Lyndhurst Mansion
An American icon of architecture and landscape.
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.
Women's Work Exhibition
This groundbreaking exhibition tracks the deep, pervasive, and continuing influence of the historic female domestic craft tradition in the practice of contemporary women artists and invites new investigations into the position of women in the contemporary art world. These historic and contemporary works by women artists will fill the Lyndhurst Mansion and gallery this summer.
You can view Women’s Work in a few ways:
- Visit the exhibition gallery on days that the mansion is open for tours; entrance is included with your ticket for any guided tour at Lyndhurst. The gallery is open from 11 am to 3:30 pm.
- Take the Classic Mansion Tour to hear about the mansion and its history, but also see the exhibition objects that are on display inside the mansion.
- Take the specialized Women’s Work Exhibition Tour which will tour both the exhibition gallery and the mansion and specifically discuss the works on display and the artists who created them.
2022 dates: On View May 26th through September 26th, 2022.
For information and tickets: https://lyndhurst.org
Sunset Jazz at Lyndhurst
Enjoy eight free Thursday evenings of Jazz at Tarrytown’s Lyndhurst mansion while watching the sun set over the Hudson River.
Picnicking is encouraged! Lyndhurst has also partnered with local caterer Geordane’s for preordered food and to-snacks during each show. Wine will be available to purchase ahead of time from MySherry &more Inc ONLY alongside the purchase of food. Please let Geordane’s know that you have also ordered beverages when you place your picnic order. Jimmy’s Soft Serve will also be in attendance!
Jazz attendees can enter the property starting at 4 pm, the concert begins at 6:30 pm and ends by 8 pm. Please leave promptly when the concert is over. No cars will be allowed entry after 7 pm.
2022 dates: Thursdays, July 7 through August 25.
For information: 914-631-1000, https://jazzforumarts.org/summer-concerts/lyndhurst/
Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst Mansion
Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst returns to the grounds of the 67-acre Lyndhurst estate from September 16th through September 18th.
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.
2022 dates: September 16th through September 18th. Schedule: Friday, September 16, from 10-5. Saturday, September 17, from 10-6. Sunday, September 18, from 10-5.
For information: 845-331-7900, www.artrider.com