Locust Grove: A Tranquil Estate Peppered With Events
The Locust Grove Estate in Poughkeepsie, New York was built in 1851 for Samuel F.B. Morse, artist and inventor of the telegraph and Morse code. Elegant and grand, the Italianate mansion was built by renowned 19th-century architect Alexander Jackson Davis. The house was built by Morse as a getaway from his business in the city. Now it’s a retreat for all to get away, even if just for an afternoon. The home remains a valuable and beautiful asset to the public today, not because of Morse but for the philanthropic foresight of the home's second owners, the family of William and Martha Young.
Upon her death in 1975, Annette Young, the last living daughter of the Young family, left the estate to the community as an educational nonprofit. The home has been preserved as a museum containing her family’s significant collection. The massive 200-acre property is lovingly maintained and the public is welcome to visit its historically accurate gardens, take in its sweeping views, and hike its five miles of trails.
The visual appeal of the home and grounds are undeniable. Just off a busy stretch of Route 9, the property unfolds and pulls you into tranquility. Not content to just open the gates and let in those in need of a rapturous moment, Locust Grove provides a calendar of events that enhance the impact of a visit. This is the Young's legacy for Morse's mansion.
Events pepper the seasons at Locust Grove, with upcoming activities taking advantage of fall and transitioning into the holidays. A mainstay is the recurring Sunset Sensations wine and food event. The next installment, on November 14, uses the backdrop of the Hudson River sunset for an evening of sipping fine wines paired with local culinary creations. Hors d’oeuvres are inspired by heirloom vegetables from the estate kitchen gardens. Visitors are also treated to cooking demonstrations — November's featured chef is Agnes Devereux of The Village TeaRoom — as well as expert wine pairing presentations, and a tour of the gardens
On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Locust Grove also hosts an Artisan Marketplace. The event, with 40 vendors, is a continuation of the site's mission to strengthen the community by giving craftspeople and artists from around the region a showcase for their work. One of the site's most popular family events is the Holiday House Hunt for Kids, December 1. It's a holiday-themed scavenger hunt through the historic mansion amid lavish holiday decorations, sweet treats and a holiday performance by storyteller Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi.
“We have what so many of the wonderful estates up and down the Hudson Valley have,” said Locust Grove Executive Director Kenneth Snodgrass. “But what I really enjoy about the history and legacy of Locust Grove is that it's the model for making the community a better place.”
Annette Young saw the value Locust Grove could offer the public, so she made sure the estate would be preserved through a trust as a historic site but also as a free and accessible park.
Snodgrass said that now until the end of the year is a busy time for the site, hosting many events and weddings in the elegant visitors pavilion and others in the house itself and on its massive round porch.
Snodgrass said that Morse’s artistic, painterly design ideas for Locust Grove didn’t always jibe with his famous architect’s penchant for stylistic continuity or structural integrity. Letters between the two exist, outlining a spirited back and forth and “very specific negotiations,” according to Snodgrass.
“Morse and Davis were working in a style that was sort of influenced by Italian style but there are also things like this big A.J. Davis porch to take advantage of the view,” he said.
As an artist, Morse was more successful critically than financially and it wasn’t until his patent on the telegraph took off that he had the funds to build Locust Grove. Even though one might assume an invention like the telegraph would have made Morse infinitely wealthy, he actually had to downscale the plan for Locust Grove during construction due to cost. Eventually, the Youngs built a sizable addition.
“We are a self-supporting nonprofit,” said Snodgrass, meaning they don’t receive state or federal historic site funding. “So all our operations are supported by events and weddings. It’s great for us and for people who want a unique alternative venue that really feels like the Hudson Valley.”
Locust Grove Estate
2683 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY
Visitor Center: Open daily April–Dec.; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays Jan.–March.
Mansion tours: Guided tours throughout the day May 1–Oct. 31. April, Nov. & Dec. guided tours on weekends.
Tour fee: $12 Adults, $6 Youths (6-18).
Gardens and grounds: Open 8 a.m. to dusk year-round
(845) 454-4500
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