Planting Fields Arboretum
Why it's listed
Planting Fields Arboretum occupies 409 acres near Oyster Bay on Long Island, once the country estate of William Robertson Coe. Land first cultivated by the Matinecock Indians later became Quaker farms and then asparagus fields. In 1904 the James Byrne family bought farmland here, and Coe acquired the estate in 1913. Guy Lowell enlarged the greenhouses and remodeled the garden house in 1915. After the Byrne residence burned in 1918, Walker and Gillette designed Coe Hall, a Jacobethan Revival house of cut stone and half timbering finished in 1920, with interiors overseen by Charles of London. The firm also designed the stables, garage, gate house and laundry. Fred Dawson of the Olmsted Brothers laid out the heather garden and main road. Coe also brought the eighteenth-century Carshalton Gates from England. He deeded the property to New York State in 1949 for educational use, and it now operates as a public horticultural center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the estate shows the rapid shift of Long Island's northwest shore from farmland to elegant country seats. It is also significant for its Jacobethan Revival main house and well-designed outbuildings by noted architects. Its lavishly planted grounds evolved under Coe's close supervision into a horticultural showplace.
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 79001598, listed January 25, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Oyster Bay on Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | January 25, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001598 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1920's |
| Architect / builder | Guy Lowell, Walker and Gillette, Olmsted Brothers |
| Architectural style | American Jacobethan Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the State of New York, in good condition, occupied and open to the public as an arboretum and educational and cultural center. |
| Acreage | 409 |
| Coordinates | 40.86093, -73.55840 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79001598.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q12065968
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.