40 US Historical Homes That Are Worth the Visit

34.Shangri La

It was once the Honolulu, Hawaii, home of billionaire tobacco heiress Doris Duke; now the Shangri La estate is the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Design, and Culture. The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art administers the property. Duke commissioned the house’s creation after her honeymoon travels took her throughout much of the Muslim world. Architectural elements of Shangri La include influences from Turkey, Morocco, Iran, Syria, Egypt, and Moorish Spain. Over 60 years, she commissioned and collected art and eventually amassed a collection of over four thousand pieces. In 2002, the building opened to the public as a museum.

The Shangri La Museum for Islamic Art, Design, and Culture displays various art, furniture, and architecture from the Middle East, India, and Spain. Outdoor landscaping features several gardens inspired by the Shalimar Gardens, all while displayed in the magical view of the Pacific Ocean. The museum and estate host two Muslim visual artists each year for exhibitions and workshops to further its mission. Tours of the museum are only granted as part of tours through the Honolulu Museum of Art and should be reserved well in advance, but it is certainly something worth experiencing! Our next entry on the list is much less exotic than an Islamic Art Museum but probably much cozier. Read on to find out more about the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park.