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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> United States >> Presidential Houses in the United States >> Martin Van Buren's House at Kinderhook, NY (September 2009) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Martin Van Buren's House at Kinderhook, NY (September 2009)

Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), the son of a farmer and tavern worker from Kinderhook, New York, was the 8th President of the United States serving from 1837-1841. He was also the founder of the Democratic Party. Martin Van Buren was not a great orator, but he was an extremely clever and opportunistic politician who knew how to curry favors to advance his career. He was the first President born an American citizen, after the Revolutionary War. He quit school at age 14, but self-educated himself as a lawyer, working in a lawyer’s office. Martin Van Buren married Hannah Hoes, his childhood sweetheart. She bore him 4 sons, and then died after 12 years of marriage at age 35. Martin never remarried. He was interested in state government and gave jobs to and did favors for people so that they would support him. In 1821, he got elected to the U.S. Senate and was reelected in 1827. Being a political opportunist, Van Buren curried favor with and worked to get the popular Andrew Jackson elected President in 1828. Jackson nominated Martin as Secretary of State. He continued to curry favor with Jackson, so that Jackson made him his Vice President in his second term. With Jackson’s help, Van Buren got elected President in 1836. Unfortunately, his election coincided with the Panic of 1837, a terrible bank failure and ensuing economic depression. It was caused partly by the Jackson administration and a spirit of gambling that swept the country. The Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison ran against Van Buren in 1840 claiming that he was a silver-spooned aristocrat, when, in reality, Harrison came from a much wealthier background. Van Buren lost, winding up as a one-term President. Van Buren purchased Lindenwald from William Van Ness, his lifelong friend and former employer, in 1839. He moved into it in 1841 after his retirement. With the help of his son Smith and the architect Richard Upjohn, Van Buren remodeled Lindenwald, between 1849-50, for his family members who were moving into the estate. In 1848, Martin Van Buren ran for President again and was nominated by 2 minor parties, but he got no electoral votes. At the end of his life, Van Buren actively used his influence to try to keep the Union together and to prevent the ensuing Civil War. He must have died a troubled man, knowing that the Union he tried to hold together had split apart.
Martin Van Buren's House (Lindenwald) at Kinderhook, NY cover page.
Martin Van Buren's House (Lindenwald) at Kinderhook, NY cover page.		 Map of Kinderhook, NY showing the location of Martin Van Buren's house, Lindenwald.
Map of Kinderhook, NY showing the location of Martin Van Buren's house, Lindenwald.		 Martin Van Buren, age 56, painted by John Langendoerffer in 1838 (now in the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute).
Martin Van Buren, age 56, painted by John Langendoerffer in 1838 (now in the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute).		 Hannah Van Buren as a young women. She died at age 35 of tuberculosis. Painting is now part of the Granger Collection, New York.
Hannah Van Buren as a young women. She died at age 35 of tuberculosis. Painting is now part of the Granger Collection, New York.
Photograph of Martin Van Buren (1782–1862) shortly before his death (ca. 1860-1862). He died at age 79.
Photograph of Martin Van Buren (1782–1862) shortly before his death (ca. 1860-1862). He died at age 79.		 Sign describing renovations done (1849-50) by architect Richard Upjohn. The house was built (1797) by Judge Peter Van Ness.
Sign describing renovations done (1849-50) by architect Richard Upjohn. The house was built (1797) by Judge Peter Van Ness.		 Architect Upjohn painted the brick yellow and brown and added the 4-1/2 story Italianate tower to break up the symmetry.
Architect Upjohn painted the brick yellow and brown and added the 4-1/2 story Italianate tower to break up the symmetry.		 A Gothic Revival porch and Victorian tracery were added, as well as more rooms for the former president’s family and guests.
A Gothic Revival porch and Victorian tracery were added, as well as more rooms for the former president’s family and guests.
Close-up of the the 4-1/2 story Italianate tower added by the architect, Upjohn.
Close-up of the the 4-1/2 story Italianate tower added by the architect, Upjohn.		 A southern view of Martin Van Buren's house.
A southern view of Martin Van Buren's house.		 A northern view of Lindenwald.
A northern view of Lindenwald.		 The Main Hall, with French wallpaper and a banquet table, served as a family dining room and for conducting political business.
The Main Hall, with French wallpaper and a banquet table, served as a family dining room and for conducting political business.
View inside the Best Bedroom, which was on the ground floor and reserved for Lindenwald's honored guests, such as Henry Clay.
View inside the Best Bedroom, which was on the ground floor and reserved for Lindenwald's honored guests, such as Henry Clay.		 The Green Room was used for socializing after dinner.
The Green Room was used for socializing after dinner.		 The room contains a harp and an organ. Music, parlor games and reading aloud filled the evenings at Lindenwald.
The room contains a harp and an organ. Music, parlor games and reading aloud filled the evenings at Lindenwald.		 Portrait in the Green Room, probably of one of Martin Van Buren's four sons.
Portrait in the Green Room, probably of one of Martin Van Buren's four sons.
The Formal Parlor where politics was discussed with traveling politicians.
The Formal Parlor where politics was discussed with traveling politicians.		 Portrait of Van Buren in the Formal Parlor. He got the nickname, Little Magician, for his silver tongue with politics.
Portrait of Van Buren in the Formal Parlor. He got the nickname, "Little Magician," for his silver tongue with politics.		 Piano in the Formal Parlor. Obviously, music was important in the Van Buren family.
Piano in the Formal Parlor. Obviously, music was important in the Van Buren family.		 The portrait of Thomas Jefferson in the Formal Parlor must have added gravitas to the political discussions there!
The portrait of Thomas Jefferson in the Formal Parlor must have added gravitas to the political discussions there!
Martin Van Buren owed his presidency to his predecessor, Andrew Jackson, who made him Secretary of State and Vice President.
Martin Van Buren owed his presidency to his predecessor, Andrew Jackson, who made him Secretary of State and Vice President.		 The Breakfast Room was more intimate for dining with family or friends and associates.
The Breakfast Room was more intimate for dining with family or friends and associates.		 The table is set with a simple breakfast of bread and fruit.
The table is set with a simple breakfast of bread and fruit.		 Breakfast Room portrait of Mary Singleton McDuffy Hampton, the niece of the wife of Van Buren's oldest son, Abraham.
Breakfast Room portrait of Mary Singleton McDuffy Hampton, the niece of the wife of Van Buren's oldest son, Abraham.
Hampton visited Lindenwald frequently, and she was very fond of the former president.
Hampton visited Lindenwald frequently, and she was very fond of the former president.		 The Kitchen is located in the cellar and was always bustling with activity to feed all the family and frequent guests.
The Kitchen is located in the cellar and was always bustling with activity to feed all the family and frequent guests.		 The table was set up to look the way it did when Martin Van Buren lived there.
The table was set up to look the way it did when Martin Van Buren lived there.		 The Kitchen had the most modern appliances of its day, with a coal burning stove, a hand-operated pump and running water.
The Kitchen had the most modern appliances of its day, with a coal burning stove, a hand-operated pump and running water.
The oven in the Kitchen was used frequently to prepare all of the meals served in Lindenwald.
The oven in the Kitchen was used frequently to prepare all of the meals served in Lindenwald.		 The hand-operated pump that provided the running water in the Kitchen.
The hand-operated pump that provided the running water in the Kitchen.		 Also, in the cellar is the Laundry Room. Van Buren was obsessive about cleanliness and changed his clothes 3 times a day!
Also, in the cellar is the Laundry Room. Van Buren was obsessive about cleanliness and changed his clothes 3 times a day!		 The Servant's Bedroom. Van Buren also bathed every day, which was unheard of in his day when people bathed once a week, or less!
The Servant's Bedroom. Van Buren also bathed every day, which was unheard of in his day when people bathed once a week, or less!
The Servant's Bedroom was for those who lived in Kinderhook. Most were Irish potato famine refugees.
The Servant's Bedroom was for those who lived in Kinderhook. Most were Irish potato famine refugees.		 The Library was another room where Martin and his guests would retire after dinner to talk politics.
The Library was another room where Martin and his guests would retire after dinner to talk politics.		 Before the outbreak of the Civil War, the discussions were over the issue of slavery and of how to hold the Union together.
Before the outbreak of the Civil War, the discussions were over the issue of slavery and of how to hold the Union together.		 A marble statue of Martin Van Buren in front of the window in the Library.
A marble statue of Martin Van Buren in front of the window in the Library.
Political cartoons were popular in Martin Van Buren's day (before the time of television and the Internet).
Political cartoons were popular in Martin Van Buren's day (before the time of television and the Internet).		 This is one of the four political cartoons about his Presidency that are on display in the Library.
This is one of the four political cartoons about his Presidency that are on display in the Library.		 Beyond the fireplace, mantlepiece and mirror, the political cartoons can be seen hanging on the Library wall.
Beyond the fireplace, mantlepiece and mirror, the political cartoons can be seen hanging on the Library wall.		 Smith's Bedroom was used by Van Buren's youngest son, Smith, who moved to Lindenwald with his family in 1849.
Smith's Bedroom was used by Van Buren's youngest son, Smith, who moved to Lindenwald with his family in 1849.
Smith instigated many of the improvements to the house, including a coal furnace and running water.
Smith instigated many of the improvements to the house, including a coal furnace and running water.		 Smith's most novel modernization was an indoor flush toilette, the first one ever north of New York City!
Smith's most novel modernization was an indoor flush toilette, the first one ever north of New York City!		 Fireplace in the bathroom to keep warm during the colder months of the year.
Fireplace in the bathroom to keep warm during the colder months of the year.		 Portrait of Martin as a younger man, which hangs in Lindenwald.
Portrait of Martin as a younger man, which hangs in Lindenwald.
John's Bedroom, where Martin's second son, John Van Buren, slept. He was a lawyer and served as Attorney General of New York.
John's Bedroom, where Martin's second son, John Van Buren, slept. He was a lawyer and served as Attorney General of New York.		 Like his father, John lost his wife, Elizabeth Vanderpoel, after only a few years of marriage.
Like his father, John lost his wife, Elizabeth Vanderpoel, after only a few years of marriage.		 This is probably a portrait of Elizabeth Vanderpoel since it hangs in John's Bedroom.
This is probably a portrait of Elizabeth Vanderpoel since it hangs in John's Bedroom.		 Abraham's Bedroom, Martin's first son. He was introduced by Dolly Madison to his wife Angelica at Martin's inaugural ball.
Abraham's Bedroom, Martin's first son. He was introduced by Dolly Madison to his wife Angelica at Martin's inaugural ball.
Portrait of Angela Singleton. She came from a slave holding family, a problem for Martin who opposed slavery.
Portrait of Angela Singleton. She came from a slave holding family, a problem for Martin who opposed slavery.		 Martin Jr's Bedroom, the 3rd son. He was sickly and died of consumption at 42. He was fond of European ballerina, Fanny Eisler.
Martin Jr's Bedroom, the 3rd son. He was sickly and died of consumption at 42. He was fond of European ballerina, Fanny Eisler.		 The middle bedroom out of 5 on the 2nd floor is the Guest Bedroom. That's a workman at the Palladian window!
The middle bedroom out of 5 on the 2nd floor is the Guest Bedroom. That's a workman at the Palladian window!		 The President's Bedroom, located in the sunny southeast side of the house.
The President's Bedroom, located in the sunny southeast side of the house.
A writing desk for the former president.
A writing desk for the former president.		 There are personal mementos in the room including Andrew Jackson's hickory cane and a Martin Van Buren for President cap.
There are personal mementos in the room including Andrew Jackson's hickory cane and a "Martin Van Buren for President" cap.		 Martin Van Buren died a troubled man on this bed in 1862, knowing that the Union he tried to hold together had split apart.
Martin Van Buren died a troubled man on this bed in 1862, knowing that the Union he tried to hold together had split apart.

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