National Park Service Celebrates Gift of William Floyd Estate

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News Release Date: October 5, 2015

Contact: MaryLaura Lamont, 631-399-2030

Contact: Elizabeth Rogers, 631-687-4766

Patchogue, NY - On October 10 and 11 the National Park Service (NPS) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the gift of the William Floyd Estate, a unit of Fire Island National Seashore located in Mastic Beach on Long Island, with tours of the Old Mastic House and a special exhibit at the curatorial facility. 

"We owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Nichols and the Floyd family for their generous donation," said William Floyd Estate Site Manager Chris Olijnyk. "The Estate provides the opportunity to explore more than 250 years of family, social, and architectural history through the changes made to the house, the furnishings, and other items on display." Rangers and volunteer docents will lead hour-long tours through the 25-room historic home highlighting the intimate relationship the Floyd family had with the house and the surrounding countryside. At 10:00 am,noon, and 2:00 pm each day a special exhibit of rarely seen items from the Seashore's museum collection will be on display at the curatorial facility. Space is limited and reservations are requested. 

Visitors may walk the grounds that were part of a 4,400-acre plantation and visit eight generations of Floyds in the family cemetery. The William Floyd Estate is open through November 11 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday through Sunday.

More than 600 acres were donated on October 9, 1965 by Mrs. Cornelia Floyd Nichols, her eldest son William Floyd Nichols, her only daughter Mary Nichols Weld, and her son-in-law David Weld. In 1975 the family terminated their use rights of the Old Mastic House, the 12 outbuildings, and the surrounding 34 acres of property. The house was officially turned over to the NPS in 1976 to coincide with the Nation's Bicentennial.

William Floyd was one of fifty-six men who risked their lives to sign their names to the Declaration of Independence. At age 41, Floyd was the youngest of New York's four signers and the only signer from Suffolk County. William Floyd was a wealthy landowner and local politician born in the Old Mastic House, now a part of the William Floyd Estate.