Wilderstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wilderstein
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Wilderstein Mansion
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 330 Morton Road, Rhinebeck, NY |
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| Built | 1852–53 1888 |
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| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Part of | Hudson River Historic District (ID90002219) |
| Designated CP | December 14, 1990 |
Wilderstein is a beautiful country house from the 1800s. It is built in the Queen Anne style. You can find it along the Hudson River in Rhinebeck, New York. Today, Wilderstein is a museum that helps people learn about its history.
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Wilderstein's Early Days
The land where Wilderstein stands was once part of a larger estate called Wildercliff. In 1852, a man named Thomas Suckley bought 32 acres of land by the river. This area used to be a sheep meadow.
Thomas Suckley and his wife, Catherine, chose this spot for their new home. They loved the natural beauty of the landscape. They named their new home "Wilderstein," which means "wild stone" in German. This name was chosen because an old American Indian petroglyph (a carving on a rock) was found nearby.
The Suckley Family Home
Three generations of the Suckley family lived in the Wilderstein mansion. The last family member to live there was Daisy Suckley. She was a cousin of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Daisy even helped train his famous dog, Fala.
Daisy Suckley lived in the mansion until she passed away in 1991. She was almost 100 years old. Wilderstein is about nine miles up the river from President Roosevelt's home, Springwood.
What Does Wilderstein Look Like?
The first mansion built on the site was a simple two-story Italianate villa. It was designed by an architect named John Warren Ritch. Construction started in 1852 and finished in 1853.
Big Changes in 1888
In 1888, Thomas Suckley's son, Robert, and his wife, Elizabeth, decided to make the house bigger and change its style. Architect Arnout Cannon led this work. The mansion's look was changed to the fancy Queen Anne style.
Many new parts were added:
- A third floor
- A roof with many gables (pointed sections)
- A round, five-story tower
- A porte-cochère (a covered entrance for carriages)
- A verandah (a long, open porch)
The inside of the house was also redesigned by Joseph Burr Tiffany. He was a cousin of the famous artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. The rooms on the first floor were decorated in the Aesthetic Movement style. They used beautiful materials like mahogany wood, leather, stained glass, and linen fabric.
Beautiful Gardens and Grounds
While the mansion was being updated, the outdoor areas were also changed. Landscape architect Calvert Vaux designed the grounds in the American Romantic Landscape style.
His design included:
- A network of paths and trails
- Carefully placed trees and decorative bushes
- Different buildings like a carriage house, a gate lodge, and a potting shed
- Gazebos and benches placed in spots with great views
Keeping Wilderstein Special
Daisy Suckley played a big part in creating Wilderstein Preservation. This is a private group that works to protect the house. She first opened the house to the public in 1984.
Today, this group works hard to restore and care for Wilderstein. People donate money to help. For example:
- The tower was fixed in 1994.
- The main roof was replaced in 1997.
- The outside walls on the second and third floors were repaired in 2001.
- Repairs were made to the porte-cochère and north porch in 2002.
- The verandah was restored in 2006.
Where is Wilderstein?
Wilderstein is located at 330 Morton Road, Rhinebeck, NY 12572, New York. It is an important part of the Hudson River Historic District and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
See also
In Spanish: Wilderstein para niños
