Boscobel (mansion) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boscobel House and Gardens
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Boscobel front facade, 2017
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Garrison, New York |
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| Nearest city | Beacon |
| Area | 45 acres (18 ha) |
| Built | 1804-1808 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000971 |
| Added to NRHP | 1977 |
Boscobel House and Gardens is a beautiful historic house that is now a museum. It is located in Garrison, New York, and looks out over the Hudson River. The house was built a long time ago, in the early 1800s, for a man named States Dyckman.
Boscobel is a great example of the Federal style of American architecture. This means it has a special look that was popular in the United States after the American Revolution. Inside, the house is filled with furniture and decorations that show what homes looked like during that time. Even though these items are not the original ones from when the house was first built, they help visitors imagine life in the early 1800s.
The house was first built in a different place, in Montrose, New York. In the middle of the 1900s, people wanted to tear it down. But some people who cared about history worked hard to save it. They moved the entire house about 15 miles up the river to where it is now. This new spot is near the village of Cold Spring, New York, along New York State Route 9D.
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Exploring the Boscobel House
Boscobel House has a very special look, especially its front. It seems delicate and fancy.
Unique Design Features
One unique thing about Boscobel is the detailed wooden decorations on the second-story balcony. These carvings look like draped fabric with tassels and bows. They are very unusual for buildings from the Federal style.
Almost one-third of the front of the house is made of glass. The windows are set back a little, and the wooden siding (called clapboards) is fitted together very closely. This makes the house look like it's made of stone, even though it's wood.
Changes Over Time
When the house was moved and rebuilt, some changes were made. For example, a new back entrance and stairway were added in 1958. This was needed to meet fire safety rules. Also, a room in the basement that used to have a dirt floor was turned into a bathroom for visitors.
Art in the Gardens
Next to the house, there is a special garden with sculptures. These are ten bronze statues of important artists from the Hudson River School. These artists were famous for painting beautiful landscapes of the Hudson River area. The sculptures were made by Greg Wyatt and given to Boscobel. Boscobel was chosen because it is in the Hudson Highlands, a place often painted by these artists. It's also in the middle of where many of these artists lived and found inspiration.
History of Boscobel
The story of Boscobel House begins with the man who wanted it built, States Dyckman.
How Boscobel Was Built
States Dyckman came from a family of early Dutch settlers in Manhattan. He worked for the British Army during the American Revolution. Even though he supported the British, he managed to keep his family's money.
In 1779, Dyckman went to England. He stayed there for ten years. While in London, he met many rich people and developed a liking for the beautiful, classic-style buildings designed by Robert Adam. He bought many fancy furnishings and decorations, like a special dinner set, and sent them back to America.
Dyckman planned to build a large estate on 250 acres of land near Montrose. He named it Boscobel, which might come from an Italian phrase meaning "pretty woodland." He wanted to live like a wealthy farmer, surrounded by beautiful things.
He started building his dream house in 1803. It's possible he had the plans drawn up in England. The architect is not known, but a man named William Vermilye helped manage the construction. States Dyckman passed away in 1806, before the house was finished. His wife had it completed, and she and their son moved in during 1808.
Saving and Restoring Boscobel
Dyckman's family owned the house until 1920. For the next 35 years, the house was owned by different people and was often in danger of being torn down.
In 1955, a group called "Friends of Boscobel" saved it. A contractor was going to knock it down for only $35! The Friends of Boscobel arranged for the house to be moved to its current location near Cold Spring. They used old photographs to help them rebuild it exactly as it was.
Lila Acheson Wallace, who helped start Reader's Digest magazine, gave a large donation to make the move and rebuilding possible. She became very involved in making the gardens beautiful and decorating the inside of the house. The new gardens were designed to look like a "country house" style, which was popular in the early 1900s. Large, grown trees were planted to make it seem like the house had always been there.
The rebuilt Boscobel House officially opened on May 21, 1961. The governor of New York at the time, Nelson Rockefeller, was there and called it "one of the most beautiful homes ever built in America."
Later, in 1977, new papers belonging to States Dyckman were found. These papers showed more about his personal tastes. So, the house was closed for six months to be redecorated to match his style even better. It reopened that summer and was highly praised.
Visiting Boscobel Today
Boscobel House and Gardens is open to visitors most days of the week from April through December. It is usually closed on Tuesdays and holidays.
Activities for Visitors
- On the second Tuesday of each month, artists can visit for free to paint or sketch in the beautiful gardens.
- Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and have a picnic on the grounds.
For many years, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival held plays under a tent at Boscobel during the summer months. This continued until 2021.
