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David Hyatt Van Dolah House

Historic building
In Lexington, Illinois
0.1 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

Known around town as The Castle, the Van Dolah House is a private Queen Anne home in Lexington, IL, less than a mile off the old road. Built in 1898 for a landowner who imported and traded French horses, it stands out for its corner turret and patterned brick. It joined the National Register in 2015 and is best admired from the street.

What is David Hyatt Van Dolah House?

This is a big brick Queen Anne house, built in a style more often finished in decorative wood. Here the ornament comes from the brickwork itself, laid in patterns across the walls. A round turret anchors one front corner, and a stepped gable balances the opposite side. A porch wraps around the front.

The roofline is busy in the best Victorian way: a hipped roof with cross gables, a cone over the turret, plus a scattering of pinnacles and spires. It is easy to see how the house earned its castle nickname.

History of David Hyatt Van Dolah House

David Hyatt Van Dolah owned land in the area and was best known for bringing French horses to America and brokering their sale. For his house he hired George H. Miller, a leading Bloomington-area architect, who worked on the design with his partner James E. Fisher. The house was finished in 1898 and earned a National Register listing in September 2015.

Visiting David Hyatt Van Dolah House: tips

The Castle is a private home, so view it from the street or public sidewalk and respect the owners' privacy. A few minutes is enough for photos, and the turret side makes the best angle. Lexington is less than a mile off the old road, and the John Patton Log Cabin is only about 0.8 mile away, making the two an easy pair. Duncan Manor is about 8 miles off, and the Matthew T. Scott House about 8 miles too, if you want another historic house on the same outing.