Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Massachusetts Waltham Usen Castle
AO Edited

Usen Castle

This castle constructed in 1928 was crafted from drawings of Lismore Castle in Ireland.

Waltham, Massachusetts

Added By
Addison
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
A light on in one of the top rooms of Usen Castle. On the left is the new dormitory for which part of the castle was demolished.   addisona / Atlas Obscura User
A light on in one of the top rooms of Usen Castle. On the left is the new dormitory for which part of the castle was demolished.   addisona / Atlas Obscura User
Lights on in the windows   kaileymc34 / Atlas Obscura User
Lismore Castle   Pam Brophy
Front view   kaileymc34 / Atlas Obscura User
The Castle almost a decade before demolition.   HH2
  Shellybellz / Atlas Obscura User
The Castle in 2004, before demolition.   chih12
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

As the story goes, Dr. John Hall Smith, the founder of Middlesex University was traveling through Ireland and saw Lismore Castle. Smith was so impressed with the castle that he asked to bring it back with him. The owners denied his request. Smith then asked for the blueprints, only to be told no again. Not one to be stopped, he had drawings done of the outside of the castle. The Castle in Waltham was constructed based on these drawings.

The land that was once Middlesex University is now the campus of Brandeis University, founded in 1948. "The Castle," as it is called, was first used as an administrative space as well as a dining hall. It was used as a dormitory until the building was condemned and later partially torn down to make room for a new building.

Cholmondeley's Coffee House is now housed in the building. It's named after a dog that belonged to former campus photographer Ralph Norman. The space is also used to host events for various campus groups.

Although the rest of the building is closed off, the lights in one of the rooms on the top floor is often on during the evenings. Some of the benches outside of the dormitory neighboring Usen Castle are made from materials of the demolished structure.

Related Tags

Architecture History & Culture Castles

Know Before You Go

The remaining part of Usen Castle is closed to visitors. Only the coffee house inside the castle is open to the public.

Community Contributors

Added By

addisona

Edited By

SEANETTA, Shellybellz, kaileymc34

  • SEANETTA
  • Shellybellz
  • kaileymc34

Published

March 26, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://brandeisarchives.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-is-middlesex.html
  • https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63795913
Usen Castle
415 South St
Waltham, Massachusetts, 02453
United States
42.367372, -71.255646
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Norumbega Tower

Weston, Massachusetts

miles away

Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation

Waltham, Massachusetts

miles away

Lyman Estate Greenhouses

Waltham, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Waltham

Waltham

Massachusetts

Places 5
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Norumbega Tower

Weston, Massachusetts

miles away

Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation

Waltham, Massachusetts

miles away

Lyman Estate Greenhouses

Waltham, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Waltham

Waltham

Massachusetts

Places 5
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Castillo de Gillow.

    San Lucas el Grande, Mexico

    Ex-Hacienda de Chautla

    A historic Puebla estate featuring a striking castle.

  • Conwy Suspension Bridge

    Conwy, Wales

    Conwy Suspension Bridge

    One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world blends in perfectly with a medieval castle.

  • Crawford Castle

    Crawford, Scotland

    Crawford Castle

    These crumbling ruins are all that's left of the ancestral home of Clan Crawford.

  • Mackenzie Castle

    Genoa, Italy

    Mackenzie Castle

    This Gothic revival structure has been a family home, a military base, a gymnastics center, and is now owned by one of the largest auction houses in Italy.

  • Dalquharran Castle

    Dailly, Scotland

    Dalquharran Castle

    The ruins of this magnificent Scottish castle blend both Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles.

  • Mains Castle

    East Kilbride, Scotland

    Mains Castle

    This castle was first occupied in the 1400s and has undergone major restoration in recent times.

  • Angle sur l’ Anglin Fortress

    Angles-sur-l'Anglin, France

    Angle sur l’ Anglin Fortress

    This imposing castle has stood for nearly a thousand years.

  • Falkenburg

    Detmold, Germany

    Falkenburg

    The ruins of a medieval castle that survived two sieges.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.