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Van Cortlandt House Museum

Bronx, New York

Cause Description:
Van Cortlandt House Museum is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The House has also been designated a New York City Landmark for both its architecturally significant exterior and interior. Van Cortlandt House was built by Frederick Van Cortlandt in 1748 and represents one of the finest surviving examples of life in Colonial New York. The Van Cortlandt family cultivated wheat on their extensive planting fields and sold this cash crop as both whole grain and milled flour which was produced in their own grist mill. In addition to producing wheat and wheat products, the forested land holdings surrounding the planting fields and lake provided a source of income for the Van Cortlandts through the sale of lumber produced at their saw mill. The production of these profitable consumer goods coupled with prominent roles in Colonial New York politics and trade enabled the Van Cortlandt family to amass great wealth and achieve prominent social status. Members of the Van Cortlandt family also married into some of Colonial New York’s most noted families including the Phillipse, DePeyster, DeLancey, and Morris families. Opened in May of 1897, Van Cortlandt House Museum has been open to the public as a Museum dedicated to presenting its visitors a glimpse into the rich social and political life in Colonial New York for more than 100 years. Van Cortlandt House is owned by the City of New York under the Department of Parks and Recreation and is operated as a 501c3 not-for-profit public museum under the auspices of The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York also since 1897. This public private partnership was the first of its kind in New York city or state and required an act of the New York State Legislature, passed in 1896, to make it possible. The Museum features furniture and decorative arts representing the Van Cortlandt family’s occupation of the house between 1748 and 1823. Over the years, several significant objects known to have been owned by the family have returned to Van Cortlandt House. Among these are a large part-service of Chinese export porcelain c. 1760, and a rare mahogany 5-legged card table made in New York City c. 1760. The house is furnished with family portraits and objects of every day life such as candle sticks, wash stands, looking glasses, and richly hung four-post beds. To learn more about Van Cortlandt House Museum, its history, public programs and restoration, please visit our website at www.vancortlandthouse.org .

Type: Hunger/Homelessness
Listed on iGive since: May 2006
iGive members supporting: 1

Website: www.vancortlandthouse.org

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