Visiting Nassau County's Gold Coast
Long Island has its share of famous estates from that period. Amon them, the Falaise mansion, which is one of the few mansions left from Long Island�s Gold Coast era, is now open for tours. The mansion and its impressive grounds are certainly worth a visit, and open up a window to a time
gone by.
Falaise was built on a bluff above the Long Island Sound in 1923 for Harry F. Guggenheim and his wife, Caroline, on what is now the Sands Point Preserve. The fascinating architecture of the mansion is French eclectic, based on a 13th-century Norman manor house.
Exterior features include an enclosed cobblestone courtyard, thickly mortared brick walls, a steeply pitched roof of heavy tile, and a round tower. Inside, a Medieval atmosphere pervades, with arches, thick wood beams, textured plastered walls, and carved stone materials. Falaise is also furnished with antiques, many from the 16th and 17th centuries, wood carving sculpture, Renaissance paintings, and some
modern art.
The son of noted 19th-century industrialist and philanthropist Daniel Guggenheim, Harry Guggenheim was himself a businessman, diplomat and philanthropist who served as a Navy pilot in both world wars. Guggenheim�s lifelong fascination with aviation led to friendships with Charles Lindbergh, a frequent visitor to Falaise, and rocket pioneer Robert Goddard. Guggenheim also started up Newsday with his third wife, Alicia Paterson.
Perhaps the most impressive of the North Shore�s early-20th-century estates, Sands Point first served as the home for railroad heir Howard Gould and was later purchased by Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. The preserve is dominated by the massive English Manor house, Hempstead House, as well as the 100,000-square-foot stable, Castlegould.
In addition to the homes, Sands Point has beautiful walking trails, wooded areas and a shoreline. Tours of Falaise, which are given until October, are held Thursday through Sunday, every hour from noon to 3 p.m.
Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for seniors. Falaise is located at 127 Middleneck Rd., in Sands Point. For more information, call (516) 571-7900 or visit www.nassaucountyny.gov/parks.
