The Lyndhurst mansion and its contents are largely as its last residents left it, a fabulous repository of gilded-age Americana.

The Gothic Revival home was originally designed in 1838 by American architect Alexander Jackson Davis for former New York City mayor William Paulding, Jr. Paulding named his country villa “Knoll.” In 1864 Davis doubled the size of the house for its second owner, George Merritt, who renamed it “Lyndenhurst” after the Linden trees growing on the property.

In 1880 railroad baron Jay Gould purchased the estate, maintaining it as his summer home and country retreat until his death in 1892. The mansion and what is now a 67-acre estate remained in the Gould family until 1961 (it once exceeded 500 acres). The house and grounds are now a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The grounds and outbuildings are a fine example of 19th century landscape design. Much of the layout was accomplished by master gardener Ferdinand Mangold, whose tenure spanned both Merritt and Gould ownership of the property. Both Mangold and Merritt are buried nearby in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Paulding is in the adjacent churchyard of the Old Dutch Church. Jay Gould is further away in a private mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Fans of the 1960s television series Dark Shadows may recall that Lyndhurst in served as the Collinwood estate in the feature-length films House of Dark Shadows (1970) and Night of Dark Shadows (1971). Sleepy Hollow Cemetery’s receiving vault made a cameo in House of Dark Shadows as the Collins family mausoleum.

The house and grounds of Lyndhurst are host to tours, craft fairs and other special events. See www.lyndhurst.org for current ticket prices and tour times. Other rates apply for special events.

Location: Lyndhurst, 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591, 914-631-4481.

---

Tartuffe

M&M Performing Arts brings Tartuffe, Molière’s timely, classic farce about seduction, hypocrisy, and deception, in a ridiculously hilarious new adaptation to Lyndhurst Mansion in March 2023. The funniest play on Broadway (in Tarrytown!) will be staged in Lyndhurst’s exquisite Grand Picture Gallery. You’re in for some wickedly good fun!

Winter Theater performances take place on the 2nd floor in the Art Gallery of the historic mansion. Performances will seat 36 guests and last 80 minutes without intermission.

2023 dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, March 3-19. Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26.

For information and tickets: https://lyndhurst.org

---

Spring Crafts at Lyndhurst Mansion

Spring Crafts at Lyndhurst returns to the grounds of the 67-acre Lyndhurst estate from May 5 through May 7.

Shop for one-of-a-kind items from 200 craftspeople and makers! Find handmade original fashions, accessories, and jewelry; functional and sculptural works in ceramics, glass, metal, fiber, wood, and mixed media; and fine art painting, printmaking, drawing, and photography. Plus, enjoy gourmet foods, specialties, food trucks, and tastings from local distilleries, wineries, and cider houses. Plus, enjoy family activities and craft demos.

It’s a great day for the entire family at one of America’s most beautiful landmarks. Rain or shine. Timed entry and other COVID restrictions apply.

2023 dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 5-7.