Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
Encyclopedia
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve is a state park
located in Suffolk County, New York
in the USA. The park is near the north shore of Long Island
in the Town of Smithtown
. Prior to its current name, the park was called Nissequogue River State Park
, a name now used for parkland on the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center
grounds. Before that, it was simply known as the Wyandanch Preserve.
Originally part of the estate of Caleb Smith (1724–1800), the great grandson of Richard "Bull" Smith, the house was built in 1753 with his father Daniel Smith II. Although it has undergone many renovations, much of the original house still stands within the present building. In 1817, his son Caleb Smith II gave the house to his daughter, and moved to another house in Commack located in what is today the vicinity of NY 25 and NY 454. That house was moved in either 1955 or 1958 to a plot of land behind the Smithtown Main Public Library in the Village of the Branch, New York
.
Throughout the 19th Century, the original house was expanded considerably. By 1888 it was bought by the Brooklyn Gun Club, and conveted into a sportsman’s hunting and fishing preserve, which was named the "Wyandanch Club" in 1893. In 1963, it was acquired by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
.
The park offers hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, a nature trail and recreation programs. It also includes two branches of the Nissequogue River
and the Wyandanch Club Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
as a national historic district
in 1990.
The park operates a nature museum with wildlife displays and nature programs for children and adults.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
in the USA. The park is near the north shore of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in the Town of Smithtown
Smithtown, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 115,715 people, 38,487 households, and 31,482 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,159.9 people per square mile . There were 39,357 housing units at an average density of 734.6 per square mile...
. Prior to its current name, the park was called Nissequogue River State Park
Nissequogue River State Park
The Nissequogue River State Park is located on the banks and bluffs of the Nissequogue River in Kings Park, New York. The park was conceived in 1999, and established on the waterfront portion of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center. The name of the park was originally assigned to what is today...
, a name now used for parkland on the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center
Kings Park Psychiatric Center
The Kings Park Psychiatric Center, known by Kings Park locals simply as 'The Psych Center', is a former state-run psychiatric hospital located in Kings Park, New York...
grounds. Before that, it was simply known as the Wyandanch Preserve.
Originally part of the estate of Caleb Smith (1724–1800), the great grandson of Richard "Bull" Smith, the house was built in 1753 with his father Daniel Smith II. Although it has undergone many renovations, much of the original house still stands within the present building. In 1817, his son Caleb Smith II gave the house to his daughter, and moved to another house in Commack located in what is today the vicinity of NY 25 and NY 454. That house was moved in either 1955 or 1958 to a plot of land behind the Smithtown Main Public Library in the Village of the Branch, New York
Village of the Branch, New York
Village of the Branch is a village in the town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 1,895 at the 2000 census...
.
Throughout the 19th Century, the original house was expanded considerably. By 1888 it was bought by the Brooklyn Gun Club, and conveted into a sportsman’s hunting and fishing preserve, which was named the "Wyandanch Club" in 1893. In 1963, it was acquired by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation operates :*168 state parks*35 state historic sites*76 developed beaches*53 water recreational facilities*27 golf courses*39 full service cottages*818 cabins...
.
The park offers hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, a nature trail and recreation programs. It also includes two branches of the Nissequogue River
Nissequogue River
The Nissequogue River is an long river flowing from Smithtown, New York into the Long Island Sound.Its discharge of a second is the most of any of the freshwater rivers on Long Island....
and the Wyandanch Club Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as a national historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
in 1990.
The park operates a nature museum with wildlife displays and nature programs for children and adults.
External links
- New York State Parks: Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
- Postcard of LIRR Bridge view of the former Riverside Inn, which lies within the park (Smithtown Public Library)
- Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve
