Hillforest Mansion, Aurora, Indiana

www.HistoryInYourOwnBackyard.com
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The Hillforest Mansion, also known as the Thomas Gaff House, is located at 213 Fifth Street, in Aurora, Indiana. Built in 1855 on a bluff above the Ohio River, it is one of the finest surviving examples of an Italian Renaissance estate house, and a rare well-preserved example of the work of architect Isaiah Rogers.
The design of Hillforest is evocative of the steamships that plied the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in the 19th century.
The Hillforest estate is 11 acres in size, and includes, in addition to the house, formally landscaped gardens, a carriage house and land historically used for farming.
The property remained in the Gaff family until 1926, when it was purchased by William Stark, a furniture manufacturer. The house served as a VFW lodge for a time, and was turned into a museum in the 1956.
GPS Location: 39°03'13.5"N 84°54'03.9"W

[@lisabowlin4652]

I grew up in Aurora..gave tours as a docent during my teenage years.....I will always love Hillforest...it's beautiful!

[@bethblackburn1893]

That caretaker that scraped the walls was my grandfather, and I lived there for a short time as a child.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

No kidding! How cool is that?

[@SweetestAngel82]

Rivertown Players, a local community theatre company founded in 1982, does a yearly murder mystery at Hillforest every year to raise money for the upkeep as well. It's a gorgeous home!

[@eduardoglez-nunez3222]

I visit the hillforest mansión back in 2020, such a beautiful and mysterious mansion, Aurora it's a beautiful little town.

[@laurenstevenson3175]

My uncle and I painted the steps of Hill forest. Such a beautiful building but it does creep me out a little lol

[@darlenejohnson8864]

Love the hill forest house.beàutiful.

[@stephenburns3678]

Thank you.

[@WeiFischer]

I know exactly where this mansion is but probably will never visit inside. Thanks for sharing.

[@ronaldgundrum2174]

One day I'll will take a tour of that mansion on the hill it's really to keep it restored keep up on the mantiance.

[@sheilaholcomb4639]

So beautiful! I have lived in this area all my life and have never been, planning on going soon

[@leemcintyre9490]

That Mansion look Pretty Cool 😎!!

[@brandonclay4869]

Very Beautiful

[@jenh9232]

I've never been a fan of that mustard yellow color they painted it. I remember when it was a pastel yellow and it was alot better.

[@7viewerlogic670]

Nice place!

[@johngilliam5974]

Kinda reminds me of the Lanier mansion in madison indiana and painted that same color.

[@McculleyOfficial]

I go by that house almost everyday

[@Libertyiolar10]

Lovely story...my ancestors lived there for a while (in Aurora, not this lovely home)