Lindenwald: Historic Ground Report Volume 1 Documentary Section, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, National Park Service

Stokinger, William; Rubertone, Patricia

The Hudson Valley estate of Lindenwald, located in the town of Kinderhook, New York, served as the home of the eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, between the years 1839 and 1862. Since the construction of the mansion in 1797, the mansion/estate has had sixteen different ownerships which has resulted in various structural and landscape modifications of the property. In 1973, 12.8 acre parcel of the 225 acre Van Buren farmstead was designated the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site by an act of Congress. The National Park Service which is responsible for the maintenance and management of this National Historic Site, has initiated a program for the renovation of the mansion and the restoration of the estate grounds which are scheduled to be opened to the public in 1982--the bicentennial anniversary of Martin Van Buren’s birth. The goal of the documentary research was to describe structures, features and landscaping of the Lindenwald grounds between circa 1797 and circa 1957 based on documentary evidence. The Van Buren period (1839-1862) was of particular interest. In describing the grounds, attention was given to the nature and location of grounds, cover, trees, shrubs, garden plantings, walks, fences, small structures, driveways, gate houses, and outbuildings. Evaluating the archeological deposits and the current disposition of the Lindenwald landscape required a processual view of the evolution of the house site from prehistoric occupations through Van Buren’s improvements and subsequent modifications leading to present restoration. The present report is organized into five sections. The methodology section describes and evaluates the research strategy. The physical environment chapter considers the landforms, climate and ecology of the Lindenwald holding, outlining the physical setting of the site and how that setting might have affected human habitation. The results section is divided into two parts. The first is a discussion of the aboriginal occupation of the Kinderkook region in the Hudson Valley. It presents the known prehistoric sites both on the park parcel and on the original Van Buren Farmstead. The second part of the results section examines the historical ownership sequence of the Lindenwald property, focusing on the structural history of the grounds and its associated landscape modifications. These modifications are indicated on a separate base maps. A summary and appraisal section capsulizes the results of the documentary research and evaluates the changes that have occurred in the Lindenwald landscape. The final section consists of recommendations. The report is supported and supplemented by several bibliographies (literature, correspondence, cartographic and photographic) as well as by a series of Appendices.

Lindenwald: Historic Ground Report Volume 1 Documentary Section, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, National Park Service

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