Lindenwald, New York
This 36-room mansion sits on what used to be the main road between New York City and Albany. Washington Irving cranked out his best work in this house, and later on, became home to the eight president of the United States.
Here’s how Lindenwald evolved from frontier farm to National Historic Site.
Judge Peter Van Ness Builds A Federal Mansion
Judge Peter Van Ness had big plans when he bought 260 acres around 1780. The land came from the Van Alstyne family, and Van Ness called his new spread “Kleinrood.”
In 1797, he built a brick house for his household, included his wife Elbertje Hogeboom, five kids, and ten enslaved people. The front door still has the original brass knocker stamped with “1797.
Peter’s son William eventually inherited the place after he passed away.
Washington Irving Writes His First Book
A young writer named Washington Irving showed up around 1809 to tutor Judge William P. Van Ness’s children. The place also served as his writing retreat.
His book, “A History of New York,” was created here and launched his career under the fake name Diedrich Knickerbocker. He also wrote most of his “Sketch Book” here, including “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Van Buren Purchases His Dream Estate
Martin Van Buren snatched up the 137-acre estate in 1839 for $14,000. He figured he’d serve a second term as president, then retire to his country estate.
Unfortunately, William Henry Harrison beat him in 1940, and Van Buren moved to the house in 1841. He expanded the farm to 221 acres and turned it into a money-making operation with crops, livestock, and dozens of workers.
Named After Linden Forest in German
Buren ditched the old name “Kleinrood” for something more personal.
He picked “Lindenwald”, German for “linden forest”, after the American Linden trees lining the road out front. That road was the main route between New York City and Albany.
Travelers, politicians, and merchants passed right by Van Buren’s front door daily. A chunk of the original dirt road still cuts through the property today.
The 1844 Democratic Campaign Headquarters
Van Buren ran his 1844 presidential comeback from the main hall. The room had French hunting-scene wallpaper and space for 20 people around the dinner table where deals got made.
Farming Without Slave Labor
At the time, Southern politicians claimed slavery was the only way to make big farms profitable. Buren wanted to prove them wrong.
Van Buren tried everything, crop rotation, new livestock breeds, different seed varieties. He read every agriculture journal he could get his hands on.
The farm grew corn, oats, and hay across multiple fields. He also paid both white and African-American workers fair wages.
Free Soil Party Campaign Against Slavery Extension
Buren broke away from the Democratic Party in 1848 and launched a third-party run from Lindenwald.
The Free Soil Party had one big idea, no slavery in territories grabbed from Mexico. Their slogan said it all: “Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men.”
John Quincy’s son Charles Francis Adams joined the ticket as Van Buren’s running mate. Van Buren pulled 10.1% of the vote. He got zero electoral votes but proved the anti-slavery movement had real power.
The President Dies At His Beloved Home
Van Buren spent his final months in bed, struggling with bronchial asthma and pneumonia.
At 79 years old, he died from heart failure 2:00 a.m. on July 24, 1862, and you can see the four-poster bed today.
The funeral was held at the Reformed Dutch Church in Kinderhook. They buried him next to his wife Hannah in the church cemetery who had died back in 1819, decades before Van Buren reached the White House.
Journey to Becoming a National Park
Two years after Van Buren died, his son John allegedly lost Lindenwald in a card game.
The winner was Leonard Jerome, known as “The King of Wall Street” and Winston Churchill’s grandfather.
He’d never lived at Lindenwald, and the property bounced between owners until brothers Adam and Freeman Wagoner bought it for $30,000 in 1874.
The house was falling apart when the federal government stepped in. The Martin Van Buren National Historic Site opened on October 26, 1974, saving Lindenwald for future generations.
Visiting Martin Van Buren National Historic Site
You can visit the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site at 1013 Old Post Road in Kinderhook, NY 12106. The grounds stay open year-round for no charge.
House tours run seven days a week from mid-May through October, with weekend tours during spring and fall.
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