In the United States, many artifacts can be analyzed in terms of their relevance to history, social perceptions, and culture. As a native citizen of another country, I am fascinated by many buildings and objects that help me understand American history and culture. I think that such a historical building as Boldt Castle on Heart Island or a well-known show Friends can tell a lot about the American spirit. Regarding my interest in the impact of history on today’s people, I choose to learn more about Boldt Castle and its role in society.
Today, Boldt Castle is known as one of the major landmarks in the state of New York. It was created by an American millionaire George Boldt as a gift to his beloved wife, Louise, on Heart Island at the beginning of the 1900s (Historical Homes of America, 2020). It was meant to be a human six-story masonry building with about 120 rooms, several tunnels, a drawbridge, a children’s playhouse, and small farms (Historical Homes of America, 2020). However, the construction process was suddenly stopped because of the wife’s death, and Boldt never returned to that place. To explore the chosen artifact, I plan to use several senses:
- sight (the shape, the chosen colors, and the quality of the building material);
- taste (its location that is close to water tells about loneliness and privacy intention);
- touch (it is possible to visit this location and feel a variety of emotions observing the beauty of the construction).
Historical purposes, construction quality, and people’s attitudes are the main elements of the artifact to be examined. The choice of the medium impacted my experience due to its relation to human feelings and architectural details. I believe that the failure of the creator to achieve its purpose makes this building a strong artifact for American citizens and visitors. It proves the unpredictability of human life and the necessity to appreciate what is given at the moment. This artifact helps learn the history of New York, social preferences, and technological advancements, which properly reveals the cultural development of the nation.
Reference
Historical Homes of America. (2020). Abandoned for over 70 years, historic Boldt Castle has been restored. Photos inside! Historical Homes of America.