Boston Post Road Historic District

The Boston Post Road Historic District is a 286-acre area in Rye containing three pre-Civil War mansions, Indigenous sites, a private cemetery, and a nature preserve along Milton Harbor. The site brings together historic buildings, natural spaces, and archaeological locations in one cohesive landscape.

The district received National Historic Landmark status in 1993 because of its ties to John Jay, who grew up here and is buried in the cemetery. This recognition reflects the site's importance in documenting early American life and legacy.

This district holds one of New York State's identified Indigenous peoples sites, where the landscape still reflects how people once used and moved through this land. The meadow and surrounding views offer visitors a sense of the area's deep historical connections to its earliest inhabitants.

The Jay Heritage Center offers educational tours of the district, while Marshlands Conservancy provides public access to natural areas and wetlands. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the grounds are best explored on foot, with trails crossing varied terrain.

A sandstone mile marker showing 24, based on Benjamin Franklin's numbering system, sits embedded in a wall marking three property boundaries. This small stone is a rare remaining piece of a historical navigation system that most visitors overlook.

Location: Rye

GPS coordinates: 40.95850,-73.70190

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:03