William Sidney Mount House facts for kids
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William Sydney Mount House
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1556 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook, Long Island, NY |
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| Area | 2.3 acres (0.93 ha) |
| Built | 1725 and 1807 |
| Architect | Eleazar Hawkins |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000575 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 21, 1965 |
The William Sidney Mount House is a very old and important house in Stony Brook, New York. It was built a long time ago, in 1725, and made bigger in 1810. This house is special because it was the home of a famous American artist named William Sidney Mount (1807–1868) for his whole life.
In 1965, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place that's very important to the history of the United States. Today, the Long Island Museum owns the house. Sometimes, you can even take a tour inside!
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About the Mount House
The William Sidney Mount House is located near Stony Brook University. It's a wooden house with two and a half stories. The outside is covered with shingles. The front of the house is wide, with seven sections. It has two doors and windows that are placed a bit unevenly.
There are two brick chimneys on the roof. One is behind the main door. The other is on the far right side of the house. The main entrance has a small porch with a sloped roof. Above the door, there's a window with four small glass panes. Smaller parts of the house extend out from the back.
Inside the House
The house has more than twenty rooms inside. One of the most interesting rooms is the original kitchen. It has been restored to look like it did long ago.
The attic level is also very special. This is where William Sidney Mount had his art studio. He created many of his famous paintings right there.
History of the House
The oldest part of the house is the left side of the main building. It was built in 1725 by Eleazer Hawkins. He was William Sidney Mount's grandfather. Mr. Hawkins built it as an "ordinary," which was like a tavern or inn. Travelers could stop there for food and a place to stay. The kitchen from this old tavern is still preserved today.
Around 1810, the house became much larger. Another part was added to the right side. This new part might have been an existing building moved there. Or, it could have been built new. The Mount family owned the house until 1918.
William Sidney Mount, the Artist
William Sidney Mount was born in this very house. He lived here for most of his life as an artist. His paintings were very popular. They showed scenes of country life in America.
He was one of the first American artists to become famous outside of the United States. His work helped people around the world see what life was like in rural America.
