Clermont State Historic Site

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Clermont
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Location: One mile North of Tivoli, New York
Coordinates: 42°05′09″N 73°55′10″W / 42.08583, -73.91944Coordinates: 42°05′09″N 73°55′10″W / 42.08583, -73.91944
Built/Founded: 1782
Architectural style(s): Georgian
Designated as NHL: November 28, 1972[1]
Added to NRHP: February 18, 1971[2]
NRHP Reference#: 71000535[3]
Governing body: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

The Clermont State Historic Site, also known as the Clermont estate, the Clermont Manor or just Clermont, is a New York State Historic Site in southwestern Columbia County, New York, USA. It protects the former estate of the Livingston family, who lived on the site with seven successive generations over a period of more than 230 years.

[edit] History

The name Clermont derives from "clear mountain" in French and was inspired by the view of the Catskill Mountains across the Hudson River from the estate.

The estate was established by Robert Livingston following the death of his father, the first Lord of Livingston Manor, in 1728; while most of the manor was inherited by the eldest son Philip Livingston, 13,000 acres (53 km²) in the southwest corner, later named Clermont, was willed to Robert.

In October 1777, British Major General John Vaughan, who led a raiding party up the Hudson River, came to Clermont and burned Livingston's home because of his prominent role in the American Revolution. Margaret Beekman Livingston rebuilt the family home between 1779 and 1782. Her son Robert R. Livingston became the estate's most prominent resident, serving as a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase. He also was a partner with Robert Fulton, creating the first commercially successful steamboat, also called the Clermont which stopped at the house on its inaugural trip.

The house is now a New York State Historic Site and was designated a United States National Historic Landmark in 1972.[1],[4] It is a contributing property to another National Historic Landmark, the Hudson River Historic District.

Although located in the town of Clermont, its mailing address is in the nearby town of Germantown.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Clermont. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service (2007-09-10).
  2. ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
  3. ^ Columbia County listings at the National Register of Historic Places
  4. ^ Charles W. Snell (April 20, 1972), National Register of Historic Places Inventory: "Clermont"-Livingston Lower ManorPDF (582 KiB), National Park Service  and Accompanying 2 photos, exterior, from 1971.PDF (103 KiB)

[edit] External links


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