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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| Location | Waterford, Connecticut |
| Area | 304 acres (123 ha) |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Established | 1950 |
| Administered by | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Designation | Connecticut 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 super cool place to visit in Waterford, Connecticut. It sits right on the beautiful Long Island Sound. This park is a special historic area, covering about 304 acres.
At the heart of the park is a huge, fancy house called Eolia. It has 42 rooms and looks like something from the Renaissance era. Around the mansion, you'll find amazing formal gardens and greenhouses. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection takes care of this wonderful park.
Contents
The History of Harkness Park
Who Lived at Eolia?
The park used to be the summer home for a very generous couple, Edward and Mary Harkness. Edward's father, Stephen V. Harkness, made a lot of money by investing in John D. Rockefeller's company, Standard Oil. Edward and Mary inherited this fortune.
Building the Mansion and Gardens
The big mansion, Eolia, was designed by a famous New York architecture firm called Lord & Hewlett. It was built between 1906 and 1907. Later, from 1918 to 1929, a talented landscape designer named Beatrix Jones Farrand made the gardens even more beautiful. She added many formal garden areas that you can still see today.
Becoming a State Park
Mrs. Harkness loved this property so much that she decided to give it to the State of Connecticut. This happened in 1950. Just two years later, in 1952, it officially became part of the state park system. In 1986, the entire estate, known as Eolia—The Harkness Estate, was recognized as a historic district. It includes 15 important buildings and two other structures.
Fun Things to Do at Harkness Park
Explore and Enjoy the Outdoors
Harkness Memorial State Park offers many fun activities for visitors. You can take tours of the grand mansion and imagine what life was like there long ago. It's also a perfect spot for a picnic with your family and friends.
Fishing and Events
If you enjoy fishing, you can try your luck along the shoreline. The park is also a popular place for private events, like weddings, because of its beautiful setting.
Images for kids
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A view of the grounds at Harkness Park.
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The beautiful front of the Eolia mansion.
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One of the many lovely gardens at the estate.
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A charming fountain in the Eolia garden.
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The stunning view of Long Island Sound from the park.
See also
In Spanish: Parque estatal conmemorativo de Harkness para niños
