Thomas Dodge Homestead

The Thomas Dodge Homestead is a 1.5-story house built with timber framing and sided with natural cedar shingles, featuring a distinctive saltbox roof shape. The main residence is accompanied by several outbuildings including a barn, privy, chicken coop, and storage shed that complete the working homestead.

The homestead was built in 1721 and experienced major expansions in 1750 and again in 1903, marking different periods of growth. These additions reflect how the family adapted the house to changing needs across the colonial era and into the early 1900s.

The property reflects how families in this area managed daily life, with outbuildings dedicated to farming, storage, and animal care that show rural self-sufficiency. Visitors can see the spaces where people worked and lived together across generations.

The site is located on Harbor Road in Port Washington and operates as a museum managed by the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society. The property spans several buildings set across the grounds, so plan time to walk between them and explore each one.

The property retains its original cedar shingle exterior, which displays building techniques from the 18th century and shows how craftspeople of that era protected structures from weather. This natural cladding has remained in its original state, a rare survival.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 40.83890,-73.69750

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:07