At the turn of the 20th century, William Gillette was a renowned American actor and playwright. In 1914 he purchased a scenic 184-acre plot of land that overlooked the majestic Connecticut River in the town of East Haddam. On a ridge at the site, Gillette constructed a magnificent hand-tooled stone castle where he hoped to enjoy his retirement in the solitude of his estate. Through the years, the strange-looking edifice on the high bluff became known as Gillette's Castle. Today the castle is a Connecticut state park and is open to the public.

Read more in Tripatini contributors Wayne and Judy Bayliff - Photojournalists' post Christmas Greetings from Gillette Castle in Connecticut.