Van Wyck, Cornelius, House
Why it's listed
Overlooking Little Neck Bay in Douglaston, Queens, this two-and-one-half story wood-frame farmhouse began around 1735 as a one-room-plan house with a living hall and a chamber above. Between 1750 and 1770 it was enlarged to the south and west. The bay-facing west side became a five-bay facade with a Georgian-style cornice, and the walls are covered in long hand-hewn shingles. Inside, massive chamfered ceiling beams, an early staircase, Georgian mantelpieces and raised panelling survive. A small kitchen wing was added on the north in 1930. The house was listed as one of the best remaining examples of early Dutch architecture in Queens and as a rare surviving eighteenth-century Dutch Colonial farmhouse. It is linked to the Van Wyck family, who settled in Queens in the seventeenth century. Two of Cornelius Van Wyck's sons served as delegates to the Continental Congress, while a third remained a loyalist. Stephen Van Wyck inherited and enlarged the house.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the best remaining examples of early Dutch architecture in Queens, with colonial craftsmanship and characteristic Dutch taste. It is also tied to the Van Wyck family, early Dutch settlers in Queens, two of whose members served as delegates to the Continental Congress. The house remains on its original site.
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 83004149, listed October 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 126 West Dr., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | October 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004149 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1735, enlarged 1750-70; kitchen wing 1930 |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial farmhouse with Georgian detailing |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, on its original site and altered by a 1930 kitchen addition, and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Douglaston Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.77315, -73.75278 (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 83004149.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5171462
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.