Hempstead House

Hempstead House, also known as the Gould-Guggenheim Estate, is a historic property located at 95 Middle Neck Road in Sands Point on Long Island's North Shore in Nassau County, New York. Construction of the main residence began in 1909 for Howard Gould, son of railroad tycoon Jay Gould, and was completed in 1912 for Daniel Guggenheim. Designed by architects Allen and August among others, the structure exemplifies Late 19th and 20th Century Revival architecture. The estate sits within a vast 216-acre preserve that features two distinct castle-like buildings: the 50,000-square-foot Hempstead House and the even larger Castle Gould. At its peak, the sprawling grounds required a staff of over 200 people, including farmers and house servants, to maintain the luxurious grounds and buildings.

During its heyday in the 1920s, Hempstead House was renowned as one of the most lavish estates on Long Island's Gold Coast. The three-story main house contains forty rooms, highlighted by an eighty-foot tower and opulent interiors such as a library copied from the palace of King James I and a billiard room featuring gold leaf ceilings and woodwork from a 17th-century Spanish palace. The estate once boasted a sunken Palm Court with 150 species of rare orchids, an aviary for exotic birds, and medieval tapestries. Today, the property serves as the Sands Point Preserve, offering public access to its historic structures and natural landscapes. Its significant cultural and architectural value was formally recognized when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 29, 2006.