History

The Home and Legacy of Rufus King

Rufus King (1755 - 1827) bought this house and property in 1805 as a country estate, where he led a conventional family life in Jamaica, Queens (then Long Island) with his wife Mary Alsop King, their five children, and hired help. After moving in full time, they enlarged the house in 1810 and expanded the property to 150 acres. A devoted scholar of agricultural science, Rufus focused on improving the land and experimenting with crops, turning it into a successful working farm. 

King was a passionate advocate for the early anti-slavery movement in America and used his platforms as our first New York Senator, Ambassador to Great Britain, and signer and framer of the US Constitution to fight slavery in the United States until the end of his life. After his death in 1827, Rufus’ eldest son John Alsop King (1788 - 1867) bought the house and farm from his father’s estate. Like his father, John made his career in politics, serving in the New York State Assembly, U.S. Congress, and as Governor of New York from 1857 - 1859. John carried on his father’s legacy of anti-slavery advocacy and fought for the arrest of men who kidnapped free Black New Yorkers and sold them into slavery. 

John’s daughter Cornelia King (1824 - 1896) was the last King family member to live at King Manor. After she passed, the house was purchased by the City of New York and preserved by a group of women who formed the King Manor Association of Long Island, Inc in 1900. 

Today King Manor Museum is the second longest-running historic house museum in New York City, and our mission is to interpret founding father Rufus King’s political legacy and antislavery history to teach critical thinking for a healthier democracy. We have free tours, festivals, crafts, and more!