Beekman, James William, House
Also known as: "The Cliffs"
Why it's listed
Perched on a rocky bluff about 70 feet above Oyster Bay, "The Cliffs" is a wood-frame country house built in 1863-64 for James William Beekman, a New York State legislator, civic leader and philanthropist. Architect Henry G. Harrison designed it in the Rural Gothic style popularized by Davis and Downing, with steep gables, traceried windows, verandas and elaborate brick chimneys. Inside, original coffered ceilings, mosaic floors, marble mantels and ornate woodwork remain. A stable, carriage house, greenhouse, pumphouse, ice house and boat house survive nearby, and the natural setting has stayed largely intact. This unusually complete estate is one of only a few sophisticated examples of its style on Long Island. The grounds also include the Spring Lake archeological site, a shell midden that probably marks a Matinecock village. Surface finds of tools, pottery, European crockery and wampum-making materials suggest occupation in the historic period, and the largely undisturbed site holds promise for future research.
Significance in brief: The house is one of only a few sophisticated examples of Rural Gothic architecture on Long Island, and its dwelling, dependencies and natural setting survive as a complete historical unit. It was built for James William Beekman, a New York legislator and philanthropist. The Spring Lake site is a probable Matinecock village area that could yield rare information about Native village settlement on Long Island.
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 73001212, listed December 12, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | West Shore Rd., Oyster Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | December 12, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001212 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates 1863-1864) |
| Architect / builder | Henry G. Harrison (architect; also given as Henry J. Harrison in the description section) |
| Architectural style | Rural Gothic / Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition stated as excellent and unaltered, on its original site; in use as a private residence and occupied. The setting and outbuildings are described as well preserved. |
| Acreage | 37 |
| Coordinates | 40.87757, -73.54488 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 73001212.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6145549
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.