Rose Hill Mansion facts for kids
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Rose Hill
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3373 NY 96A, Fayette, New York |
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| Area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| Built | 1839 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001269 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 6, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | June 24, 1986 |
Rose Hill Mansion is a beautiful old house in Fayette, New York. It sits on a hill overlooking Seneca Lake. Built in 1837, it is a great example of a building style called Greek Revival architecture. This style makes buildings look like ancient Greek temples.
The house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States. Today, Rose Hill is a historic house museum. It is owned by Historic Geneva (formerly the Geneva Historical Society). You can visit it for tours from May to October.
Contents
What Rose Hill Mansion Looks Like
Rose Hill Mansion is located in Fayette, New York. It is on the east side of Route 96A. The house sits on 23 acres of land. This land was once part of a much larger farm.
The Main Building
The house is a large, two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. Its most famous part is the front. This front looks like a Greek temple. It has six tall Ionic columns. These columns hold up a triangular roof section called a pediment.
Wings and Inside Details
On each side of the main house, there are one-story wings. These wings also have Ionic columns. They are set back from the front of the main house. But they extend further back, making the building look like a "U" shape.
Inside, Rose Hill Mansion has beautiful Greek Revival woodwork. There is a spiral staircase in the main hallway. An amazing archway separates the two main living rooms. The plasterwork inside is also very detailed. Many of its designs came from the published works of a famous architect named Minard Lafever.
History of Rose Hill Mansion
The land where Rose Hill stands was first used as a farm in 1802. A man named Robert Rose started the farm. He moved to the area from Virginia.
Building the Mansion
In 1839, a businessman from New York City named William Kerley Strong bought the property. He had the mansion built. We do not know who the architect was. However, the house's style shows that the builders were inspired by the ideas of Minard Lafever and Andrew Jackson Downing. Both of these people were big fans of the Greek Revival style.
Later Owners and Restoration
In 1850, another New York City businessman, Benjamin Swan, bought the property. He bought it as a wedding gift for his son, Robert Swan. The Swans ran the property as a very successful farm. After Robert Swan passed away in 1890, the property started to decline.
In 1965, Waldo Hutchins, who was Robert Swan's grandson, gave the house to the Geneva Historical Society. The house was in poor condition. It went through a big restoration project to fix it up. Waldo and his son also gave money to help take care of the house in the future.
Visiting Rose Hill Mansion
Today, Rose Hill Mansion is open for tours. You can take a guided tour from May to October. The mansion also hosts special events throughout the year. It is a great place to learn about history and see beautiful architecture.
See also
