Crazy Man's Castle: Putnam Gray in Minneiska, Minnesota

Travel to Minneiska, Minnesota for the enchanting tale of quirky genius Putnam Gray and his Crazy Man’s Castle… built right on the banks of the Mississippi. 🏰🎡🌊

✅ Listen to Crazy Man’s Castle: Putnam Gray in Minneiska, Minnesota on our podcast. We release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️

Quick Summary: Putnam Gray

Explore the whimsy and wonder of Minneiska’s lost Crazy Man’s Castle and its inventive creator.

Discover the history of Putnam Gray and his steamboat-style home on the Mississippi.
Uncover the legends and potential Ferris wheel connection tied to this historic site.
Experience the blend of nature, art, and history that modern Minneiska offers.

Even though the Crazy Man's Castle disappeared over 120 years ago, folks in southern Minnesota still are talking about this wild home! Digital art by Jack and Kitty Norton. — *Even though the Crazy Man’s Castle disappeared over 120 years ago, folks in southern Minnesota still are talking about this wild home! Digital art by Jack and Kitty Norton.*

Discovering Minneiska’s Marvel: Crazy Man’s Castle

Nestled along the mighty Mississippi River lies the small town of Minneiska, Minnesota, a stone’s throw from Winona. This picturesque locale was once home to an extraordinary dwelling known as the Crazy Man’s Castle. 🏰

I’m Kitty, your trusty Midwest guide, alongside my hubby, Jack. From Minneapolis roots to Winona nesters, we’ve sang our way across the Midwest for 20 years. We actually live just a hop from Minneiska where the story of Crazy Man’s Castle unfolds. With a bunch of hit travel guidebooks, a daily podcast that feels like a road trip chat, and a travel blog dishing out the region’s finest – trust us, we’ve got the Midwest down to an art! 🎸🎥📚

A very rare photo of the Crazy Man's Castle. Would you like to live in a house like this? From the collection of Jack and Kitty Norton. — *A very rare photo of the Crazy Man’s Castle. Would you like to live in a house like this?* *From the collection of Jack and Kitty Norton.*

Putnam Gray: The Inventive Spirit of the Mississippi

This architectural marvel was the brainchild of Putnam Gray, an inventive soul with a rich history that included guiding coal barges, serving in the Civil War, and dabbling in farming. However, his true love was always the flowing waters of the Mississippi.

Putnam Gray felt a spiritual connection to the Mississippi River and this beautiful area of southern Minnesota. Today, if you go on a drive down Highway 61 from the Twin Cities towards Winona you'll probably see why he loved this part of the state so much! Digital art by Jack and Kitty Norton. — Putnam Gray felt a spiritual connection to the Mississippi River and this beautiful area of southern Minnesota. Today, if you go on a drive down Highway 61 from the Twin Cities towards Winona you’ll probably see why he loved this part of the state so much! Digital art by Jack and Kitty Norton.

A Home Like No Other

Gray constructed his unique abode from salvaged river lumber and whatever materials floated his way. The result? A Victorian packrat-style house that looked like a steamboat had decided to settle on land. With walls that leaned and a whimsical structure, it was as if it sprung from a storybook. 📘✨

A photo from the late 1800s gives us a glimpse of Gray's home. Sadly, there is no information on what his house looked like on the inside. I imagine it was quite whimsical! From the collection of Jack and Kitty Norton. — A photo from the late 1800s gives us a glimpse of Gray’s home. Sadly, there is no information on what his house looked like on the inside. I imagine it was quite whimsical! From the collection of Jack and Kitty Norton.

Ghostly Legends and Postcard Fame

While the interior remains a mystery, the exterior of the house was enough to draw attention and even land on postcards. Its fame was bolstered by tales of hauntings, fueled by Gray’s daughters who would dance on the balconies wrapped in sheets to the astonishment of passing boat passengers. 👻

What do you think? Did George Ferris buy the rights to Putnam Gray's design for the what would be come the Ferris Wheel? Folks in this part of Minnesota think so! Digital art by Jack and Kitty Norton. — What do you think? Did George Ferris buy the rights to Putnam Gray’s design for the what would be come the Ferris Wheel? Folks in this part of Minnesota think so! Digital art by Jack and Kitty Norton.

The Ferris Wheel Connection

Although the Crazy Man’s Castle didn’t stand the test of time, disappearing in the early 1900s under mysterious circumstances, Gray’s inventive spirit lived on. An intriguing tidbit of history suggests that Gray might have been the original inventor of what we know today as the Ferris wheel, with George Ferris possibly acquiring the rights to the design after a chance meeting in Winona. Legend has it Ferris followed Gray to Fountain City to buy the rights to his design…renaming it the Ferris Wheel. 🎡

Minneiska, Minnesota is located in Winona County. Infographic by Jack and Kitty Norton.

Minneiska Today: A Blend of Nature and Artistry

Minneiska, much like Gray’s legacy, offers its own charm for today’s visitors. With its stunning natural vistas, it’s a haven for nature lovers, boasting a prime location between the bluffs and the river. The town offers a mix of art and the outdoors, with an impressive concentration of woodcarvers creating everything from carousel animals to trolls. 🌲🗿

A Visitor’s Haven in the Midwest

With cozy bars and grills providing a vantage point for bird watching and the area’s natural beauty, Minneiska invites travelers to experience its unique blend of history, nature, and artistry. So if you’re in Minnesota, take a detour to Minneiska and step into a world where the legacy of eccentricity and innovation from the past mingles with the present. 🌊🍃🛶

Gray (left) lived a long life and eventually retired in Minneapolis. Today as you drive past Minneiska, look for the fish he built on top of the bluffs (middle). He also planted a lot of trees in the area (right). From the collection of Jack and Kitty Norton.

✅ Don’t miss out! Listen to today’s podcast episode, Crazy Man’s Castle: Putnam Gray in Minneiska, Minnesota – where we go even deeper into this story. Remember, we release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️

Dressing Like Putnam’s Daughters
We didn’t realize it at the time, but Jack and I pulled a Putnam and dressed like Gray’s spooky daughters for a silly music video. Read all about our mishaps now.