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| Kingsland Homestead | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kingsland Homestead |
| Caption | Kingsland Homestead, circa early 20th century |
| Location | 140-02 38th Avenue, Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City |
| Built | c.1774 |
| Architecture | Colonial, Dutch Colonial |
| Governing body | Queens Historical Society |
Kingsland Homestead Kingsland Homestead is an 18th‑century Dutch Colonial farmhouse located in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City. The house is associated with local families and regional development in pre‑Revolutionary and post‑Revolutionary Long Island, and today serves as a historic house museum managed by the Queens Historical Society and affiliated with community organizations and municipal preservation agencies.
The property traces its origins to a colonial landholding near New Netherland, reflecting migration patterns tied to Dutch Empire, Province of New York, King George III era land grants and family farms such as those of the Kingsland family, Hendrickse family, and neighboring Pieterse family holdings. During the Revolutionary era the region saw activity connected to the American Revolutionary War, Battle of Long Island, British occupation of New York City, and movements of Loyalist and Patriot households. In the 19th century, the house witnessed transformations related to the growth of Queens County, the development of Long Island Rail Road, suburbanization spurred by figures like Robert Moses and transit expansions including Interborough Rapid Transit Company projects, and demographic shifts tied to Ellis Island immigration patterns. By the early 20th century, the surrounding area was integrated into New York City municipal consolidation processes influenced by leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt and officials of the Greater New York Charter. Later 20th‑century preservation efforts connected the site with advocates from organizations such as the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and local civic groups interacting with elected officials including members of the New York City Council.
The farmhouse exemplifies Dutch Colonial architectural motifs comparable to examples in Flatlands, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and other Long Island sites from the 18th century, featuring gambrel roofs, hand‑hewn timber framing associated with craftsmen influenced by techniques from the Dutch Republic and English colonial carpentry trends seen in structures linked to Benjamin Franklin‑era construction methods. Interior elements include wide plank flooring, period fireplaces reminiscent of hearthwork traditions contemporaneous with Samuel Adams and John Jay era houses, and outbuildings reflecting agrarian operations similar to those preserved at sites like Van Cortlandt House and Wyckoff House. The homestead's materials and joinery provide physical evidence for studies by architectural historians associated with institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, Cooper Union, and preservation programs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of the City of New York. Landscape features once connected the property to regional roadways that later became part of the Queens Boulevard and transit corridors feeding into hubs like Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station.
Preservation campaigns for the homestead were led by the Queens Historical Society in collaboration with municipal authorities including the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and federal programs inspired by the Historic American Buildings Survey and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Restoration work involved architects and conservators who had associations with professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects, the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, and university conservation labs at Columbia University and Barnard College. Funding and advocacy drew support from philanthropic foundations like the New York Community Trust and involvement from elected representatives in the United States House of Representatives, New York State Assembly, and Queens Borough President offices. The project served as a model for community‑based preservation seen in other rehabilitations at sites including the Alice Austen House and the Gracie Mansion maintenance programs.
As a house museum, the homestead operates educational programs coordinated with the Queens Historical Society, school partnerships with the New York City Department of Education, and collaborations with cultural institutions such as the Museum of the City of New York, the New-York Historical Society, and the Queens Museum. Exhibitions have featured material culture interpreters and curators connected to scholarly networks including CUNY Graduate Center, Stony Brook University, and the American Alliance of Museums. Public programming includes guided tours, period‑craft workshops resembling demonstrations at places like Historic Hudson Valley and Living History Farm sites, special events in partnership with neighborhood groups from Jackson Heights and civic associations tied to Queens Community Boards, and outreach to immigrant communities through collaborations with organizations such as Make the Road New York.
The homestead occupies a locus in Queens cultural history where preservation intersects with community identity and multicultural celebrations, hosting events that connect to broader civic commemorations like Borough of Queens Day initiatives and heritage festivals aligned with neighborhoods influenced by waves from South Asia and Latin America. It participates in citywide heritage programming alongside landmarks like Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty National Monument, and participates in initiatives organized by entities such as the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The site's role in film, local media features, and academic studies links it to cultural producers and scholars associated with CUNY, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and documentary efforts funded by councils like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New York State Council on the Arts.
Category:Houses in Queens, New York Category:Historic house museums in New York (state) Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1774