King Manor

King Manor

King Manor, also called the Rufus King House, is a historic building located at 150th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It was built around the year 1730 and later expanded. The house shows architectural styles such as Federal, Georgian, and Greek Revival.

The house was once part of a large estate owned by Rufus King, one of the United States' Founding Fathers. He used it as his home until his death in 1827. After his family left in 1896, the property became a public park. Today, the building is cared for by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and features furnishings and objects from the 18th and 19th centuries. It is both a National Historic Landmark and a New York City designated landmark.

Site

King Manor is located at 150-03 Jamaica Avenue in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City. It is on the north side of the avenue between 150th and 153rd Streets.

The house is the main attraction of Rufus King Park, which covers 11.5 acres. The park honors part of the old estate of Rufus King, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. The park has many places to play, like a gazebo, a soccer field, basketball courts, and a play area. Near the south end of the park is the mansion and public restrooms. Also in the park, close to the mansion, is the gravesite of a person from the 1800s who was once a slave and was known as Duke.

Before Europeans came to Long Island in the 1600s, Native Americans lived on the island, but there is no proof they were at the King Manor site. The first known building on or near the site was a quartering house shown on a map from 1666. Over time, different people owned the land, and many buildings may have been built near the house, though not all their places are known.

Use as residence

The oldest part of King Manor may have been built as early as 1730, though some believe it was built around 1750. In the 1700s, the house served many purposes, including a farmhouse, an inn, and a home for church leaders. Two leaders of Grace Episcopal Church lived there during this time.

Rufus King, an important American leader, bought the house in 1805. He made it bigger and added trees and gardens. King was known for treating his workers fairly. After King’s death in 1827, the house stayed in his family for many years. The last family member to live there was Cornelia King, who passed away in 1896.

Use as park and museum

Acquisition of land for park

By 1897, people in Jamaica wanted to buy the old King estate. John A. King offered the land to the village for $50,000, which was less than its market value. The village voted to buy the land on June 29, 1897, and it officially became public land on July 9. The land became part of the borough of Queens when Jamaica joined the City of Greater New York in 1898. The park was renamed King Park, and there were plans to use the mansion for city offices. However, by 1899, the house was just cared for by a janitor. Efforts began to restore the mansion and its grounds.

Clubhouse conversion and 1900s

Local women, led by Mary E. Craigie, wanted to turn the mansion into a clubhouse for community groups by early 1900. The King Manor Association formed in February 1900 and began planning to furnish and open the house to the public. The first social event was held there in October 1900. Over the next few years, many community clubs used the mansion, and the house was open to visitors one day a week. By 1904, the house had over 1,300 visitors a year, and this number grew to 2,000 by 1906.

1910s and 1920s

In 1911, there were plans to use the house as headquarters for park officials, but these were stopped after protests. The house was restored, and more clubs used the space. In 1919, two trees from former President Theodore Roosevelt’s home were planted in front of the house. Free concerts were popular in the park during the 1920s. The house was one of the few remaining colonial homes in Jamaica as the neighborhood changed around it.

1930s to 1970s

In the 1930s, there were plans to build government buildings around the house, but these were stopped. The house got new lighting, heating, and plumbing in the 1930s. A fire in 1964 caused serious damage, but the house was fixed up by 1966. Another small fire happened in 1973 but was put out quickly. By the late 1970s, the house was open on Thursdays, and the park was a popular spot for nearby students and visitors.

1980s and 1990s

In the 1980s, the house needed repairs, and the city provided money for renovations that started in 1987. The house reopened in 1994 after a full renovation that cost $2 million. Visitor numbers grew from 2,000 to 15,000 between 1995 and 1999. The park also got new fences and paths.

2000s to present

In 2002, another renovation began, improving the house’s doors, windows, and systems. By 2005, the house was added to the state’s Underground Railroad Heritage Trail. More upgrades happened in 2008, including new park features. In 2020, the house closed temporarily due to health guidelines but reopened later. Ongoing maintenance and improvements continue to help preserve this important historic site.

Architecture

We do not know who designed King Manor. The house mixes styles from Federal, Georgian, and Greek Revival. It is shaped like an "L," with the main house in the center and a kitchen area to the north.

The western part of the main house was built in the mid-1700s and is two stories tall with an attic. The eastern part was updated in the 1800s. Both parts have white wooden walls, but the eastern part has wider details, making it a little uneven. Both sections have roofs with two chimneys each. The main entrance has a small porch with columns, a Dutch door, and windows on either side and above the door.

The rear kitchen area may be the oldest part of the house. It includes kitchens and has sections that are one or two stories tall with triangle-shaped roofs. Both sections have brick chimneys. The southern part of the kitchen area is two stories and has a porch with columns.

Inside, King Manor has many rooms. After updates in the early 1800s, it had 17 rooms, including a drawing room and family room. By the 1990s, there were 29 rooms, some with imported marble fireplace designs.

The first floor has a central hallway that is about 12 by 40 feet. The walls are made of plaster with decorative details. There is a staircase to the second floor at the back of the eastern wall. The western side has a parlor and a library. The parlor has a marble fireplace added in the late 1820s. The library has tall bookcases that once held over 5,000 books about the Americas.

The dining room at the southeast corner is 22 by 34 feet with a curved wall at one end and a fireplace with decorative details. The walls are gold-painted, and the floor has a black-and-white design. Behind the dining room are the kitchens.

The second floor has a similar layout to the first floor. There is a central hallway with a cornice and moldings. At the east end, steps lead to a room that was once used by children or servants. Next to this room is a staircase to the attic. The southwest corner has a sitting room with many original details, including a marble fireplace frame and decorative paneling. The northwest corner has a bedroom that was once used by Rufus King, with wooden panels around the fireplace and built-in closets.

The third floor has smaller rooms, including a caretaker’s apartment under the roof. There is also a cellar under the entire house with wooden rafters and flooring made by hand.

Operation

King Manor is owned and cared for by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, with help from the King Manor Association. This group was formed in 1900 to look after the house and gather historical items. The house became part of the Historic House Trust in 1989 and later joined Cultural Collaborative Jamaica.

The museum’s collection includes items from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as old furniture, a piano, and special portraits. After renovations in the 1980s and 1990s, the house added copies of original furnishings and many books. Real historic pieces remain, like an 18th-century piano from England.

The house has been a place for events and activities since 1900. Early events were only during the day, but later included nighttime meetings, celebrations, and special programs. Today, the house hosts events like birthday celebrations, festivals, tours, and educational classes about history. Guided tours are offered in English and Spanish, and there are special programs about the Revolutionary War and important historical figures.

Impact

In the late 1800s, people liked King Manor because of its strong build and colonial style. Some thought it looked plain, but many enjoyed visiting it and learning about its history.

Today, people still like King Manor. Critics say it is a fun place for families to explore and learn about the past. It has been featured in books, murals, and TV shows. Over the years, it has received many honors, including being named a city landmark and a National Historic Landmark.