The house of Walter Mathis, now a property of the National Trust, is a Italian villa–style mansion dating from 1876. Because the National Trust mandated that all the items in the home had to stay in the same place as they were when Mathis died, few of the eclectic assortment of artifacts are in display cases (perhaps that’s why all visitors’ bags must be stored in lockers before entering). A rare and very valuable death mask of Napoleon, for example, sits out in the open. The eccentric Mathis was a great collector of fine and decorative arts, from the quirky to the sublime—everything from cattle-themed cutlery to the works of artist Mary Bonner. The collection is especially strong on French furniture and art objects. You can see the first floor on a self-guided tour; to go upstairs you’ll have to take a guided tour (reservations recommended). The beautifully landscaped 1 1/2-acre grounds are open free to the public.