Majestic Massachusetts Castle Home to the Skull of a Christopher Columbus Crewman

Would you look at this?  From a skull of one of Christopher Columbus' crewmen to stunning bluff views of the Atlantic nestled in Gloucester, this place is definitely a picture-worthy adventure. You can do it on a guided or self-guided tour, and see all of the eccentricities the former owner and inventor collected.

From seaside concerts to those self-guided tours, private events, and renting out this castle for parties, the Hammond Castle Museum was once the home of an eccentric inventor named John Hays Hammond Jr., a protege of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, according to the History of Massachusetts website.

Since he was an eccentric that traveled the world when he wasn't in his laboratory, that explains the skull that's part of his collection.  You can also see Hammond's bevy of Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance artifacts, and the lab that resulted in more than 400 patents.  He was known as the "Father of Radio Control”, according to the History of Massachusetts website, because of his groundbreaking work with radio waves.

The castle also has what every self-respecting castle needs: a drawbridge, several towers, a great hall, library, and courtyard both inside and outside the castle.  Since the tours are self-guided, you can also roam inside through the massive rooms and inner sanctum, and stroll the pathways, archways, and massive grounds sitting high upon a rocky cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

It's simply stunning and historic.

Mr. Hammond considered his castle primarily a home to be lived in. His cats scratched the collection of Spanish leather dining room chairs, the salt air has damaged his late Gothic tapestries, and the dankness of the stone castle has taken a toll on his collection of sheet music. It was a living museum. He lived here. He sat on the furniture.

Click here for more info on visiting hours and events, and enjoy this incredible step back in time.