Castle Rock
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View of castle from east, along NY 9D, 2009
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Location | Garrison, NY |
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Nearest city | Peekskill |
Coordinates | 41°22′08″N 73°56′20″W / 41.36889°N 73.93889°WCoordinates: 41°22′08″N 73°56′20″W / 41.36889°N 73.93889°W |
Area | 154 acres (62 ha) |
Built | 1881 |
Architect | J. Morgan Slade |
NRHP reference # | 77000972 |
Added to NRHP | 1977 |
Castle Rock is the estate of former Illinois Central Railroad president William H. Osborn in Garrison, New York, United States. It sits on the hill of the same name, looking down on the Hudson River 620 feet (190 m) below. Visible from West Point across the river and traffic on NY 9D passing through Garrison, it has become one of the most recognizable man-made landmarks of the Hudson Highlands.
The Osborn family, including paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn and his son, conservationist Henry Fairfield Osborn, Jr, has owned and lived in it since it was built by J. Morgan Slade in 1881 as a summer residence, although the original acreage has been subdivided considerably since then. In 1977 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of the remaining land is now open to the public for hiking.
The rough-cut stone castle-like main house is built around a main block with a conical-roofed round tower. Porches and verandas project from many sides of the home to take advantage of the views of the river and mountains in the area. The roof is consistent red slate, with dormers of differing shapes and sizes scattered throughout. One gable to the east uses dressed stone, in contrast with the rest of the building. A north wing with library and extra bedrooms were added later. Four interior chimneys are within the mansion.