Van Alen House facts for kids
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Luykas Van Alen House
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1737 Luykas Van Alen House
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2589 NY 9H, Kinderhook, NY |
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| Area | 33 acres (13 ha) |
| Built | c. 1737 |
| Built by | Luykas Van Alen |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 67000011 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 24, 1967 |
| Designated NHL | December 24, 1967 |
The Luykas Van Alen House is a very old farmhouse in Kinderhook, New York. It was built around 1737 and made bigger around 1750. This house is a great example of Dutch Colonial style in upstate New York. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1967. Today, it is a special historic house museum. The Columbia County Historical Society takes care of it. You can visit the house for tours on weekends from June to October.
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What is the Van Alen House?
The Van Alen House is located in a quiet, rural area. It sits on the west side of New York 9H. The house is about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of where New York 9H meets U.S. Route 9.
House Design and Features
The house is made of brick and has a steep, pointed roof. It has three chimneys. One is at each end of the house. The third chimney is between two of the three rooms on the ground floor. The bricks are laid in a special Dutch way. The ends of the roof are also made of brick. Unlike some old Dutch buildings, the roof lines are straight, not stepped or curved.
Each of the three rooms on the ground floor has its own entrance. There are new windows next to these doors that look like the old ones. Inside, you can still see many parts that are original. Some parts, like the stairs, were brought from other old houses.
How the House Was Built
Luykas Van Alen built this house around 1737. He bought the land from the Mohican Native Americans. When it was first built, the house had only two rooms. These rooms were not connected inside. There was also a sleeping area upstairs. The third room was added around 1750.
The Van Alen family owned the house until 1961. Over the years, many changes were made to it. Eventually, the house started to fall apart. The family then gave it to the Columbia County Historical Society. The society worked hard to fix it up completely. Now, it is a museum that shows what Dutch Colonial life was like in the 1700s.
The Van Alen House in Stories and Movies
Many people believe that the Van Alen House and its farm inspired a famous story. It is thought to be the home of the Van Tassel family in Washington Irving's short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".
Washington Irving was good friends with Jesse Merwin, a local teacher. He was also close with Martin Van Buren, who became a U.S. President. Martin Van Buren lived nearby and often visited Kinderhook.
This historic house was also used as a filming location. Both the inside and outside of the house appeared in the 1993 movie The Age of Innocence. This film starred famous actors like Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis.
Other Related Places
- Van Allen House: Another old house with a similar family name in Oakland, New Jersey.
- John Evert Van Alen House: Another house belonging to the same family in Defreestville, New York.
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New York: A list of important historical places in New York State.
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, New York: A list of historic places in Columbia County, New York.
