When Mr. and Mrs. Johnston built the Hay House between the years of 1855–1859, they modeled it after the Italian Renaissance homes they had seen while honeymooning in Europe. Much like a rooster that crows at 2 a.m., the completed project was well ahead of its time: it had indoor plumbing, a ventilation system, central heating, a French lift, and even a speaker system.

Two other families—the Feltons and Hays—called "The Palace of the South" home after the Johnstons, and all three families adapted the structure to their lifestyle. Today, 20,000 people visit the house every year to marvel at its technology, architecture, and engineering, but also to learn about how the Johnstons, Feltons, and Hays combined to turn it into a gigantic piece of art. Tours through Hay House reveal the main level, bedroom level, and basement, as well as the art collection and handsome cabinetry that still inhabit its spaces.