Roslyn in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Harbor Hill Estate and the Mackay Horse Statues
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 23, 2021
1. The Harbor Hill Estate and the Mackay Horse Statues Marker
Among the largest estates ever amassed on Long Island was the enormous Renaissance style country house known as Harbor Hill designed in 1899 by Stanford White and built from 1900 to 1902 for Clarence H. Mackay and his wife Katherine. Clarence Mackay (1874-1938) was heir to the Comstock lode silver fortune and was a major figure in the development of the international telegraph business.
The 648-acre estate was located atop the highest point in the area overlooking the village of Roslyn and Hempstead Harbor. The "Harbor Hill" can be seen just to the east of this location.
The estate was divided into formal gardens and terraces surrounding the main house and a 70-acre farm. At the bottom of the west garden, Mackay commissioned two replicas of the famous Marly Horse statues that were built in 1739 for King Louis XV of France.
The 26-foot statues and pedestals were carved by sculptor Franz Plumelet and installed in 1920.
With Clarence Mackay's death in 1938, the Harbor Hill estate was left to his son John Mackay. Due to vandalism during the World War II, the mansion was demolished
this page online
The property was sold in the late 1950s and primarily became the Country Estates housing development.
In the 1950s, the north Mackay Horse Statue was relocated to Roslyn High School. Until 2010, the south Mackay Horse Statue stood in its original location rising above the house at 165 Poplar Drive, East Hills on its original pedestal.
Bruce and Melissa Shulman donated the statue and pedestal to the Town of North Hempstead in 2009. On January 27, 2010, the statue and pedestal were dismantled for restoration and relocation to Gerry Park.
Supported by the Gerry Charitable Trust and private contributions generated by the Roslyn Landmark Society, the restored statue and pedestal were unveiled on October 19, 2013. With funding from Nassau County and the Town of North Hempstead, the statue's plaza and landscaping were completed in August 2018.
Erected by Roslyn Lankmark Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is January 27, 2010.
Location. 40° 47.804′ N, 73° 38.882′ W. Marker is in Roslyn, New York, in Nassau
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 23, 2021
2. Mackay Horse Statue and Marker in Gerry Park
Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area and on Long Island. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Main Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Roslyn World War II Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); Roslyn Historical District (approx. Ό mile away); William H. Tailer Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); Roslyn Grist Mill (approx. Ό mile away); Cedarmere (approx. one mile away); William Cullen Bryant (approx. one mile away); Albertson World War II Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roslyn.
Also see . . .
1. Clarence Mackay. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 6, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Harbor Hill Country Home (Estate of Clarence Mackay). Roslyn Landmark Society website entry (Submitted on May 27, 2021.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 663 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
