Dyckman House facts for kids
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Dyckman House
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(2011)
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| Location | 4881 Broadway, Inwood, Manhattan, New York City |
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| Nearest city | New York City |
| Built | c.1785 |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 67000014 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 24, 1967 |
| Designated NHL | December 24, 1967 |
The Dyckman House, also known as the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, is the oldest farmhouse still standing on Manhattan island. It shows what New York City was like when it was mostly farmland. This house was built around 1785 by William Dyckman. It is a great example of the Dutch Colonial style. The house was once part of a huge farm, over 250 acres (100 hectares) big. Today, you can find it in a small park in Inwood, Manhattan. It sits at the corner of Broadway and 204th Street.
Contents
A Look Inside the Dyckman House
Building a New Home
The Dyckman family had lived in this area for a long time. William Dyckman was the grandson of Jan Dyckman, who moved here in 1661. William inherited the family land. He built the current house to replace an older family home. That first house was built in 1748 near the Harlem River. Sadly, it was destroyed during the American Revolutionary War.
What the House Looks Like
The Dyckman House has two stories. It is made from fieldstone, brick, and white clapboard (wooden planks). It has a special roof called a gambrel roof and unique spring eaves. The porches on the house were added in 1825. They are a common feature of the Dutch Colonial style.
Inside, the house has living rooms, called parlors. There is also a winter kitchen in the basement. This kitchen helped to heat the first floor of the house. The floors inside are made of chestnut wood, with planks of different widths. Outside, there is a small building to the south. This building was a smokehouse and a summer kitchen. It might even be older than the main house itself. Behind the house, there is a short hedge that looks a bit like a maze.
Saving the Farmhouse
The Dyckman family owned the house for many generations. In 1868, they sold it. For several decades after that, it was rented out to different people. By the early 1900s, the house was in bad shape. It was even in danger of being torn down. But in 1915, the Dyckman family bought their old home back.
In 1915 and 1916, two sisters from the Dyckman family, Mary Alice Dyckman Dean and Fannie Fredericka Dyckman Welch, decided to fix up the farmhouse. Fannie's husband, architect Alexander M. Welch, helped them. In 1916, they gave the house to New York City. The city then opened it as a museum. It shows what Dutch and Colonial life was like, with many original Dyckman family items.
This farmhouse is very special. It is the oldest remaining farmhouse in Manhattan. It is also the only one built in the Dutch Colonial style. Plus, it is the only 18th-century farmhouse left in the whole borough. Because it is so important, it was named a New York City Landmark and a National Historic Landmark in 1967. The house had a big restoration in 2003. It opened again to visitors in the fall of 2005.
Gallery
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Front porch
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Rear porch
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West end of the house, seen from the rear
See also
In Spanish: Casa Dyckman para niños
