Hillforest Mansion (Aurora, Indiana)

FILMED IN HIGH DEFINITION
A place near and dear to my heart: Hillforest Mansion at Aurora, Indiana. It’s one of the finest examples of 19th century Italian Renaissance architecture, nestled in a small town, high above the Ohio River. But most of all, the front was intentionally designed to look like an 1800’s steamboat, as the owner, Thomas Gaff, shipped his goods up and down the Ohio River, on a fleet of them.
The top observation room looks like a steamboat pilot house, and provides a commanding view on all sides. The downstairs east and west wings will amaze you with their rich appointments, meant for elegant events and entertainment. The second floor shows the Gaff family rooms and a small museum within a museum. A truly beautiful place with a rich history, that dedicated tour guides will help you imagine.
I remember coming here, several decades ago, with my Mother. We both simply loved it, as a time capsule, showing how grand and fancy things used to be. A time when people with bold ideas and perseverance, made fortunes, and built amazing homes such as this one. If you love architecture and history, you will absolutely not be disappointed!
Open from 1 April to 30 December of each year, 1 - 5pm, Tuesday through Sunday, closed major holidays.

[@ginamaria2579]

At the end of the day when work is all done and quickly becoming my favorite pastime listening to Adventures with Roger 🤗

[@AdventureswithRoger]

Ha! Always glad to hear other people enjoy learning about these places!

[@christinemarino4905]

You wanna a crazy fact, I’m part of gaff family and related to Thomas gaff.

[@AdventureswithRoger]

That’s not so crazy. That’s more fun fact! 🙂 What I thought was crazy was that Thomas Gaff had all of these business’s, with his name on all the marketing materials, made the equivalent of millions, and no one can find a single portrait of him. His brother and sister-in-law have their portraits hanging on the east wing wall, but no known likenesses of him are anywhere!

[@bevkern3858]

Well if I could print my own money I would have boats hee hee .

[@AdventureswithRoger]

Outstanding point! 😀

[@chrisblack8390]

Beautiful home. I like the black fireplaces. The ice house was so nice. Especially the top. Thank you

[@AdventureswithRoger]

My Mother loved this mansion, and how the front of it looks like a steamboat. We visited every single 1800’s Ohio River era mansion museum, from Aurora to Evansville, several in Indianapolis, northern Indiana, and in Kentucky. I’d do it all again. 🙂

[@chrisblack8390]

@@AdventureswithRoger you're lucky! When i was little my dad took us to a few places but then we started going to Canada on every vacation. I love Canada. We stayed at the same fishing camp every year.

[@AdventureswithRoger]

@@chrisblack8390 My Dad was big on weekend road trips, and we saw a lot of Indiana. We did Disney World once, and then dad started his obsession with show caves. We did the four in Indiana, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, and Meramec in Missouri. If he hadn’t died of a heart attack at 46 years old, we’d have likely went to Carlsbad Caverns, as I remember him talking about it. After Dad passed away, we eventually got back into the weekend day trips. It was very healing, and still is today. 🙂

[@TheSwissChalet]

Beautiful!

[@jeffreybundy4095]

What a beautiful house. 😊

[@AdventureswithRoger]

My Mom loved touring mansions, and this was one of her favorites. I always wanted to go back and see it again. I got lucky as there is a “no video camera” policy, but the people there let me film anyway. By the number of comments I received after I posted, where people have said they want to see it, they’ve likely gotten a lot of visitors for letting me!

[@WeiFischer]

I know where this is located but will probably never check it out. My friend has been inside.

[@timmeyer2118]

Very Cool!

[@AdventureswithRoger]

It really is! One of my favorites. I’ve filmed several other Ohio River Mansions, over the last year, just getting around to editing. 🙂

[@cherylvisher8533]

Wow . beautiful

[@AdventureswithRoger]

It’s really worth seeing! Also great is the JFD Lanier Mansion, at Madison, Indiana.

[@michaelgarrity6090]

That house has always been impressive from the river. It along with several churches in town with their sky reaching spires, are some of the visual landmarks of Aurora. It's as pretty inside as it is on the outside.

[@AdventureswithRoger]

It’s absolutely one of a kind! At one point, it could’ve been torn down, if not for the efforts of some historically motivated people!

[@michellemooney4225]

It’s just beautiful,

[@AdventureswithRoger]

Hill forest, JFD Lanier, Howard Steamboat and Culbertson are all worth a stop!