Kingsland Homestead
Kingsland Homestead in Flushing, New York is Flushing’s only surviving 18th century home. Community preservation efforts resulted in its designation and saved it from demolition.
Built by craftsmen in 1774, Kingsland Homestead is the second oldest home in Flushing, Queens.1 The home is a blend of both English and Dutch styles. The English style is evident in the quadrant windows of the south gable. The Dutch style is evident in the divided front and rear doors along with the gambrel roof. Inside, the building retains much of its original trim, wood paneling and mantels.2
Charles Doughty bought the original land where the house was first built in in 1744.3 He owned slaves and was the first in the area to free a slave.4 In 1801, his son-in-law Captain Joseph King purchased the house and it is through him that the site obtained its name – “Kingsland.”5 Captain King’s daughter Mary Ann taught at African American Sunday schools and in 1851 joined the Flushing Female Association. 6 This association was a Quaker group that founded the only school in town specifically for African American children.7 In 1831, Mary Ann married Lindley Murry.8 The Murry family descendants remained in the home until 1956.9 Today, the home is used as a museum and headquarters for the Queens Historical Society.10
1923: House moved from its original location due to proposed subway extension.
1965: Kingsland Preservation Committee founded. Kingsland Homestead designated as a New York City Landmark.
1968: Threatened by the development of a shopping center and new houses, the historic home moved for a second time to Weeping Beech Park.
1971: The Kingsland Preservation Committee merged with the Queens Historical Society.
1972: The National Register of Historic Places adds Kingsland Homestead to the list.
1973: After extensive restoration work, the house opened to the public as a museum owned and operated by the Queens Historical Society.
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the house as a New York City Landmark on October 14, 1965.11 In 1968, the house moved to its current location in Weeping Beech Park.12 In 1972, Kingsland was added to the National Register of Historic Places.13 In 2020, the NYC Landmark Preservation Commission amended the designation to reflect its location in Weeping Beech Park, named after the landmarked Weeping Beech Tree.14
On October 14, 1965 Kingsland Homestead was designated a New York City landmark. Ten witnesses testified in favor of the designation and none opposed. 15 This was the result of the efforts of the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities and the Kingsland Preservation Committee whose collection of concerned citizens and local historic preservationists worked together to save the house from demolition.16
Even after its designation the preservation of the home was still under threat. In 1968, plans for a new shopping center put the building in danger.17 The developer agreed to give the house to the Kingsland Preservation Committee on the condition that they move the structure themselves.18 Over 2,000 letters were written to raise the $20,000 required to move the structure.19 The Committee’s efforts were a success and in September of 1968 the house moved to its current location in Weeping Beach Park.20 It shares the site with the oldest house in Queens, the historic 1661 Bowne House.21
After moving the house, restoration efforts began to transform the home into a community civic center. In 1969, these efforts were thwarted by vandalism resulting in $3,000 worth of damage.22 Consolidating resources the Kingsland Preservation Committee merged with the Queens Historical Society in 1971.23 In 1972, the National Register of Historic Places added Kingsland Homestead to the list.24 Finally, in 1973 the restored house opened to the public as a museum.25 Today, Kingsland Homestead has operated as the headquarters for the Queens Historical Society. The structure boasts a museum, exhibition space, library, and an archive.26
On May 19, 2020 the Landmarks Preservation Commission scheduled a hearing for a proposal to update the Kingsland Homestead’s landmark designation from its original location in Flushing to its current address at Weeping Beach Park.27 Representatives of the Historic House Trust of New York City and the Queens Kingsland Homestead House Museum testified in favor of the amendment.28 The updated was approved and the landmark designation amended to 143-35 37th Avenue, Block 5012 Lot 60 on June 30, 2020.29
- Queens Historical Society
- QHS Collections Department
- 14335 37th Avenue
- Flushing, NY 11354
- (718) 939-0647 ext. 15
1. Stephen S. Lash, “Kingsland Homestead,” National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, 1972).
2. Ibid.
3. Stephen S. Lash, “Kingsland Homestead,” National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, 1972); and “Kingsland Homestead,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 12 April 2020, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0005.pdf.
4. Kingsland Homestead,” Queens Historical Society, accessed 12 April 2020 https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/kingsland-homestead/; and “Slavery and the Underground Railroad,” NYC Arts, accessed 12 April 2021 https://www.nyc-arts.org/events/719/slavery-and-the-underground-railroad.
5. Stephen S. Lash, “Kingsland Homestead,” National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, 1972).
6. “Kingsland Homestead,” Queens Historical Society, accessed 28 October 2020, https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/kingsland-homestead/.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Stephen S. Lash, “Kingsland Homestead,” National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, 1972); and Queens Historical Society, “Kingsland Homestead,” accessed 28 October 2020, https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/kingsland-homestead/.
10. Kingsland Homestead,” Queens Historical Society, accessed 12 April 2020 https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/kingsland-homestead/.
11.“National Register Database and Research,” National Park Service, accessed 7 November 2020, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm#table.
12. Stephen S. Lash, “Kingsland Homestead,” National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, 1972); “Weeping Beach Park,” Queens Historical Society, accessed 20 March 2021 https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/visit/weeping-beech-park/.
13. “National Register Database and Research,” National Park Service, accessed 7 November 2020, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm#table.
14. “Kingsland Homestead,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 12 April 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0005.pdf.
15. “Kingsland Homestead,” Queens Historical Society, accessed 28 October 2020, https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/kingsland-homestead/.
16. “Who we Are,” Queens Historical Society, accessed 4 April 2021 https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/who-we-are/.
17. Thomas W. Ennis, “Fund Sought to Save Landmark: 18th-Century Home in Flushing may Go for Stores,” New York Times (1923-Current File), Feb 09, 1965, http://ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/historical-newspapers/fund-sought-save-landmark/docview/116770707/se-2?accountid=10226.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. “Landmark House Moved to a Park: Shift Caps 4-Year Struggle to Save Queens Mansion.” New York Times (1923-Current File), Sep 30, 1968. http://ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/historical-newspapers/landmark-house-moved-park/docview/118280076/se-2?accountid=10226.
21. Ibid.
22. “Mansion is Guarded After Vandalism.” New York Times (1923-Current File), Aug 12, 1969. http://ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/historical-newspapers/mansion-is-guarded-after-vandalism/docview/118685383/se-2?accountid=10226.
23. “Kingsland Homestead,” Queens Historical Society, accessed 28 October 2020, https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/kingsland-homestead/.
24. “National Register Database and Research,” National Park Service, accessed 7 November 2020, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm#table.
25. “Kingsland Homestead,” Queens Historical Society, accessed 28 October 2020, https://queenshistoricalsociety.org/kingsland-homestead/.
26. Ibid.
27. “LPC Calendars Update to Kingsland Homestead’s Designation,” New York Law School, accessed 31 January 2021, https://www.citylandnyc.org/tag/kingsland-homestead/.
28. Ibid.
29. “Kingsland Homestead,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 13 October 2020,http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0005.pdf.