Harkness Memorial State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harkness Memorial State Park |
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The mansion and gardens from above
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 Harkness Memorial State Park
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | Waterford, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 304 acres (123 ha) |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1950 |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Harkness Memorial State Park |
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Eolia—The Harkness Estate
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| Location | Great Neck Road, Waterford, Connecticut |
| Area | 220 acres (89 ha) |
| Built | 1906-1907 |
| Architect | Lord & Hewlett; et al. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003331 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1986 |
Harkness Memorial State Park is a special place in Waterford, Connecticut. It's a historic area with beautiful gardens and fun things to do. The park is located right on the Long Island Sound. It covers about 304 acres and is home to a large mansion called Eolia. This mansion has 42 rooms and amazing formal gardens and greenhouses. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection takes care of the park.
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Exploring the Park's Past
Harkness Memorial State Park was once the summer home of a very generous couple, Edward and Mary Harkness. They were known as philanthropists, which means they used their wealth to help others. Edward's father, Stephen V. Harkness, made a lot of money by investing in John D. Rockefeller's company, Standard Oil.
Building the Eolia Mansion
The grand mansion, Eolia, was designed by a famous New York architecture firm called Lord & Hewlett. It was built between 1906 and 1907. Imagine a huge house with so many rooms!
Designing the Gardens
From 1918 to 1929, a talented landscape designer named Beatrix Farrand worked on the park's grounds. She added many beautiful formal gardens, making the estate even more stunning.
Becoming a State Park
Mary Harkness loved this estate very much. When she passed away in 1950, she left it to the state of Connecticut. This generous gift allowed the estate to become part of the state park system in 1952. In 1986, the estate, including its buildings and structures, was officially recognized as a historic district and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Fun Things to Do at Harkness
Harkness Memorial State Park offers several activities for visitors to enjoy.
Park Activities
- You can take tours of the beautiful Eolia mansion and learn about its history.
- It's a great spot for picnicking with your family and friends.
- If you like to fish, you can enjoy shoreline fishing along the Long Island Sound.
Special Events
The park is also a popular place for private events. People can rent parts of the estate for weddings or other special gatherings.
See also
In Spanish: Parque estatal conmemorativo de Harkness para niños
