A century ago, Long Island’s Gold Coast was a world of lavish estates hidden behind tall gates, reserved for the elite. Today, some of these grand homes welcome the public, including Chelsea, a 40-room mansion in Muttontown, New York, that blends French Renaissance and Chinese influences. Built in the 1920s by Benjamin and Alexandra Moore, Chelsea offers visitors a rare look at a uniquely styled retreat born from a romantic voyage along China’s Yangtze River.

An Estate Born from a Dream

Inspired by a striking white manor seen during their 1921 honeymoon cruise, the Moores brought their vision to life in 1923 with the help of renowned architectural firm Delano & Aldrich. By 1924, they moved into the mansion they named Chelsea, after the Manhattan neighborhood tied to Benjamin’s ancestry. The house featured a white stucco façade, black trim, hipped roofs, a brick tourelle, and subtle Chinese accents—a fusion as personal as it was architectural. The estate included a gatehouse, stables, a greenhouse, a pond, and intricate gardens crafted by Innocenti and Vitale.

A Home of Joy and Heartache

Chelsea became the Moores’ family home, where they raised three children: Alexander, Alfred, and Linda. A children’s wing was added in 1929, expanding the estate’s warmth. But sorrow came in 1938, when Benjamin passed away from heart complications at Chelsea. Alexandra continued living there, filling the house with rare artifacts gathered on her travels. She remarried in 1957, but her second husband, Robert McKay, died the following year. Despite her grief, Alexandra remained—living alone from 1959 onward, deeply tied to Chelsea.

From Private Haven to Public Treasure

In 1964, Alexandra donated 40 acres of Chelsea’s land—excluding the house itself—to Nassau County, laying the foundation for what became the Muttontown Preserve. When the county later acquired neighboring properties, including the former Knollwood estate, the 550-acre preserve officially opened in 1968. Alexandra donated the remainder of Chelsea in the 1970s under the condition that she could remain there until her death. Visitors could now stroll the estate’s grounds—and sometimes even spot Alexandra herself. She passed away in 1983 at the age of 95, leaving Chelsea in public hands.

Chelsea Today: A Window into the Past

Today, Chelsea is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains part of the Muttontown Preserve. Though the main house is tenant-occupied and rarely open, the estate’s exterior, gardens, and moat continue to draw admirers. With every step across its lawns, visitors experience echoes of the Moore family’s story—a blend of love, vision, and endurance.

Chelsea serves not only as an architectural gem but as a reminder that history, when preserved, can become a shared legacy.