An Adaptive Space
The Estate
In 1902 Edith and Teddy Wharton built The Mount on 113 acres purchased from Georgiana Sargent. The entire estate was designed as a complete work of art, informed by French, Italian and English traditions, yet adapted for the American landscape.
On a slope over-looking the dark waters and densely wooded shore of Laurel Lake we built a spacious and dignified house, to which we gave the name of my great-grandfather’s place, the Mount…There for ten years I lived and gardened and wrote contentedly…”
The Mount is one of only five percent of National Historic Landmarks dedicated to women. It is an autobiographical house, one that embodies the spirit of its creator.
The classically inspired Main House, elegant Georgian Revival Stable, formal gardens and sculpted landscape represent the only full expression of Wharton’s influential architectural and landscape theories.
Image: Tinted postcard, c.1902-03, of The Mount, the earliest known image following its completion and pre-dating installation of the surrounding gardens
Facts About the Original Estate
Location
House Design
Architects
Hoppin (Hoppin & Koen)
Builder
Garden Design
Additional Landscape Architect
Principal Buildings
Restored Gardens
Land Parcel
Construction
Costs
Stable: $20,354
Gatehouse: $5,356
Main House Dimensions
Square Footage: 16,850 sq. ft.
Height: west elevation (entrance side) 4 stories; east elevation (garden side) 3 stories
Main House Plan
- Walled forecourt (approximately 64 ft x 78 ft.) Entrance hall (34.5 ft x 12.5 ft)
- Staircase hall (11 ft x 18 ft)
- Gallery (38 ft x 12 ft)
- Dining room (20.5 ft x 25.5 ft) opening onto terrace
- Drawing room (36 ft x 20 ft) Edith Wharton’s library (20 ft x 25 ft) Teddy Wharton’s den (15 ft x 18 ft)
- Terrace (125 ft x approximately 24 ft along eastern façade, wrapping around to north façade), leading to Palladian staircase and gardens
- Edith Wharton’s boudoir, bath and bedroom on north end
- Two-room guest suite plus bath on west side
- Teddy Wharton’s bedroom, bath and dressing room on east side
- Largest guest bedroom and bath (known as the Henry James suite) on east side Interior hallway
Service Wing (South Wing)
Ground Floor: Servants’ dining room, kitchen, serving room and scullery, laundry room, wine cellar, coal-storage room and furnace room
First Floor: Servants’ hallway, butler’s room, cook’s room, butler’s pantry, housekeeper’s room
Second Floor: Linen closet, housemaid’s closet, maid’s room, sewing room, dress closet, bath, stairs to attic floor
Attic Floor: Servants’ bedrooms (8) and servants’ bath
