Experience Gilded Age style and splendor at this marvelous estate renowned for its elegant gardens and rare Berkshire “cottage.”
Naumkeag is a public garden and historic home in the heart of the Berkshires, Massachusetts.
This 48-acre architectural masterpiece is, at its heart, a family home. In 1884, Joseph Choate, a prominent New York attorney and U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, and his wife, Caroline, hired the famous architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White to design a summer retreat. The result was a 44-room shingle-style home, where several generations of the Choate family lived until daughter Mabel Choate bequeathed it to The Trustees in 1958.
We are open for the season! Please visit the Admission & Hours tab for the most updated information.
This spring and summer don’t miss ViewEscapes, a stunning exhibition by master kinetic sculptor George Rickey
When you visit this National Historic Landmark, carve out time to explore the superlative gardens created by Mabel Choate and noted landscape architect Fletcher Steele. Take in the Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools, flanked by four flights of stairs and a grove of white birches. Elsewhere walk through the stunning beautiful Afternoon Garden, Tree Peony Terrace, Rose Garden, Evergreen Garden, and Chinese Garden, each of which evinces beauty while revealing the playful, inventive spirit of collaboration between Ms. Choate and Mr. Steele, which played out over the span of 30 years.
This spring and summer don’t miss ViewEscapes, a stunning exhibition by master kinetic sculptor George Rickey
Timed reservations are encouraged; a limited number of passes are available on site.
May 26 – September 11
Admission
Trustees Members are always free!
AdmissionDiscounts are available as part of the EBT Card to Culture and ConnectorCare Program. For more information, please reach out to tickets@thetrustees.org.
5 Prospect Hill Road
Stockbridge, MA 01262
Telephone: 413.298.8138
E-mail: naumkeag@thetrustees.org
Directions
From Points East:
Mass Turnpike (I-90), Exit 10. Take Rt. 102 West approx. 5 mi. into Stockbridge. Turn right onto Pine St. and bear left onto Prospect Hill Rd. Follow for 0.5 mi. to entrance and parking (20 cars) on left.
From Points West:
I-90 East to Exit B3, NY Rt. 22 South. Take 1st left onto Rt. 102 East. Follow approx. 7.5 mi. to Stockbridge. Turn left onto Pine St., then bear left onto Prospect Hill Rd. Follow directions above.
Portapotties are available on site for use during our Winterlights event. The first floor of the house will be open with a small pop-up gift shop located inside.
Due to the age of the site, Naumkeag is not ADA compliant—there are many stairs, a steep hillside, and uneven footing on-site. Due to the nature of the trail, our Daffodil and Tulip Festival is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible. Please reach out to aduquette@thetrustees.org for additional information.
All visitors to our Winterlights event must ride a shuttle bus to the site. There will be no parking on site for this event.
A self-guided landscape tour brochure provided with admission to house and/or gardens. Download a trail map here.
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Discover the revitalized public gardens and historic houses at two special places on the North Shore – Long Hill, in Beverly, and Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, in North Andover.
Since the 1870s, Joseph and Caroline Choate had summered in Stockbridge with their young family. Like so many others, both then and now, they fell in love with the Berkshires and decided to build a summer retreat of their own. In 1884, Choate sought the advice of his friend, Charles McKim, of the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. The result was Naumkeag – a gracious 44-room “cottage” with breathtaking views over the Housatonic River Valley.
"We went today to see the gardens and grounds only (covid) and it was really great. The Trustees did a great job staggering the people so it wasn’t crowded and we could still enjoy the wonderful gardens."
– Sirigil, From Needham, MA