You probably wouldn’t expect to see a house that looked like this in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, but the Wyckoff House isn’t an ordinary dwelling.
In fact, it’s the oldest standing building in all of New York City, dating back to at least 1652.
A Dutch immigrant named Pieter Claesen Wyckoff purchased the home in 1652 from a fellow Dutchman who was recalled to Amsterdam.
The house was home to the Wyckoff family for centuries as it was passed down through the generations until it was finally sold to a private buyer.
The family created the Wyckoff House & Association, Inc. in 1937 to make sure the structure wouldn’t be torn down. In 1961, the family repurchased the house.
In 1965, the Wyckoff house became the first structure to be designated as a New York City landmark and in 1969, the house was donated to the Historic House Trust and the New York City Parks Department.
It wasn’t until 2001 that the house was opened to the general public.
If you ever find yourself in the NYC area, you should go check out the Wyckoff house.
Take a look at the video below for more information about this unique historical gem.
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