Stephen Tyng Mather Home facts for kids
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Stephen Tyng Mather Home
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 19 Stephen Mather Road, Darien, Connecticut |
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| Area | 28.5 acres (11.5 ha) |
| Built | 1778 |
| Architect | Deacon Joseph Moses Mather |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000877 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 27, 1963 |
The Stephen Tyng Mather Home is a very old and important house in Darien, Connecticut. It's special because it was the family home of Stephen Tyng Mather, a famous person who lived from 1867 to 1930. Stephen Mather was a successful businessman and a great friend of nature. He helped create the National Park Service in 1916 and became its first leader.
Even though Stephen Mather lived in other places sometimes, he always thought of this house as his real home. His great-grandfather, Deacon Mather, built the main house in 1778.
About the Mather Home
This historic house was built in 1778 by Deacon Joseph Moses Mather. It was a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It had five windows across the front and a roof that sloped down on the sides. There was also a chimney in the middle.
Inside, the house had a dining room and a living room next to the chimney. The kitchen was in the back, with two smaller rooms on either side. Upstairs, there were two rooms in the front. A large space in the back was not finished at first. Later, before Stephen Mather owned the house in 1906, this space was turned into bedrooms and a bathroom.
Changes to the House
When Stephen Mather took over the house in 1906, he made some changes. He wanted the house to look more like the old Colonial style. In 1927, he added a porch on the side of the house. He also added a two-story section to the back. A fancy entrance was built over the main door.
The inside of the main part of the house still looked much like it did originally. However, the old kitchen area was changed into a living room. Stephen Mather also had a beautiful sunken garden built. He added a small house for a caretaker, which was later replaced by a guest house. A barn for carriages was also built.
A National Treasure
The Stephen Tyng Mather Home was named a National Historic Landmark in 1963. This means it's a very important place in American history. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The landmark includes the house, three nearby pieces of land, and the family cemetery where Stephen Mather is buried.
Stephen Mather's Legacy
Stephen Tyng Mather was born in California. He went to the University of California and became very successful in business. He worked with a mineral called borax.
In 1904, he became worried about the condition of America's national parks. He wrote a letter to his friend, Franklin Lane, who was in charge of the country's lands. Lane then offered Mather a job overseeing the parks. Mather accepted in 1915.
Stephen Mather worked hard to convince lawmakers and the public about the importance of the parks. His efforts led to the official creation of the National Park Service in 1916. Mather became its first director. He helped set up the rules and ways the park service would work. He also helped add many new parks to the system. He retired in 1929 and passed away the next year.
