This Medieval-Style Mansion Along the Hudson Was Built by Three Different Gilded Age Millionaires

The Lyndhurst Mansion

You can spot Lyndhurst Mansion from the Tappan Zee Bridge if you know where to look. The Gothic towers rise above the trees like something from a medieval romance novel.

For over a century, this Hudson River estate was home to some of America’s richest men. It remains a masterpiece, and here’s how it came to be.

William Paulding’s Original Estate

William Paulding Jr. paid for the first version of Lyndhurst after commanding troops in the War of 1812 and serving as New York City mayor.

Farmers cleared the forests in the 18th century, changing the landscape forever. Paulding called his home “Knoll,” while newspapers dubbed it “Paulding’s Folly.”

Alexander Jackson Davis’ Architectural Vision

Alexander Jackson Davis built Lyndhurst in 1838 when Americans wanted their own architectural style. He rejected the Greek Revival forms that filled the Hudson Valley.

Davis sourced limestone from Sing Sing quarry in present-day Ossining for the exterior walls. He created fifty furniture pieces for the mansion, controlling every aspect of the design.

George Merritt’s Expansion

George Merritt bought the estate in the 1860s and contacted Alexander Jackson Davis. Davis doubled the mansion by constructing a north wing between 1864 and 1867.

Merritt planted linden trees throughout the grounds. He renamed the property “Lyndenhurst” after these trees, later shortened to “Lyndhurst.”

Merritt died in 1873, enjoying his creation for only a few years. His wife Julia and children inherited a dramatically changed estate.

Ferdinand Mangold’s Landscape Transformation

Ferdinand Mangold came from Bavaria to serve as Merritt’s Master Gardener. He replaced open farmland with European-inspired “gardenesque” landscaping.

Mangold placed specimen trees to frame views of the Hudson River. Winding paths revealed new river vistas around each bend.

His grand Moorish-style greenhouse crowned the grounds. Here, exotic plants thrived through Northeast winters, adding year-round color to the estate.

Jay Gould’s Gilded Age Residence

Railroad tycoon Jay Gould bought Lyndhurst in 1880 during America’s Gilded Age. He built a bridge over his competitor’s railroad tracks to reach his private Hudson River dock.

Gould traveled by yacht to Wall Street daily, bypassing his rival’s trains. South American officials later bought this yacht in 1900 for the Venezuelan Navy.

Inside Lyndhurst, Gould hired the Herter Brothers for furniture and Louis Comfort Tiffany for windows. He died of tuberculosis here in 1892.

Helen Gould’s Philanthropy

Helen Gould inherited Lyndhurst after her father’s death. She studied law at New York University when few women accessed higher education.

Helen built new structures throughout the property. Her 1894 Bowling Alley housed a sewing school for local girls. She added a Dog Kennel in 1897 and a Laundry Building in 1910.

Her 140-foot Roman-style pool house from 1911 welcomed underprivileged children from New York City.

Anna Gould’s Preservation

Anna Gould married into French nobility as the Duchess of Talleyrand-Périgord. She lived in France until 1936 when pre-war tensions drove her back to America.

Anna took ownership of Lyndhurst after her sister Helen died in 1938. She split her time between here and her apartment at the Plaza Hotel.

During wartime, wounded soldiers recovered on these grounds. Anna sold greenhouse contents to support the American Red Cross.

National Trust Preservation

Anna Gould gave Lyndhurst to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961. This made it one of the organization’s first properties.

Lyndhurst opened to the public in 1965 as a museum and historic site. Unlike many historic homes, its original art, antiques, and furniture remain intact.

Visitors now see fifty furniture pieces designed by Alexander Jackson Davis himself. His complete vision survives as he intended.

Distinctive Architectural Features

Gothic Revival elements define Lyndhurst through pointed arches and asymmetrical design. These reflected the Romantic movement’s fascination with medieval aesthetics.

Davis placed the mansion to complement the natural landscape. America’s first steel-framed conservatory stands on the grounds, built by pioneering firm Lord and Burnham.

Louis Comfort Tiffany created stained glass windows that filter sunlight into richly colored patterns. Fine craftsmanship appears in every corner.

Cultural Significance and Legacy

HBO’s “The Gilded Age” films inside Lyndhurst today. The Carriage House becomes the New York Globe offices on screen.

Gothic horror films “House of Dark Shadows” and “Night of Dark Shadows” used these grounds in 1970 and 1971. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show spread across the lawn in 2021 and 2022.

USA Today ranked Lyndhurst among “Ten Best Historic Home Tours” in America. Its influence continues through modern media.

Visiting Lyndhurst

Lyndhurst welcomes visitors at 635 South Broadway in Tarrytown, New York. Tours run April through December, closed January through March.

Classic Mansion tours cost $12 for adults and $5 for students. Grounds-only passes cost $4 per person. The Welcome Center offers gift shop and exhibition gallery.

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