While extravagant buildings in NYC typically mean skyscrapers that seemingly reach to the stars, if you travel a bit out of the city you’ll come to learn that “extravagant” begins to take on a whole new meaning. One place in particular we’ve got our eye on is Lyndhurst Mansion, a sprawling gothic mansion whose grandeur can just barely be put into words.
Overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York, Lyndhurst Mansion is one of America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions. The estate was designed in 1838 by architect Alexander Jackson Davis, William S. Paulding, Jr., and his son Philip R. Paulding. It’s said that the elder Paulding, who commissioned the villa, was likely introduced to Davis through family connections with Washington Irving and other relevant artists.
A history of Lyndhurst Mansion
The mansion was originally known as Paulding Manor, and it immediately drew attention due to its Gothic Revival design, which wasn’t anything like most of the homes constructed in this period.
Paulding didn’t spend much time at the mansion after its completion, however, and his son Philip R. Paulding took up primary residence until the 1850s. The Pauldings were just two of the three families who shaped the mansion, however. The estate was sold to merchant George Merritt in 1864, who brought Davis back to design an expansion to accommodate his family and update interior decorative finishes.
Between the years of 1864-65, a large addition added a grand dining room, additional bedrooms on the second floor, and a tower with the initials of Merritt’s children, making the estate one of America’s most impressive gothic revival homes. It was during this time that Merritt began referring to the estate as “Lyndenhurst,” after the Linden trees that he planted on the grounds.
After Merritt died in 1873, his wife Julia decided to sell Lyndhurst. Railroad tycoon and financier Jay Gould purchased the estate in 1880. Gould, who sought to escape from the pressures of business life in the city and had a strong affection for nature and flowers, was drawn to the estate’s greenhouse. The Gould family spent many years at Lyndhurst, making little change to the estate besides updating the décor and furniture.
After Gould died of tuberculosis in 1892, his eldest daughter, Helen, became the steward of the estate. Helen added multiple buildings to the property including the Kennel, Laundry Building, Pool Building, and Bowling Alley. Helen and her family used Lyndhurst as a seasonal home, splitting their time between the estate, New York City, and Helen’s father’s hometown of Roxbury.
After Helen’s death in 1938, the youngest Gould daughter, Anna, took ownership of Lyndhurst and maintained it as a country home, primarily living at NYC’s Plaza Hotel. Much like her sister, Anna made little changes to the inside of the house apart from the décor. Anna passed away in 1961, bequeathing the entire estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Lyndhurst Mansion opens as a museum
Lyndhurst Mansion opened as a museum and historic site in 1965.
Lyndhurst Mansion’s architectural significance
Lyndhurst Mansion is considered to be one of America’s finest examples of Gothic architecture. The influence of all three families–the Pauldings, the Merritts, and the Goulds–can be seen throughout the estate, which transformed from a country villa to a Gothic mansion. Davis’ interior decor and furnishing designs can still be found inside the house.
A video of the evolution of the architectural changes at Lyndhurst Mansion can be seen below:
The land of Lyndhurst Mansion
Lyndhurst Mansion sits on land that was once the hunting grounds of the indigenous Lenape/Munsee tribe, the first inhabitants of the Hudson Valley.
By the turn of the 19th Century there were virtually no Lenape/Munsee peoples left in Westchester County and so the land, which was originally woodland, was cleared by the early Europeans to become farmland in the 18th Century.
Exploring Lyndhurst Mansion
Today, visitors can explore the majestic estate through multiple guided tour options:
- Classic Mansion Tour – Perfect for first-time guests, this tour explores Lyndhurst’s first and second floors and includes entry to occasional special exhibitions
- Upstairs-Downstairs Tour – Visit unique mansion spaces such as the observation tower, kitchen, laundry building, and servant spaces (this tour is offered May to October)
- Inside/Outside Tour – This tour is for those who would like to explore the Mansion, the lower landscape, and the Bowling Alley
- Landscape Tour – This option highlights the restored lower landscape with fountains, views of the Hudson River, and entry to the Bowling Alley
Those who would prefer to spend the day outdoors strolling through the 67-acres of magnificent grounds sans a tour can book a Grounds Pass, which allows you to explore the Lyndhurst property independently. You’ll stumble upon everything from restored Civil War-era pathways and viewing platforms to fountains, specialty gardens, and numerous outbuildings.
Tours can be booked online.
Visiting season
Lyndhurst is open seasonally April through December, seven days a week, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (last entry at 3:30 pm) for grounds visitation. For those not taking a tour, $10 (plus service fees) Daily Grounds Passes are available and must be purchased online in advance.
Tours are offered seasonally from April through December, though the mansion is closed for the first three weeks in November in order to prepare for seasonal tours and events. Lyndhurst is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, as well as the entirety of January through March, except for special events.
Be sure to check their events calendar to see what’s happening!
How to get to Lyndhurst Mansion from NYC
Lyndhurst is located approximately 24 miles north of Midtown Manhattan at 📍 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591.
The mansion can be reached via car or train. For those driving, parking is available on the property. For those taking the train, head to Grand Central and take the Metro-North – Hudson Line north to Tarrytown. Taxis will then be available at the train station to take you the rest of the way.