When people think of the Hudson River Valley, generally a handful of properties pop up—Hyde Park, Kykuit, Vanderbilt Mansion, Olana, and maybe Lyndhurst. But one family had an outsize impact on the region’s culture, architecture, and legacy through the variety of estates built by them and others on their land—the Livingstons (one of New York’s versions of an aristocratic family).
Thus, with spring just around the corner (we promise!) Life Along the Hudson: The Historic Country Estates of the Livingston Family by Pieter Estersohn is this week’s selection for Just Booked (our twice-a-month series on gorgeous travel-related coffee table books).
Estersohn's photographs are beautiful—capturing each of these historic properties in, literally, their best light. Even ones that have definitely seen better days, like Staatsburgh, are shown in the glory they once commanded. Thirty-five properties in total are featured, enough for anybody to fall in love and add one to their dream Hudson River trip.
Life Along the Hudson: The Historic Country Estates of the Livingston Family by Pieter Estersohn. Published by Rizzoli. (On Amazon for $75.61)
