Virtual Roadtrip: Hempstead House at The Guggenheim Estate

Sands Point was the famed “East Egg” of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

Stop #10 on our Virtual Road Trip is Hempstead House at The Guggenheim Estate in Sands Point, New York. The Hempstead House is one of four mansions on the Guggenheim Estate, belonging to and managed by The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy. The original owner of the property was Howard Gould, son of the railroad financier, Jay Gould. The property was purchased in 1917 by Daniel Guggenheim, the mining magnate and son of Meyer Guggenheim. The sale included 216 acres and two mansions – the limestone medieval castle called Castle Gould and the Tudor-style castle called Hempstead House. In 1923, Harry Guggenheim built the waterfront Norman manor house named Falaise with the last mansion, known as Mille Fleurs, built for Florence Guggenheim around 1932.

Experience the Gold Coast lifestyle! When you arrive at Sands Point Preserve, you will spy Castle Gould, Hempstead House, and the Long Island Sound as you approach the estate. The centerpiece of the preserve is the great lawn, just a small portion of the over 200 acres of landscaped grounds and hiking trails. Tours of Hempstead House and Falaise are available on a seasonal basis for an additional fee. The conservancy also offers weekly programs, learning adventures, galas, and seasonal events. Castle Gould is not open for tours— the castle is used for weekly programs and private events.

Tour Tip: The Preserve is open to the public seven days a week except for Christmas and New Year’s. Admission is $4.00 per person and allows you to explore the walking and hiking trails, landscaped gardens, and open spaces.

Following the Connection

Thousands of people visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue in New York every day. The museum was originally established as the Museum of Non-Objective Painting. To house the expanding collection, Solomon Guggenheim and the Foundation retained Frank Lloyd Wright to design a new building. The museum opened in its current location in 1959 and is one of only a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States. Frank Lloyd Wright was an icon in his own right. You can find the largest collection of Wright-designed residential projects in the Village of Oak Park, Chicago. Our next stop will show us why so many architectural buffs make the journey to this Chicago neighborhood.

Next Stop: Village of Oak Park, Chicago, Illinois

Detour: Visit the Upper East Side of Manhattan and the Guggenheim Museum. The museum houses an expansive collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and rotating special exhibitions.

Photo: Courtesy of Sands Point Preserve Conservancy

Plan Your Trip

Sands Point is a village on the North Shore of Long Island with amazing views of the Long Island Sound. The village borders the communities and towns of North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, and Huntington. There are many historical and cultural attractions along the North Shore along with little villages to explore at the end of narrow roads lined with impressive homes. Spend the evening at a local B&B, find a quaint café, and stop in a few of the independent shops. Here are some other recommendations from the travel desk at Check-it-Off Travel to consider while planning a trip to the museum.