University of Mount Saint Vincent

The institution was founded in 1847 as the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, a school for women. It became a degree-granting institution and took the College name in 1911, was known as the College of Mount Saint Vincent from 1911 to 2023, and was renamed the University of Mount Saint Vincent in 2024.

Fonthill Castle was built in 1852 for Edwin Forrest and Catherine Norton Sinclair. It is a Gothic Revival building consisting of a cluster of six octagonal towers, built of hammered grey stone, and its name derives from William Beckford's Gothic Fonthill Abbey in England. Its design has been attributed to Alexander Jackson Davis and also to Thomas C. Smith.

The Sisters of Charity of New York relocated the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent from McGowan's Pass to the property. The castle has served as a convent, chapel, museum, chaplain's residence and the college library, and later came to house the admissions office. It housed the library from 1942 to 1968 and is currently vacant.