Site #7: Centerport

This curious albumen print of an original Lange watercolor shows a panorama looking pver the Centerport Harbor. Along the bottom, the artist lists names and vacancies for various hotels and inns dotting the main thoroughfares. Can you still figure out where this view might be today?

Centerport, like so many other towns along the North Shore, was a popular tourist destination in the late nineteenth century. Sailing and visiting resorts in the area became a popular activity for folks looking to escape New York City. During the early twentieth century, Centerport captured the attention of William Kissam Vanderbilt II—an avid sailor and yachtsman. Over several building campaigns between 1910 and 1936, Vanderbilt funded the construction of a Spanish Revival country house in Centerport with a motorcar garage and boathouse on the waterfront below. The estate is now a museum that shows a glimpse into the lives of Long Island's wealthiest inhabitants during the peak of its Gold Coast era. Take a trip north along Little Neck Road to check out the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium!