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The Van Cortlandt Arms LbNA #38735

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Apr 5, 2008
Location:
City:Croton on Hudson
County:Westchester
State:New York
Boxes:1
Planted by:suzietoots
Found by: Pinesbridge
Last found:Feb 6, 2010
Status:FFFFFa
Last edited:Apr 5, 2008
Van Cortlandt Manor is a house and property located by the confluence of the Croton and Hudson Rivers located in the village of Croton-On-Hudson in Westchester County, New York. The stone and brick manor house is now a National Historic Landmark. It is on Riverside Avenue.
Originally, it was an 86,000-acre tract granted as a Patent to Stephanus Van Cortlandt in 1697 by King William III. The manor house was built sometime before 1732 but was not any owner's principal residence until a grandson, Pierre Van Cortlandt, moved there in 1749. At that time the manor house was on a thousand-acre portion of the original tract. Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721-1814), the fourth generation in a dynasty of Manhattan merchants, uprooted his wife Joanna and infant son Philip and transported them forty miles to a thousand-acre tract in Westchester County. This young family's journey to the frontier marks the start of the intensive development of the property. The house remained in Van Cortlandt family ownership until 1945. In 1953, John D. Rockefeller purchased it and began a restoration. The restored manor house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

To the letterbox:
Enter the Manor: Pass the Museum Shop and Ticket Center. You will need a ticket. Adults are $12 and children are $6. Under 5 are free. This is a great experience for you and your children. Worth the cost of admission.
Travel down the “Old” Albany Post Road. Pass the gardens, the visitor center, the Tavern/Ferry House. On your right you will see a historic sign that says: 40 miles to New York. Approx 100 paces from that sign, are 3 dead hemlock trees that have been pecked to death by woodpeckers. On your left will be a stone wall. Two large white oaks sit behind the area you need to look. You will see a black birch tree growing out of the wall. On the left side of tree sits “The Van Cortlandt Arms Letterbox” perched on some of the wall’s stones. Please replace in the same spot.
The Henry Hudson Box in Croton Point Park is close by.