’t melt the chocolate—and voilà, the chocolate chip cookie was born. Nestlé acquired the recipe, and now it’s printed on every bag of chips. Homemade, store-bought, or eaten straight from the dough, this cookie is as American as it gets.

10

Jambalaya and its melting pot roots

Image: Kalyani Akella

Let’s close things out with a burst of flavor: Jambalaya may have a European passport, but it earned its American green card in Louisiana. Spanish paella, West African jollof rice, and French seasonings all came together in New Orleans, where rice, meat, and veggies came together to create one exquisite dish for everyone to enjoy!