Kykuit facts for kids
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John D. Rockefeller Estate (Kykuit)
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Front facade, designed by William Welles Bosworth
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| Location | 200 Lake Road, Pocantico Hills, New York |
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| Area | 3,400 acres (1,380 ha) |
| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | Delano & Aldrich William Welles Bosworth (landscape and renovations) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001290 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
Kykuit (pronounced KY-kət), also known as the John D. Rockefeller Estate, is a huge 40-room historic house. It's now a museum located in Pocantico Hills, New York. This amazing home was built for John D. Rockefeller, who was a very rich oil businessman.
The house was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family. It was largely planned by John D. Rockefeller's son, John D. Rockefeller Jr.. Later, his grandson, Nelson Rockefeller, who was a governor and even Vice President, added many famous artworks to the estate. Today, Kykuit is a special place called a National Historic Landmark. It is owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and you can take tours there.
The name Kykuit comes from a Dutch word that means "Lookout." This makes sense because the house sits on the highest point in Pocantico Hills. From there, you can see the Hudson River and even the New York City skyline about 25 miles away!
Contents
History of Kykuit
Building a Family Home
John D. Rockefeller started buying land in the Pocantico Hills area in 1893. His brother, William Rockefeller, had already built a huge mansion nearby. When John D. Rockefeller and his son decided to live in Pocantico Hills, he bought many homes and properties quietly. He used these houses for his family and staff, or rented them out.
In 1893, Rockefeller and his wife, Laura Spelman Rockefeller, moved into one of these homes, the Parsons-Wentworth House. They spent weekends and parts of each summer and fall there. They shared the house with their grown children while their main manor house was being built.
A New Beginning for the Estate
Sadly, the Parsons-Wentworth House burned down on September 17, 1902. The family then moved into the Kent House temporarily. John D. Rockefeller had actually been worried about the old house's electrical wiring. He had planned to fix it the day after the fire happened. The fire caused about $40,000 in damage.
Kykuit was first designed as a three-story stone mansion with a steep roof. The architects were Chester Holmes Aldrich and William Adams Delano. John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, helped with the artistic style and interior design.
The first version of the house took six years to build. But before anyone even moved in, it was largely rebuilt! It became the four-story Classical Revival style house you see today. It was finished in 1913. The house has two basement levels with many connecting tunnels and passages. The inside of the home was designed by Ogden Codman Jr.. It features collections of Chinese and European pottery, beautiful furniture, and art from the 20th century.
Kykuit Today
Kykuit was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976. When Nelson Rockefeller passed away in 1979, he left part of his share in the estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Now, Kykuit is open to the public for tours. These tours are run by Historic Hudson Valley.
In 1995, Kykuit was updated and modernized. This included big changes to allow group tours on the first floor and in the art gallery. Staff living areas on the upper floors were also changed into guest suites.
Beautiful Gardens
At first, the famous Olmsted Brothers firm designed the landscaping. But John D. Rockefeller Senior wasn't happy with their work. So, he took over the design himself! He moved entire grown trees and planned the scenic winding roads and viewpoints.
In 1906, the architect William Welles Bosworth took over the garden design. He created the beautiful Beaux-Arts style terraces and gardens. These gardens have fountains, small buildings called pavilions, and classical sculptures. They are considered some of Bosworth's best work in the United States. They offer amazing views of the Hudson River.
Bosworth's original gardens are still there today. The plants are carefully replaced over time to keep them looking their best. The terraced gardens include a Morning Garden, a Grand Staircase, a Japanese Garden, an Italian Garden, and a Rose Garden. There's also a Japanese-style brook and a charming Japanese Tea-house.
Amazing Art Collection
The Kykuit estate is filled with many artworks that show what the past owners liked. Governor Nelson Rockefeller loved collecting art from the 20th century. He especially focused on abstract art from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Nelson Rockefeller turned the empty basement passages under the mansion into a major private art gallery. Here, you can find paintings by famous artists like Picasso, Chagall, and Warhol. Some of these artists even visited the estate! Between 1935 and the late 1970s, more than 120 abstract and modern sculptures were added to the gardens and grounds. These include works by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Alexander Calder.
Public Tours
The inner part of the estate was opened for tours in 1994. These tours let people see the mansion and the areas right around it. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund still manages and controls this historic area.
Historic Hudson Valley runs the public tours. This organization was started in 1951 by John D. Rockefeller Jr.. Its goal is to celebrate the history and beauty of the Hudson Valley region. Shuttle vans take visitors from a visitor center to the estate.
The Vast Family Estate
The entire Rockefeller estate, known as Pocantico or Pocantico Hills, covers about 3,400 acres. For much of the 20th century, this huge estate had its own staff. This included security guards, gardeners, and other workers. It even had its own farms, cattle, and food supplies.
The estate has a nine-hole golf course that can be played in two directions. At one time, it had 75 houses and 70 private roads. Most of these were designed by John D. Rockefeller Sr. and his son. People used to joke about the estate, saying: "It's what God would have built, if only He had the money."
In 1901, John D. Rockefeller Sr. hired golf course designer Willie Dunn to build the golf course on the grounds.
Famous Visitors
Many important people have visited Kykuit over the years. American Presidents like Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan have been guests. Other notable visitors include Nelson Mandela, the Shah of Iran, the King of Jordan, and the President of Egypt.
As of 2003, about 10 Rockefeller families still lived within the estate. Over the years, much of the land has been given to New York State. This includes the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, which is open to the public for horseback riding, biking, and jogging.
Other Important Buildings
- The Pocantico Conference Center: This building, located within the estate, hosts regular conferences. It was originally the "Coach Barn," a large three-story building finished in 1914. It's three times the size of the Kykuit mansion! It still holds an impressive collection of horse-drawn carriages and 12 family-owned vintage cars. These cars show how car design changed over time. In 1994, the lower floor was turned into a modern meeting facility. It's used for conferences, workshops, and meetings for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and other non-profit groups.
- The Playhouse: This is a large, two-story building finished in 1927. It's also three times the size of the Kykuit mansion! It stands next to the golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, and two tennis courts. Inside, it has an indoor swimming pool, an indoor tennis court, a basketball gym, a squash court, a billiard room, and a full-size bowling alley. It also has dining rooms, living rooms, and a huge reception room. The Rockefeller family holds their semi-annual meetings here.
- The Orangerie: This building houses citrus plants and is designed like the original one at the Palace of Versailles in France.
- Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: This center was opened in 2004 by David Rockefeller and Peggy Dulany. It's a non-profit farm and educational center on 32 hectares of farmland. It sells organic produce, meat, and eggs to a nearby restaurant and local businesses.
- The Rockefeller Archive Center: This is a huge three-story underground bunker. It's built below the Hillcrest mansion. It stores over 150 years of Rockefeller family papers, memories, and other collections. It's a place where researchers can study the family's history.
The Rockefeller family has also had a big impact on the nearby village of Pocantico Hills. The Union Church of Pocantico Hills, now owned by Historic Hudson Valley, was built by the family. It features beautiful stained-glass windows by famous artists like Matisse and Chagall. The family also helped fund the local Pocantico Hills School.
See also
