History

“I spend six months of the year up there. . . That is heaven; New York is—well, New York.”

D. C. French quoted in New York Herald Tribune, April 20, 1930

Daniel Chester French was initially attracted to the property by the beauty of the Housatonic River Valley and the view of Monument Mountain, which became a primary focus for the layout and design of Chesterwood. Furthermore, the old farm’s convenient location between Boston and New York allowed the sculptor to maintain contact with both cities. In 1900, the Frenches moved into a new house designed by the architect Henry Bacon. Bacon’s stucco “villa” was both thoroughly modern and eclectic, with elements of old New England and of Italy. Bacon also designed the spectacular studio in 1898. While Chesterwood became somewhat of a “gentleman’s estate,” French maintained the productive farmland and took an active part in its cultivation. When the sculptor died in 1931, his daughter Margaret French Cresson inherited the property, and it was she who gave the site to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

As you explore Chesterwood—the studio, house, grounds and collections—we hope it inspires a fresh awareness of the sculpture and public art in your community, and of the importance of preserving this rich heritage for future generations.