Bush-Holley House, National Historic Landmark in Cos Cob, Greenwich, Connecticut.
Bush-Holley House is a colonial-era dwelling built in 1730 with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling and a central entrance hall that connects two original structures. The home now contains eight rooms that reflect different periods and showcase furnishings, artwork, and everyday objects from its complex past.
A Dutch farmer named Justus Bush acquired the property in 1738, and his son David later enlarged it into a substantial dwelling. Over subsequent centuries, the house transformed from a farmstead into an important center for artistic activity and cultural exchange.
From the late 1800s to early 1900s, the house served as a gathering place for American Impressionist painters who lived and worked in the surrounding area. This artistic community left a lasting mark on the village and its cultural identity.
The house is most accessible during warmer months when tours are regularly available, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the older floors are uneven in places. The building's layout spans multiple levels, so be prepared for some stairs and transitions between connected rooms.
The eight rooms are divided to represent two distinct historical moments, with one section showing how people lived during the early nation-building period around 1800 and another reflecting the artistic movement of the early 1900s. This separation lets visitors directly compare two very different ways of life under one roof.
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