Image: The Jay Estate in Rye, NY

Description: The 23 acre Jay Estate in Rye is the childhood home of American Founding Father, John Jay (1745 – 1829). As a young man, Jay’s qualities of leadership and patriotism were nurtured on this piece of land; he would grow up to become one of our nation’s greatest diplomats and jurists, an anti-slavery advocate, spymaster, a Governor of New York, co-author of the Federalist papers, and with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, a negotiator of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War. Later generations of Jays would become lawyers, scientists, and ambassadors; a great, great granddaughter, Mary Rutherfurd Jay would become one of America’s earliest landscape architects. Visitors to the property today will see what he saw - an unparalleled view of Long Island Sound over a 10,000 year old man-managed meadow, the oldest of its kind on record in New York State. 1.5 acres of historic sunken garden rooms bounded by stone walls are currently undergoing restoration; their design includes re-installation of a parterre planting as well as a reflecting pool and 100 foot long arbor. Buildings open to the public for tours include the 1838 Greek Revival Peter Augustus Jay House presented in various stages of historic preservation; it is the oldest National Historic Landmark in New York State with an energy efficient geo-thermal heating and cooling system. Concerts and programs in American History, Architecture, Social Justice and Environmental Stewardship for schools and the general public are offered throughout the year at the 1907 Van Norden Carriage House which acts as the Visitor Center. The site is on New York State’s Path Through History and Westchester County’s African American Heritage Trail. 210 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY
Title: The Jay Estate in Rye, NY
Credit: Own work
Author: JayHeritageCenter
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
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