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Lyndhurst Mansion & Sunnyside
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Cost: $150 per person - RSVP by May 14, 2011  

Download the PDF and registration form.


Old Westbury Gardens & Estate
Saturday & Sunday, September 17 & 18, 2011
Cost per person: $475 Single ? $375 Double $350 Triple
RSVP by July 10, 2011

Download the PDF and registration form.

Lyndhurst, the Magnificent Gothic Revival Mansion and Sunnyside the home of Washington Irving located in the Historic Hudson Valley.

Lyndhurst built in 1838 as a country retreat for William Paulding, former mayor of New York City, is America’s premier Gothic Revival mansion. Designed by renowned architect Alexander J. Davis, in 1838, the mansion consists of elaborately decorated rooms, stained glass and artwork. Originally named “Knoll” the second owner, merchant George Merritt, who doubled the house’s size in 1864-65, renamed the estate to “Lyndenhurst” for the estate’s linden trees.

Railroad tycoon Jay Gould purchased the home in 1880 as his country house and shorted the name to Lyndhurst. Gould’s daughter, Anna Gould, Duchess of Talleyrand-Périgord, donated the mansion to the National Trust for Historic preservation in 1961. The 67 acre landscaped grounds consist of a conservatory, rose garden, fern garden and spectacular views of the Hudson River.

Sunnyside is the charming home of Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Irving purchased the house in 1835. The rooms of the home look as they did when Irving lived in the home; with a large collection of Irving’s original furnishings and accessories. The wisteria vine he planted by the front door still blooms each spring. Irving passed away at the cottage in 1859. In 1945, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the house and opened it to the public in 1947.

The Tour Includes:
Transportation via private motor coach.
Private Guided Tour of Lyndhurst and Sunnyside.
Lunch at the Historic Castle on the Hudson
Served luncheon in the Tapestry Room, (meal choices to follow with reservation); free time to explore the magnificent gardens and grounds.

Itinerary
Bus Departs: 7:00 a.m. from Bailiwick Office Complex, 252 W. Swamp Road, Suite 23, Doylestown (Route 313)
Tour of Sunnyside: 10:00 a.m.
Lunch at Castle on the Hudson: 12:30 p.m.
Tour of Lyndhurst: 3:30 p.m.
Depart: 5:00 p.m. (short rest stop)
Approximate Departure: 7:30 p.m.

 

 



The Magnificent Old Westbury Gardens and Estate in Long Island, New York 

Old Westbury Gardens is the former estate of John Shaffer Phipps, heir to the U.S. Steel fortune. Phipps started work on the estate in 1903 when he promised his British fiancée Margarita he would build her a home in America resembling her family estate in Battle Abbey, England. Westbury House contains 70 rooms with furnishings as it was during the family’s occupancy and contains many English objects d’art.

Paintings by Joshua Reynolds, Henry Raeburn and Thomas Gainsborough grace the walls. The home is arguably, the best preserved Gold Coast mansion and estate. The five gardens on 100 acres were inspired by Mrs. Phipps, reminiscent of the traditional English formal gardens of her homeland.

Montauk Point Lighthouse was commissioned by the Second United States Congress, under President George Washington in 1792. It was built in 1796 and began operation in 1797, operated by civilian keepers. During World War II, the U. S. Army took over the lighthouse as part of the Eastern Coastal Defense Shield in 1943. It was the first lighthouse in New York State and is the fourth-oldest in the United States. Legend has it that Captain Kidd buried treasure at the foot of the lighthouse around 1699.

Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous Tour; A look at the magnificent private estates along the North Shore.

The Tour Includes:

  • Transportation via private motor coach, departing Doylestown Saturday at 7 a.m.; returning Sunday at approximately 10:30 p.m.
  • Guided tours of Old Westbury Gardens & Estate, Southampton Historical Museum, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Tour (Saturday) Tour Sag Harbor & Montauk Lighthouse, Free time for lunch & shopping East Hampton (Sunday).
  • One nights lodging at Baron’s Cove Inn, Hamptons Historic District
  • Meals day one: Box Lunch at Old Westbury Gardens and sit-down dinner with entertainment at Hampton’s Restaurant.
  • Meals day two: Breakfast at hotel and lunch on own in East Hampton.

A detailed itinerary and food selection request will be sent with your confirmed reservation.

RSVP BY JULY 31, 2011
Cost per person:
$475 Single • $375 Double • $350 Triple

Bucks Beautiful is a 501(c)(3) program of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce. Any proceeds from this event will benefit the Bucks Beautiful Scholarship and Garden Grant programs. For full details or to receive a color brochure, the Bucks Beautiful Program Administrator, at 215-348-3913 ext.114 or e-mail debbie@centralbuckschamber.com.