Biggest Doll House in the World
The story I didn’t tell you then is about the Lucas Mansion. This huge three-story Queen Anne mansion with a wrap-around porch was built in 1900 by James Paul Lucas, a diamond merchant from South Carolina. I imagine he came to Hiddenite on business since it was a center of commerce for minerals and gemstones. He decided to build a sizeable and fashionable home to impress his fiancée. When he brought her to North Carolina to see the house, she said it wasn’t big enough. So, he added to it. I forget how the story goes, if he married her then and she moved in, or if she just moved in. Anyway, after a while she decided it wasn’t big enough to suit her needs. So James Paul Lucas cut his house in half, horizontally. Picture that. He raised the top half by inserting pallets as jacks and braces, while constructing another floor between the existing two, creating a wedding cake appearance. Unimpressed, she eventually returned to New York where life was more civilized.
Today the house serves as a museum and welcome center. The first floor features period furnishings as well as gemstones and minerals. The middle floor is an art gallery and gift shop. The top floor is an extensive doll collection.
The doll collection is how I first got involved with this unusual place, as they carried Blue-Eyed Doll in their gift shop.
I’ll be returning on Saturday to sell books at their street festival. It’s a wonderful event and I recommend it. Hiddenite is off I-40 near Statesville and Taylorsville, NC.