Kykuit - The Pocantico Hills Rockefeller Retreat

House Museum

Sep 9

The story of Kykuit began with philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, and the estate he built that was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family. The 40-room Georgian-style historic home in Pocantico Hills, was built in 1913.

William Adams Delano, Chester Holmes Aldrich and William Welles Bosworth all had a part in the design of the house on 3,400 acres.

The first floor interiors were designed by Ogden Codman, Jr. Unfortunately, Kykuit does not allow photographs taken inside the mansion, but here is a video that highlights the interior of the home.

The house basement was transformed into a major private art gallery and today contains an extensive collection of artwork collected by four-time New York Governor and Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller.

Initially the grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and Mr. Rockefeller was unhappy with this work and took control of the design. In 1906, John Jr. hired William Welles Bosworth to design the grounds. He designed terraces and gardens with fountains, pavilions and the sites for sculptures. The estate, overlooking the Hudson River with landscape designs including a Morning, Japanese, Italian and semi-circular rose gardens, was considered his best work in the United States.

Here is what caught my eye. I hope you enjoy!

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Here is the imposing mansion, built of local stone and topped with the Rockefeller emblem.

The entrance forecourt with mountain views

You will find fountains throughout the property. Here is a replica of a Baboli Gardens fountain with a 30-foot statue of Oceanus in the forecourt.

Here is a picture of the Temple of Aphrodite.

Here is a gate that divides the garden rooms in the 250-acre inner compound within the larger Rockefeller family estate.

The gardens, which took over seven years to install, were completed in 1915, and exceeded the thirty thousand dollar budget by one million dollars.

Kykuit’s Japanese tea house

The grounds contain Nelson Rockefeller’s collection of large-scale sculptures.

The terraced gardens offer beautiful architecture with stunning views of the Hudson River.

The Loggia

The Pergola

One of the 39 garden fountains

The loggia

The grand garden staircase

Kykuit is a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Public tours are conducted by Historic Hudson Valley, an organization John D. Rockefeller, Jr. established in 1951, to celebrate the region.

Here is what you should know:

There are shuttle vans pick you up at the Philipsburg Manor House Visitors Center.
There are restrooms available.
There are formal gardens.
One price admission includes the shuttle van, self-guided garden tour and guided house tour.
The estate is open seasonally; check the website for days / hours of operation.
There is a large amount of art displayed in the gardens, so enjoy it!

Location:

The Philipsburg Manor House Visitors Center, 381 N Bradway, Sleepy Hollow

For additional information: Kykuit mansion