Killenworth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Killenworth
Rear of Killenworth around 1915, showing the swimming pool
General information
Type	Mansion
Architectural style	Tudor revival
Town or city	Glen Cove, New York
Country	United States
Coordinates	40°53′01″N 73°38′05″W / 40.8836°N 73.6346°W / 40.8836; -73.6346
Current tenants	Russia
Opened	1912
Design and construction
Other designers	Trowbridge and Ackerman

A portion of Killenworth's gardens, considered James L. Greenleaf's greatest accomplishment

Killenworth is a large, historic house located in Glen Cove, New York. It was built in 1912 for a wealthy man named George Dupont Pratt. Later, in 1951, the Soviet Union bought it. They used it as a quiet country getaway for their team working at the United Nations.

Over the years, Killenworth has been part of some interesting events. In the 1980s, there were claims that it was being used for spying. Also, the city of Glen Cove and the owners have had disagreements about property taxes.

History of Killenworth

Building a Grand Home

Killenworth was finished in 1912. It was designed by architects Trowbridge and Ackerman. They built it in the Tudor Revival style, which looks like old English houses. The house had 39 rooms and was made with a special kind of granite.

The design was so good that it won first prize in a competition for best country houses. The beautiful gardens around the house were designed by James Leal Greenleaf. Many people thought these gardens were his best work ever. Killenworth actually replaced an older house built for George Dupont Pratt around 1897.

The Pratt Family Mansions

Killenworth is one of five big houses in Glen Cove built for the sons of Charles Pratt. Charles Pratt was a very rich oil businessman. Together, their properties covered almost 5,000 acres!

The other four mansions are:

• "The Braes," which is now the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture.
• "Welwyn," now the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. It's located on the grounds of the Welwyn Preserve.
• "Poplar Hill," which is now a healthcare center.
• "The Manor," now a hotel and conference center.

A Diplomatic Retreat

In 1951, the Soviet Union bought Killenworth. They used it as a country retreat for their group working at the United Nations. This meant it was a place where diplomats could relax and work away from the city.

Because the Russians owned it, the property sometimes became a place for protests. For example, when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited in 1960, some people threw tomatoes at his cars. Other famous visitors included Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Tax Issues and Spy Claims

The property's special status meant it didn't have to pay local taxes. This caused problems with the City of Glen Cove. In 1970, the city tried to take over the property because of unpaid taxes. But the United States Department of State stepped in to stop them.

In the 1980s, there were claims that Killenworth was being used for spying. A person who left the Soviet Union, Arkady Shevchenko, said that the top floors had equipment for collecting secret information. Because of these claims and the tax dispute, Glen Cove decided to stop the Russians from using city facilities like beaches and golf courses. The Soviet Union responded by not letting American embassy members use a beach in Moscow. The city later changed its mind in 1984.

In 2016, the U.S. government announced it would close two Russian diplomatic sites. Many thought Killenworth would be one of them. However, the closed site turned out to be another Russian-owned house nearby. Killenworth is still used by the Russian delegation today.