Van Cortlandt Manor facts for kids
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Van Cortlandt Manor
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | South Riverside Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson, New York |
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| Built | 1665 |
| Architectural style | Dutch-English Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000579 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 5, 1961 |
Van Cortlandt Manor is an old house and property from the 1600s. It was built by the Van Cortlandt family. You can find it near where the Croton and Hudson Rivers meet. This is in the village of Croton-on-Hudson. The village is in Westchester County, New York, in the United States.
This old stone and brick house is now a museum. It is also a special place called a National Historic Landmark. This means it is very important to the history of the United States.
Contents
History of Van Cortlandt Manor
How the Land Was Acquired
The land for Van Cortlandt Manor was first given to Stephanus Van Cortlandt in 1697. This was a special gift from King William III of England. It was called a "royal charter" or "patent." The land was huge, about 86,000 acres (34,800 hectares).
It stretched from the Hudson River in the west to the border of Colony of Connecticut in the east. This area was about 20 miles wide and 10 miles tall. Stephanus Van Cortlandt bought some of this land directly from the Native Americans. He also bought land from others who had bought it from the Native Americans. The Manor also included a small piece of land on the west side of the Hudson River. This was across from a place called Anthony's Nose.
Early Days of the Manor House
The main house was built before 1732. But it was not the main home for any owner until 1749. That's when Pierre Van Cortlandt, a grandson of Stephanus, moved in. At that time, the manor house was on a 1,000-acre (400-hectare) part of the original land.
Pierre brought his family to the estate in 1749. Many people say these were the best years for the manor. Pierre made the manor a place that could take care of itself. It had an apple orchard, a dairy farm, and a place for bees. There was also a kiln, a tavern, and shops for carpenters and blacksmiths.
The Manor During the Revolutionary War
Around this time, people were getting ready for the Revolutionary War. The manor became a safe place during the war. Pierre Van Cortlandt chose to support the American colonies. The manor helped the Continental Army by making food and supplies.
Pierre was involved in making laws for the military. His son, Philip, was a soldier in the Continental Army. As the war got more intense, Pierre and his family left the manor for safety. The British Army attacked the manor and left it in bad shape.
After the war, Philip became a brigadier general. He returned to the manor with his sister, Catherine. Together, they worked hard to get the manor working well again.
After the War and Restoration
After the war, Van Cortlandt Manor became an important stop. It was on the route from New York to Albany. The mills at the manor were busy again. They provided food, supplies, and lodging for people traveling through. Pierre and his wife did not return to live there until 1803. By then, the manor was fully working again.
The manor stayed in the Van Cortlandt family for many years. But in 1945, it was sold to someone outside the family, Otis Taylor. By this time, the property was not as grand as it used to be. Some buildings and barns were taken down. This made space for newer things, like a drive-in movie theater.
In 1953, John D. Rockefeller Jr. bought the property. He started to restore the manor to its former glory. In 1961, Van Cortlandt Manor was officially named a National Historic Landmark.
The house is not part of the area called Cortlandt Manor, New York. It is one of the historic places owned and run by Historic Hudson Valley.
See also
In Spanish: Mansión Van Cortlandt para niños
