Van Iderstine, Charles, Mansion
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1897 for Charles Van Iderstine, a wealthy businessman and civic leader, this large residence sits on a one-and-one-half-acre plot at the end of Idle Day Drive in Little Neck, overlooking Northport Harbor. It is a two-and-one-half story house clad in clapboard, shingle and shiplap, with multiple wings, cross-gables, a varied gable roof and a three-story octagonal tower with a bell roof. A wrap-around porch on paired Doric columns forms a porte-cochère, and a Palladian stained-glass window lights the stairwell. The house replaced an eighteenth-century homestead lost to fire. It is listed as a representative example of the large mansions built along Huntington's North Shore between 1880 and 1920, and it shows the asymmetry, varied materials and decorative detail of the American Queen Anne style. Although the surrounding estate setting has been lost to new construction and the original outbuildings have been altered, the house remains virtually unaltered and keeps a treed landscape. A c. 1950 garage is non-contributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mansion is an outstanding, virtually unaltered example of the eclectic, picturesque mansions built on Huntington's North Shore around 1900. It shows hallmarks of the American Queen Anne style, including asymmetrical massing, a tower, varied roofs, verandahs and a porte-cochère. It is also distinctive within the community of Little Neck.
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 85002544, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Idle Day Dr., Huntington |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002544 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder unknown, built for Charles Van Iderstine |
| Architectural style | American Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence in excellent condition, still used as a residence; no threats known. Interior accessible by appointment only. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.90376, -73.36293 (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 85002544.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5083106
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.