Gilded Age Grandeur in Sands Point, NY - The Sands Point Preserve
The 216-acre preserve sitting on the Long Island Sound in Sands Point, NY, today is owned by Nassau County. Back in the Gilded Age is was the home to members of the Gould and Guggenheim families.
The property is home to four former mansions: Hempstead House, Falaise, Castle Gould, and Mille Fleur.
Here is what caught my eye; I hope you enjoy!
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The property’s first owner was financier Howard Gould, son of robber baron, Jay Gould. The first home to be built on the property was the 100,000 square-foot Castle Gould in 1902. This was his attempt to please his wife, actress Katherine Clemmons, but she did not approve, and then he built the 40-room Hempstead House, which was designed by Hunt & Hunt and built in 1912. The first and second floors measure over 1.5 acres. The marriage ended in divorce and the estate was then sold in 1917 to mining tycoon Daniel Guggenheim. Guggenheim bought the place lot stock and barrel. The “G”’s on the silverware, linen and wrought iron work surround the estate did not need to be changed. Daniel’s brothers Issac and William also owned estates in the Sands Point area.
In 1923, Daniel gave his son Harry almost an acre of property and he would build Falaise. When Daniel died in 1930, his wife Florence closed up the house and built herself a smaller house on the grounds called Mille Fleur. During the war, Mrs. Guggenheim opened the Hempstead House to 75 orphaned European children during the war. In 1942, Florence donated Hempstead House, Castle Gould on 162 acres, to the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences and then in 1946 the U.S. Navy used the property as Training Device Center until 1971.
Nassau County acquired the property in 1971, the same year Harry died, and his fully furnished estate, Falaise was deeded to Nassau County.
Falaise, the 26-room, 13th-century Normady style home of Harry Guggenheim and his wife Caroline Morton was designed by architects Frederick J. Sterner and the firm of Polhermus & Coffin. Charles Lindbergh was a close friend and frequent visitor to the house. Mr. Lindbergh stayed here when writing his book “We”, and for respite following the tragic kidnapping of his son. The house has been preserved much as it was when Harry and his third wife, Newsday founder Alicia Patterson, were in residence.
Here is what caught my eye, I hope you enjoy!
Florence Guggenheim enlisted Polhemus & Coffin to design Mille Fleurs, and it was completed in 1932.
What you should know:
There is an admission fee to enter the Preserve as well as an additional fees for a guided tour of either Hempstead House or Falaise. Tickets can be bought on-site. Check website for ticket prices.
There are walking trails on the preserve.
There are special guided nature walks, check website to times, dates and ticket prices.
The preserve grounds are open year-round.
You could spend a couple of hours to an entire day here exploring.
There are no photographs allowed inside Falaise.
Mille Fleurs is not available for tours.
Location: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY
For more information: Sand Point Preserve
