The Cliffs

Overlooking Oyster Bay Harbor, the Cliffs is a Victorian Gothic mansion built in 1856. The home was built for James W. Beekman, who was a prominent politician and arts patron at the time. Built on the site of an 18th century mill, the expansive mansion was one of the area's first grand summer homes. It was designed by Henry Harrison, the famed architect who designed the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City. Situated on 16 acres, the home takes its name from the fact that it is perched high on a cliff overlooking the harbor. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Senator James William Beekman was one of the most influential and prominent citizens of New York in the mid-nineteenth century. Descended from one of New York's earliest settlers, Beekman served in both the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate and was also known for his support of the arts. He was a founding member of the New York Historical Society and was one of the early supporters of the development of Central Park. Properties he acquired in the 1800s still form the foundation of the Beekman Estate, a stock corportation still managed by Beekman's descendants.

In the early 1860s, Beekman built a Victorian Gothic mansion known as The Cliffs. The home is situated on an estate of more than 30 acres overlooking Oyster Bay. From Manhattan, the Beekman family would board a steamer which would take them up the East River and eventually to Oyster Bay where they would be rowed to shore. The striking home was designed by Henry Harrison, the acclaimed architect who designed the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City. For the home's gardens, he hired Andrew Jackson Downing, one of the designers of Central Park. Downing would eventually design several of the gardens at The Cliffs, including the Alma Tadema Pool Garden, which is known for its large fountain.

The 10,000 square foot home features six bedrooms and five bathrooms, as well as three powder rooms. Wood is used widely in the mansion's interior, which features beamed ceilings and wood paneling. There are nine woodburning fireplaces that retain the original mantles. In addition to the expansive main residence, with its striking, steeply gabled roof, the estate also includes two original cottages, a pool, a tennis court, and a 2,000 square foot greenhouse. The Spring Lake archaeological site is also located on the property.

A recent owner of the home fully restored the mansion, but much of the property remains as it was when it was built. The wooded grounds surrounding the house, in particular, appear largely as they did at the time of the home's construction. The Cliffs was one of the first grand summer mansions along the Hudson River and still reflects much of the culture of Gilded Age New York. The home was listed for $12 million in early 2021.

McQuiston, John. Preservations Work to Keep.., New York Times . February 12th 1978. Accessed July 4th 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/12/archives/long-island-weekly-preservationists-work-to-keep-architectural.html.

Historic Mansion Overlooking Oyster Bay Harbor Asks $16M, The Patch. June 6th 2018. Accessed July 4th 2021. https://www.longislandpress.com/2018/06/06/historic-mansion-overlooking-oyster-bay-harbor-asks-16m/.

Our History, Beekman Estate . Accessed July 4th 2021. http://thebeekmanestate.com/.