Joslyn Castle
Joslyn Castle
4
10:30 - 12:30
Monday
10:30 - 12:30
Thursday
13:00 - 14:00
Sunday
13:00 - 15:00
About
The estate of entrepreneur George Joslyn and his wife Sarah.
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  • Trina D
    Los Angeles, California406 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Take the tour!
    I was very happy I was able to make it to a tour with one of the knowledgeable docents. The story of the Joslyn family and the building of the grounds is very interesting. The craftsmanship is truly extraordinary. If you enjoy history or architecture you should make a point of taking the tour.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 19 April 2023
  • Barbara H
    State College, Pennsylvania49 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Gem in Omaha
    The Jocelyn Castle is a beautiful old home from the early 1900s that retains much of the original architecture and interior woodwork. Many of the lighting fixtures are original and the walls have been restored with an eye toward authenticity. Our tour guide was excellent as she gave not only the history of the Jocelyn family, but interesting anecdotes to bring the home to life. The gardens are lovely, and you can imagine the grounds’ former grandeur.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 May 2023
  • Hitheroadwithlila
    Lenexa, Kansas2,189 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A History Tour
    Since my announcement last week regarding the book signing next month, I decided a tour of the Joslyn mansion or castle as it is referred to, would give me a better understanding of the building, grounds, and the history behind the Joslyn Museum. George and Sarah Joslyn, were a young couple under thirty years of age. As natives of Vermont, they were the part of a wave of new entrepreneurs that were looking to achieve their best in life after the completion of the transcontinental railroad. After Georges' first job in a printing firm in Des Moines, IA in 1879, he made smart business decisions and investments that placed him in areas that allowed growth and fortune. On 5.5 acres of land, a Scottish Baronial Architecture Mansion would be a future dream. With the design hand of architect John McDonald and his suspected Scottish ancestry influence, the 35 room, four story house would take 10-11 months of construction and interior design to bring their dream to life. Builders used gorgeous and varied carved woods shipped in from different countries and stained glass for some of the windows. Mosaic tiles for the interior while Kansas Silverdale limestone created the outer building . The mansion, which was referred to as a “castle” by onlookers due to its small turrets and crenellations, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. With the death of her husband George in 1916, Sarah remained a strong influence and contributor to many charities and businesses in Omaha. In 1929, the Joslyn Memorial, a tribute to her husband, became a public cultural institution for the visual and performing arts. Known today as the Joslyn Art Museum, this is considered by many as Sarah’s most important and greatest gift to Omaha, NE.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 26 July 2023
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles134 reviews
Excellent
61
Very good
51
Average
15
Poor
5
Terrible
2

Hitheroadwithlila
Lenexa, KS2,189 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
Since my announcement last week regarding the book signing next month, I decided a tour of the Joslyn mansion or castle as it is referred to, would give me a better understanding of the building, grounds, and the history behind the Joslyn Museum.
George and Sarah Joslyn, were a young couple under thirty years of age. As natives of Vermont, they were the part of a wave of new entrepreneurs that were looking to achieve their best in life after the completion of the transcontinental railroad. After Georges' first job in a printing firm in Des Moines, IA in 1879, he made smart business decisions and investments that placed him in areas that allowed growth and fortune.
On 5.5 acres of land, a Scottish Baronial Architecture Mansion would be a future dream. With the design hand of architect John McDonald and his suspected Scottish ancestry influence, the 35 room, four story house would take 10-11 months of construction and interior design to bring their dream to life. Builders used gorgeous and varied carved woods shipped in from different countries and stained glass for some of the windows. Mosaic tiles for the interior while Kansas Silverdale limestone created the outer building . The mansion, which was referred to as a “castle” by onlookers due to its small turrets and crenellations, is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
With the death of her husband George in 1916, Sarah remained a strong influence and contributor to many charities and businesses in Omaha. In 1929, the Joslyn Memorial, a tribute to her husband, became a public cultural institution for the visual and performing arts. Known today as the Joslyn Art Museum, this is considered by many as Sarah’s most important and greatest gift to Omaha, NE.
Written 26 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Barbara H
State College, PA49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
The Jocelyn Castle is a beautiful old home from the early 1900s that retains much of the original architecture and interior woodwork. Many of the lighting fixtures are original and the walls have been restored with an eye toward authenticity. Our tour guide was excellent as she gave not only the history of the Jocelyn family, but interesting anecdotes to bring the home to life. The gardens are lovely, and you can imagine the grounds’ former grandeur.
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Trina D
Los Angeles, CA406 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Solo
I was very happy I was able to make it to a tour with one of the knowledgeable docents. The story of the Joslyn family and the building of the grounds is very interesting. The craftsmanship is truly extraordinary. If you enjoy history or architecture you should make a point of taking the tour.
Written 19 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joel G
Port Ewen, NY241 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Castle outside is a simple design. Not overly impressive, but nicely designed. While the grounds are always open to the public, the tour is what really makes an impact. As usual with these attractions, the docent makes or breaks it. The tour is billed as a 10 minute movie followed by 40 minute tour. The movie explains a lot about the Joslyns and the tour explains the house and furnishings. Our Docent went WAY over the 40 minutes, but was informative and you can tell she loved what she did. Tour was informational and all the small details they put into the house are amazing. Really worth a visit if you can go during the few times they do tours.
Written 22 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard
Denver, CO15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
I walked the site and enjoyed the grand lawns and well manicured planting areas. The Cut Stone Main Home and Carriage House are wonderful Victorian Architecture. Well worth the time to visit.
Written 18 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anna S
Lansing, MI38 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Beautiful place!! If you like historic houses this is a must see! Woodwork, stain glass, so many details!! Knowledgeable tour guides. Beautiful grounds also. I went with my adult sister. We both loved it.
Written 17 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mood123
Yorktown, VA132 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Friends
It reminded me a lot of Maymont in Richmond, VA. It is kept up nicely. We didn’t go in, but I think the beauty of it is on the outside anyways.
Written 19 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

benthere
Papillion, NE144 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
I like to go there just to see the building itself. Great architecture! I even don't care what the exhibits are, although I've enjoyed them as well.
Written 17 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alana M
Wichita, KS1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
Our cousin trip included a tour of Joslyn Castle with Ms. Grimm! Our entire family thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful rooms, interesting stories, and friendly tour guide. Ms. Grimm was kind and patient with all of the kids and made sure that she kept their interest during the entire tour. We highly recommend this tour for families—beautiful castle and great tour!
Written 25 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brendan S
Arlington, VA1,688 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Solo
Most historic mansions are outwardly impressive. The best contain original furnishings and let visitors see most of the house. The Joslyn Castle is definitely outwardly impressive with its turrets and crenellations. Inside, though, there are almost no original furnishings: most rooms are empty. And many other rooms were repurposed when the house was used as offices. They have tried to recreate what was there, but it’s mostly a shell. Admission is only $10, much less than what these tours typically cost, and it’s still an imposing building that is worth visiting.
Written 19 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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JOSLYN CASTLE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Joslyn Castle

Joslyn Castle is open:
  • Sun - Sun 13:00 - 15:00
  • Mon - Mon 10:30 - 12:30
  • Thu - Thu 13:00 - 14:00


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