Harkness Memorial State Park

Eolia-Harkness Estate
Kite aerial photo over the Harkness mansion
Location Great Neck Rd., Waterford, Connecticut
Coordinates 41°18′17″N 72°6′47″W / 41.30472°N 72.11306°WCoordinates: 41°18′17″N 72°6′47″W / 41.30472°N 72.11306°W
Area 220 acres (89 ha)
Built 1907
Architect Lord & Hewlett; et al.
Architectural style Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival
Governing body State
NRHP Reference # 86003331[1]
Added to NRHP November 20, 1986

Harkness Memorial State Park (230 acres (93 ha)) is a Connecticut state park and botanical garden located in Waterford, Connecticut, on the Long Island Sound. The park comprises a 42-room Renaissance Revival mansion, designed by the New York architectural firm of Lord & Hewlett, with a surrounding area containing Italian, Oriental, and Cutting gardens and greenhouses.[2]

History

The park was formerly Eolia, the estate of Edward Harkness, heir to a fortune initiated by his father Stephen V. Harkness's substantial investments in John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil, who purchased the mansion in 1907. From 1918 to 1929, extensive improvements were made by landscape designer Beatrix Jones Farrand. Eolia was left to Connecticut in 1950 and became part of the State Park system in 1952.

As Eolia—Harkness Estate, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The 220-acre (89 ha) district that was listed included 15 contributing buildings and two other contributing structures.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
  2. ↑ Clouette, Bruce (April 7, 1986). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Eolia - The Harkness Estate" (PDF). National Park Service. With accompanying photos from 1985 and 1986

External links

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