One of the oldest buildings in New York City, and the oldest house in the five boroughs, this country house museum has been restored to reflect the lifestyle of wealthy Dutch settlers from the 1650s. consider an outstanding example of the Dutch colonial vernacular style. It is a historical oasis that is worth visiting.
According to the museum’s website, the Wyckoff Association, which supports the house, is a historical artifact dating back more than 70 years. It was established in 1937 to “promote interest in Pieter Claesen Wyckoff, his descendants, and the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House located in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn, New York.”
This museum also played an important role in New York City’s own architectural preservation history. It was the first landmark designated by the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission in 1965, when the Commission was formed. Three years later it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Contemporary Programs: History, Education, Family Fun
Cultural events are held here, including summer concerts and an October Halloween harvest festival. Today there are lectures, weekend craft sessions, children’s story hours, and outdoor programs in a large garden.
The programs explore the diverse towns of Brooklyn’s Dutch-American farming communities and include demonstrations of household and farming activities. Special events are scheduled throughout the year.
Wyckoff House Museum Today
Staying here all those years, the Wyckoff House is a reminder of all the social configurations Brooklyn has witnessed: from a rural Dutch colonial settlement to a haven for wealthy 19th century industrialists to a haven for Jewish, Italian and other immigrants in search of the world. American dream, right down to the urbanized hodgepodge of sales, yuppies, Caribbean islanders, African Americans, and immigrants from Eastern Europe.
Facts about Pieter Claesen Wyckoff’s house:
- It was originally a Dutch West India Company bowerie or farm.
- The oldest original part of the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House was built around 1652. This section is the oldest building in New York City.
- It is also one of the oldest wooden structures in this country.
- It received the designation of a National Historic Landmark in 1968.
What to look for in terms of historical architecture:
Four note features include:
- the H-frame structure
- Tile walls
- Dutch divided doors
- Deep. flared eaves.
Changes in the house:
- The original house from the 1650s was expanded almost a hundred years later, in 1740.
- The home survived early 20th century changes in the area that transformed Brooklyn from farmland to a residential community.
- The house underwent extensive historical restoration before opening as a museum in 1982.
Who was Pieter Claesen Wyckoff?
Peter Claesen Wyckoff, according to the museum, “emigrated from the Netherlands as a contract servant in 1637 and acquired the land through his connections with Peter Stuyvesant beginning in 1652.”
Wyckoff is a major historic Brooklyn. Many generations of Wyckoffs cultivated in Brooklyn for more than two centuries, from the 1650s to 1901.
Whose house is Pieter Claesen Wyckoff?
In 1969, the Wyckoff House Foundation donated the house to New York City. (Many historically important homes, including Louis Armstrong’s home in Queens, have been donated to the city.)
Visitor information:
Please note that the museum can only be viewed via a guided tour or during scheduled special events. Check website for special schedules and programs.
- Where is it: Clarendon Rd. And Ralph Ave. at E. 59th St.,
- Contact: (718) 629-5400
- Official Website: http://www.wyckoffassociation.org/
