"Atop the most southerly hill in a chain known as the Seven Sisters, William Hooker Gillette, noted actor director, and playwright, built this one hundred and eighty-four acre estate, the Seventh Sister. The focal point of his effort was a twenty four room mansion reminiscent of a medieval castle....Gillette designed the castle and most of its contents personally, periodically checking every phase of their construction. Built of local fieldstone supported by a steel framework, it took twenty men five years (1914-1919), to complete the main structure. Gillette began his semi-retirement in his new home; and in the following years, he supervised the many thousands of refinements created by local craftsmen....his will gave specific directions to see that the property did not fall into the hands "of some blithering saphead who has no conception of where he is or with what surrounded." ...Gillette was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1853...He is most famous for his portrayal of "Sherlock Holmes"." CT Gov. Site

The site was purchased by the State of Connecticut in 1943 from the executors of Mr. Gillette's will and is a State Park.