Coe Hall

Coe Hall, officially known as the Main House at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, is a grand estate located in Upper Brookville on Long Island's historic Gold Coast. Constructed in 1915, this 67-room mansion was designed by architects Guy Lowell and the firm Walker & Gillette in the distinctive Tudor Revival style. The property spans over 400 acres and features extensive grounds originally shaped by renowned landscape architects including the Olmsted Brothers. The name Planting Fields honors the Matinecock Indians who once cultivated the rich soil of these clearings high above the Long Island Sound.

The estate holds significant historical value as the former home of William Robertson Coe, a prominent insurance and railroad executive, and his wife Mary Mai Huttleston Rogers, the daughter of Standard Oil magnate Henry H. Rogers. Acquired by the Coes in 1913, the property was transformed from a landscape of scrub and locust trees into a meticulously planned arboretum featuring rare plant collections, greenhouses, and an herbarium containing over 10,000 specimens. Notable early enhancements included the transport of massive beech trees from Massachusetts to connect the new estate with Mrs. Coe's childhood home, symbolizing the family's deep ties to the region during America's Gilded Age.

Today, the site operates as a New York State Historic Park and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While formerly referred to colloquially as Coe Hall, the main residence now serves as a historic house museum open to the public. Visitors can explore preserved interiors such as Mr. Coe's bedroom and the Buffalo Room, alongside woodland paths and formal gardens that reflect the original vision of its creators. The park remains a vital cultural landmark, preserving the architectural grandeur and horticultural legacy of one of Long Island's most impressive country estates.