This project will directly mitigate the conditions that threaten washington irvings sunnyside (sunnyside), a national historic landmark owned and preserved by historic hudson valley (HHV)

The National Park Service awarded a $1,270,665 Save America's Treasures Project Grant to Historic Hudson Valley to preserve the historic Sunnyside estate, the home of author Washington Irving. The 3-year project (10/1/2024 - 9/30/2027) will address critical issues threatening the structural integrity and preservation of the landmark, including water damage, masonry deterioration, and harmful UV exposure. Key activities include installing a site drainage system, repairing the building envelope, replacing windows with UV-resistant glass, and upgrading climate control systems. These comprehensive renovations will enable the historic home to better withstand environmental conditions, facilitating long-term preservation and ensuring continued public access to this nationally significant cultural site. The Save America's Treasures program provides competitive grants to preserve and protect America's most endangered historic structures, collections, and artifacts.

Sunnyside was the home of author washington irving from 1835 until his death in 1859. IT was americas first literary landmark, an estate noted for its embodiment of the ideals of the romantic movement and the cottage trend of the mid-19TH century, and one of the first structures of its period to be presented as a house museum.through nearly 165 years of evolving practices in preservation, the house at sunnyside, known as irvingscottage, now bears the effects of interrelated and accelerating issues that demand a comprehensive solution. Water penetration, moisture and temperature fluctuations, deteriorating masonry and stucco, and harmful UV light place the exterior and interior of the building at significant risk, along with its invaluable collection. This project, developed from a 2023 condition report conducted by walter sedovic, an architect and historic preservation expert, will take a comprehensive approach that acknowledges the interconnected nature of these issues and addresses their root causes. The project will enable HHV to shift from ad hoc maintenance to a holistic approach that considers the buildings needs from top to bottom, with both exterior and interior solutions. The result will be a building that can more effectively function within its environment, making IT easier to maintain and ensuring its long-term preservation. Project activities and outcomes are as follows:1. Create a site drainage system that collects water from gutters and surface runoff and redirects IT around the cottage. Outcome: prevent water from pooling at, and wicking up, the foundation walls and seeping under the cement cellar floor.2. Adjust size, location, form, and interlocking elements of all gutters, leaders, tubes, flashing, and coping so all elements work effectively together and are consistent with the original design intent of the house. Outcome: move water off of the house and into the site drainage system described above, preventing water from pooling and penetrating the building envelope.3. Repair damage to cementitious, lime-based, and high-fired clay materials on the building envelope, using techniques and materials suited for the location and condition of the damaged areas. Outcome: the building envelope will have a cohesive finished look, will resist water penetration, and will prevent further deterioration.4. Replace existing glass with blown glass panes that incorporate a low-emissivity coating and embedded UV protection. Outcome: near-complete elimination of the harmful effects of UV light and a significant reduction of solar heat gain inside irvings cottage, in addition to increased durability.5. Cut away a small portion of the cement cellar floor and backfill IT with river stones. Outcome: soil-borne moisture will be able to evaporate through the cellar and up through the rest of the house, instead of wicking up foundation walls and footings.6. Replace thermostats with humidistats and connect to a controllable system. Outcome: the ability to regulate relative humidity and temperature within the building during periods of seasonal extremes.project beneficiaries will be sunnysides 30,000 annual visitors who continue the traditions of literary and seasonal tourism that date to irvings time. Visitors from the local region, across the country, and around the globe travel to sunnyside to learn about irvings life and cultural legacy, most notably the american mythology he created around sleepy hollow and the hudson river valley, and experience this treasured site for themselves. Sunnyside holds a unique place in the history of the region and the country. By preserving this site for the future, HHV and save americas treasures will ensure that visitors will be able to visit sunnyside for generations to come.