8. Boldt Castle
The story of Boldt Castle is a sad one, with the building never meets its founder's full vision. In 1900, George Boldt, manager of New York City's famous Waldorf-Astoria hotel, began constructing the castle as a gift for his wife, Louise. The couple already got a house on Hart Island, but he wanted her to have something better.
His wife died just four years into the building process despite his effort to push the pace by recruiting hundreds of laborers to complete his grand castle. Never will she be able to see the vision of her husband come to life. Most of the building was left exposed to the elements, but what remains by boat can still be viewed by tourists.
