Old Westbury Gardens Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Old Westbury Gardens
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


Location in Long Island Show map of Long Island Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	71 Old Westbury Road Westbury, New York
Area	100 acres (40 ha)
Built	1906
Architect	George A. Crawley
Architectural style	Carolean Revival
NRHP reference No.	76001234
Added to NRHP	November 08, 1976

Old Westbury Gardens is a beautiful historic estate in Nassau County, New York. It was once the home of a wealthy businessman named John Shaffer Phipps. He was part of the rich Phipps family. Today, Old Westbury Gardens is a museum home that visitors can explore. It opened to the public in 1959 and welcomes guests from April through October.

History of Westbury House

Building a Dream Home

The story of Old Westbury Gardens began in 1903. John Shaffer Phipps promised his fiancée, Margarita Grace, a special home. Margarita was the daughter of businessman Michael P. Grace. She missed her family's grand house in England, called Battle Abbey. So, John decided to build her a similar home in the United States. The house was ready in 1906 for the Phipps family and their young children.

Design and Features

The main house, called Westbury House, was designed by a British architect named George A. Crawley. An American architect, Grosvenor Atterbury, also helped with the design. The house has a style called Carolean Revival, which means it looks like homes built during the time of King Charles II of England. Westbury House has 23 rooms inside. The beautiful grounds around the house cover about 160 acres (65 hectares).

Famous Art and Connections

Inside the dining room of Westbury House, you can see a famous painting. It is called Mrs. Henry Phipps and Her Grandson Winston. The artist, John Singer Sargent, painted it between 1906 and 1907. The child in the painting, Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, later became famous. His godfather was the well-known British leader, Winston Churchill.