Lyndhurst (mansion) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Lyndhurst (Jay Gould Estate)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

The front facade of Lyndhurst
Location	Tarrytown, New York, U.S.
Nearest city	White Plains, New York, U.S.
Area	67 acres (27 ha)
Built	1838
Architect	Alexander Jackson Davis
Architectural style	Gothic Revival
Website	www.lyndhurst.org
NRHP reference No.	66000582
Added to NRHP	November 13, 1966
Designated NHL	November 13, 1966

Lyndhurst, also called the Jay Gould estate, is a beautiful old country house. It's built in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks a bit like a medieval castle! The house sits on a large, 67-acre park right next to the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York. It's near the Tappan Zee Bridge on US 9. In 1966, Lyndhurst was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States.

History of Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst's Architecture and Gardens
- The Beautiful Park
Gallery
See also

History of Lyndhurst

This amazing house was designed in 1838 by a famous architect named Alexander Jackson Davis. Over the years, three important families owned it.

The Paulding Family

The first owner was William Paulding Jr., who used to be the mayor of New York City. He named his new home "Knoll." But because of its very unusual design, with cool turrets and an uneven shape, some people joked and called it "Paulding's Folly." The outside of the house is made from limestone, which came from a place called Sing Sing in what is now Ossining.

The Merritt Family

The second owner was a rich merchant named George Merritt. He loved the house so much that he hired the original architect, Alexander Jackson Davis, to make it even bigger! In 1864–1865, the house actually doubled in size. Merritt also changed the name to "Lyndenhurst," because of all the beautiful linden trees on the property.

Davis added a new section on the north side. This part included a tall, four-story tower and a new covered entrance for carriages, called a porte-cochere. The old entrance was changed into a glass-walled room. They also added a new dining room, two more bedrooms, and rooms for the house staff.

The Gould Family

In 1880, a very wealthy businessman named Jay Gould bought the property. He was a "railroad tycoon," meaning he made a lot of money from railroads. He bought Lyndhurst to use as his country home. He made the name shorter, calling it "Lyndhurst," and sometimes even spelled it "Lindhurst." Jay Gould lived there until he passed away in 1892.

Years later, in 1961, Jay Gould's daughter, Anna Gould, gave the estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This organization helps protect important historical places. Thanks to her, Lyndhurst is now open for everyone to visit and enjoy!

Lyndhurst's Architecture and Gardens

Architectural detail of Lyndhurst

Lyndhurst's rooms really show off the Gothic Revival style. The hallways are narrow, and the windows are small with sharp, pointed arches. The ceilings are very tall, with cool peaks and fancy designs. This style makes the house feel a bit mysterious and romantic. But then, there's a large art gallery with high ceilings that feels bright and open, which is a nice change.

The Beautiful Park

The house is set within a large, beautiful park. This park was designed in an "English naturalistic style" by Ferdinand Mangold, who George Merritt hired. Mangold did a lot of work to make the park special. He drained wet areas, created wide, open lawns, and planted many unique trees. He also built a large conservatory, which is like a giant greenhouse.

The park is a great example of 19th-century landscape design. The entrance road curves, giving you "surprise" views of the rolling lawns, pretty shrubs, and special trees. The conservatory itself was huge! It was 390 feet long, had an onion-shaped dome, and was made of iron and glass. When it was built, it was one of the biggest private greenhouses in the entire United States.