The lively and lavish spirit of Gold Coast entertaining lives on at NYIT de Seversky Mansion. The story of this magnificent estate began in 1916, when businessman, inventor, and philanthropist Alfred I. du Pont commissioned famed architect Thomas Hastings to design his new residence on Long Island’s North Shore. Other captains of industry of the time were also building grand showplaces here, earning this area bordering Long Island Sound the nickname "Gold Coast." Du Pont’s White Eagle, as the mansion was then called, was completed in 1918 at a cost of $1.1 million.
In 1926, DuPont sold the estate to Fredrick E. and Amy Phipps Guest, who renamed it Templeton. Mr. Guest, Winston Churchill’s first cousin, was the grandson of the seventh Duke of Marlborough. Mrs. Guest was the daughter of Henry Phipps, Andrew Carnegie’s partner in the Carnegie Steel Company. When her parents gave up their Fifth Avenue residence in Manhattan in 1928, she had its entire marble entry hall and stairs disassembled and moved to the mansion. There, the newly installed staircase led to 13 classic European country-styled bedrooms and parlors originally designed by Charles of London.
Mrs. Guest stayed on at the estate after her husband’s death in 1937. Upon her death in 1959, the mansion was left to her son, Winston Guest, a well-known international polo player. In 1972, New York Institute of Technology purchased Templeton from the Guest family and renamed it after the famous Russian aviator, Alexander P. de Seversky, a member of the NYIT Board of Trustees who was instrumental in the acquisition.
Today, NYIT de Seversky Mansion's bedrooms and parlors have become NYIT offices, and the mansion hosts a variety of academic events. Among the most prominent is the NYIT School of Management's annual gala, which provides real-world experience for the hospitality management students who plan and organize the affair.
Even with its modern updates, exploring the mansion's historic interior is like stepping back in time. The main ballroom, with its hand-carved wood-paneled walls and large stone fireplace, originally served as the living room. The Library was once a study, the Pub was a breakfast room, and the Terrace Room had a previous life as the formal dining room, where such illustrious guests as Truman Capote, Salvador Dali, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were entertained.
NYIT de Seversky Mansion's rich tradition of elegance and glamor continues to thrive to this day—and we are pleased to share it with all who appreciate its charms. We invite you to contact us and learn how we can help you create the perfect event, customized for you.