Channels

Sticky Video Player with Ad Breaks
📺 WATCH US NOW!

Look inside a 45-room, 14,000-square-foot historic mansion once owned by the inventor of Morse code

October 7, 2025
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

  • Inventor Samuel F. B. Morse spent summers at his Locust Grove Estate in New York’s Hudson Valley.
  • The 14,000-square-foot Italianate villa, built in 1852, has 45 rooms over six floors.
  • It was purchased in 1901 by the Young family and has remained uniquely preserved.

When Samuel F. B. Morse wasn’t creating Morse code, inventing the telegraph, or painting portraits, he was relaxing on the grounds of his Locust Grove Estate in upstate New York.

Located about 80 miles outside New York City in Poughkeepsie, Locust Grove was built in 1852 on a bluff with views of the Hudson River below. The 14,000-square-foot Italianate villa has a total of 45 rooms over six floors.

Morse, his wife Sarah Elizabeth Griswold Morse, and their four children spent every summer there until his death in 1872. (Morse also had three adult children from his first marriage to Lucretia Walker, who died in 1825.)

The home was then rented to a wealthy local couple, William and Martha Young, who purchased it in 1901 and spent about $15,000 renovating the interior and installing modern amenities like electricity and central heat, according to Locust Grove‘s official website.

The Youngs’ daughter, Annette, recognized the estate’s historical significance and established a nonprofit that continues to preserve and maintain it. Locust Grove opened to the public in 1979.

While the grounds are open year-round, tours of the home are available on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from April through December. They cost $20 per person.

“It’s a really unusually preserved house, so people that are interested in art and history and architecture can always find something here,” Ken Snodgrass, director and curator of the Locust Grove Estate, told me on my tour in 2023.

Take a look inside Locust Grove.

Located in Poughkeepsie, New York, Locust Grove once belonged to Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of Morse code and the telegraph.
The exterior of Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The estate is situated on 200 acres of land. During my springtime visit in 2023, I enjoyed walking through the fragrant gardens to reach the house.
The gardens at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The home didn’t look very big from the outside, but my tour guide, Ken Snodgrass, described Locust Grove as “deceptively large” with 45 rooms spanning 14,000 square feet.
The exterior at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Morse worked with architect Alexander Jackson Davis to design Locust Grove in an Italianate style inspired by Italian villas, with decorative arches and a wraparound veranda.
A wraparound porch at Locust Grove.
The wraparound porch at Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Locust Grove’s interior is unique because it’s almost exactly as the Young family left it, as opposed to other historic homes that have been restored by curators, according to Snodgrass.
The entryway of Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Our first stop after the entryway was the dining room decorated with portraits of members of the Young family, who purchased the home from the Morses in 1901.
The dining room at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Just off the dining room was the pantry, where some of the estate’s 14 full-time staff members plated meals brought up on a dumbwaiter elevator from the basement kitchen.
The pantry at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The drawing room was used to entertain guests before and after dinner. The Youngs also hosted dances and concerts here since the furniture was lightweight and easy to rearrange.
The drawing room at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

In the tea room, my tour guide said that Locust Grove residents and guests enjoyed afternoon tea with a silver tea set from Tiffany and Co.
The tea room at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The music room, another entertaining space, features color-corrected scans of the original wallpaper from 1908.
The music room at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

This receiving room was used for lounging with family and close friends. Martha Young also hosted card games here twice a week.
The salon at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The library at Locust Grove was decorated in an Italian Gothic style, and I loved the collection of 75 teapots atop the shelves.
The library at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The second floor contained three family bedrooms and three guest bedrooms, one of which included a dollhouse made for the Youngs’ daughter Annette by her uncle in 1895.
A room with a dollhouse at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The spacious primary tower bedroom, the largest bedroom in the home, featured gorgeous views of the Hudson and portraits of the Young children over the bed.
The main bedroom at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

I couldn’t believe how large the billiards room was. It functioned as a playroom of sorts, where guests played on a pool table from 1895 and listened to music on a phonograph.
The billiards room at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Our last stop on the tour was the basement kitchen, where staff prepared meals on a wood-burning stove until it was upgraded with coal in 1910 and gas burners in 1920.
The kitchen in the basement of Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Between the estate’s 14 bedrooms and five bathrooms, every day was laundry day at Locust Grove.
The laundry room at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Next to the laundry room, the servants’ dining room and lounge was usually full of staff members writing letters, mending clothes, or carrying out other household tasks.
The servants room at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

After my tour, I visited the museum and gallery at the estate’s visitor center, which featured artifacts from the development of Morse’s inventions, as well as some of his paintings.
Morse artifacts at Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

I enjoyed learning about Locust Grove’s fascinating history, touring the perfectly preserved interiors, and taking in the stunning Hudson Valley views. I can see why Morse’s family wanted to come back year after year.
Talia Lakritz outside Locust Grove.
Locust Grove.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Read the original article on Business Insider

Content Accuracy: Keewee.News provides news, lifestyle, and cultural content for informational purposes only. Some content is generated or assisted by AI and may contain inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. Readers are responsible for verifying the information. Third-Party Content: We aggregate articles, images, and videos from external sources. All rights to third-party content remain with their respective owners. Keewee.News does not claim ownership or responsibility for third-party materials. Affiliate Advertising: Some content may include affiliate links or sponsored placements. We may earn commissions from purchases made through these links, but we do not guarantee product claims. Age Restrictions: Our content is intended for viewers 21 years and older where applicable. Viewer discretion is advised. Limitation of Liability: By using Keewee.News, you agree that we are not liable for any losses, damages, or claims arising from the content, including AI-generated or third-party material. DMCA & Copyright: If you believe your copyrighted work has been used without permission, contact us at dcma@keewee.news. No Mass Arbitration: Users agree that any disputes will not involve mass or class arbitration; all claims must be individual.

Related Posts

The family of a Qatar Airways passenger who died after choking during his flight is suing the airline
The family of a Qatar Airways passenger who died after choking du ...
October 10, 2025
Starbucks just launched its new protein cold foam lineup. It nails what some protein drinks miss.
Starbucks just launched its new protein cold foam lineup. It nail ...
October 10, 2025
Gen Z is redefining the ‘lipstick effect’ with matcha and designer sneakers
Gen Z is redefining the ‘lipstick effect’ with matcha and designe ...
October 10, 2025

Sponsored Advertisement