Castle Hill Tour: Behind the Scenes in the Great House

Go behind the grand façade of Castle Hill’s Great House to explore the basement, kitchen, and other normally restricted spaces. The tour reveals how the Crane family’s summer home operated, including the ways a plumbing magnate incorporated period technology such as electric wind indicators and a telephone system serving the entire property. It also covers how The Trustees have improved the estate’s efficiency and restored previously dormant technology.

The tour is intended for adults and mechanically interested children over age 8. It includes several staircases and is not accessible to guests with mobility issues; the house has no elevator. A headset amplifier is available upon request.

When: Saturday, November 14, 2026

Showtimes: 12:30–1:30 p.m.; the tour is offered once daily at 12:30 p.m.

Run time: Approximately 50–60 minutes

Tickets: Member adult: $15; member child: free; nonmember adult: $30; nonmember child: $15

Ages: Recommended for adults and mechanically interested children over 8. For safety, small children must be carried by an accompanying adult for the entire tour.

Venue: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA 01938

Accessibility: The tour uses several staircases and is not accessible to people with mobility issues. There is no elevator. A headset amplifier can be provided upon request.

Arrival: Arrive 15 minutes before the tour to allow time for parking and walking to the Great House.

Admission: Grounds admission is included with the tour ticket and permits a three-hour visit.

Ticketing: Tickets may be purchased in advance or on the property on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rebooking: Exchanges and rebooking are honored through the day before the tour. On the tour date, late arrivals may not be able to reschedule for the same day, though staff will make every effort to help.

Contact: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate at 978-356-4351.