Van Buren, Martin, National Historic Site (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: Lindenwald; Kleinrood
Why it's listed
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site occupies 176.95 acres at 1013 Old Post Road in Kinderhook, New York. Its centerpiece is Lindenwald, a brick mansion built in 1797 for Judge Peter Van Ness in the Federal style. Martin Van Buren, the eighth president, bought the property in 1839 and lived there until his death in 1862. In 1849-1850 architect Richard Upjohn remodeled and enlarged the house in the Italian Villa style, adding a five-story belvedere tower. The district includes the South Gatehouse, Farm Cottage, Upper Pond, agricultural fields and several archaeological sites, including Native American and historic-period locations. Fourteen resources contribute to its character, while thirteen later buildings and features, many from a mid-twentieth century farm complex and National Park Service facilities, do not. The boundary was expanded to match the area set by Congress, adding Van Buren's farmland, which shows how he shaped the estate to reflect his wealth and Jeffersonian agrarian ideals. The National Park Service restored the house in the early 1980s.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for its association with Martin Van Buren, eighth president of the United States, who owned the estate from 1839 to 1862 and developed it as a country estate reflecting his wealth and agrarian beliefs. It is also significant under Criterion C for Lindenwald, which shows Federal and Italian Villa styles and the work of Richard Upjohn. The expanded boundary adds farmland and other resources associated with Van Buren.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12000406, listed July 11, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1013 Old Post Rd., Kinderhook |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | July 11, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000406 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Richard Upjohn (1849-1850 remodeling); original 1797 builder unknown; built for Judge Peter Van Ness |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal; Mid-19th Century/Italian Villa; Mid-19th Century/Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Archeology |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Administered by the National Park Service as a museum; Lindenwald was restored to its 1850s appearance in the early 1980s, and agricultural fields remain. |
| Coordinates | 42.36975, -73.70880 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12000406.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.