Long Island homes have a rich history. Many have a story to tell. Some are even rumored to be haunted! So where do you find these homes and experience their stories for yourselves? Our REALTORS® know just where to go to find the most interesting and beautiful homes to tour in the area. Here are a few worth exploring.

Long Island Historic Homes

Coindre Hall - Huntington, NY

Address: 101 Browns Rd, Huntington, NY 11743

In 1912, Coindre Hall was the 40-room mansion home of pharmaceutical magnate George McKesson Brown. Today, it's a historic landmark you can tour. Built in a medieval French style, it's the height of early 20th century opulence, with winding staircases, a grand ballroom, and a roofed piazza overlooking Coindre Hall Park. It's also available for weddings and other private events, with event packages that include:

• Sunday Brunch Party
• Cocktail Party
• Harborside Luncheon

Located near Huntington homes for sale, it's also reportedly haunted, with sightings of mysterious figures in period clothing wandering the halls.

The Phillips House - Rockville Centre, NY

Address: 28 Hempstead Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Formerly a Victorian-era home, the Phillips House is now a museum packed with history. Every room is furnished with authentic period décor, from 19th-century cookbooks and cooking tools in the kitchen to the marble-top table, tea service, and pianoforte in the back parlor, to the mounted display of old carpentry tools. Located near Rockville Centre homes for sale, the house is open to the public Saturday and Sunday afternoons, or for group tours by special request.

Oheka Castle - Huntington, NY

Address: 135 W Gate Dr, Huntington, NY 11743

A shining example of Long Island's Gold Coast Era, Oheka Castle combines the look of a medieval French chateau with 1920s American style. Formerly the home of wealthy philanthropist Otto Herman Kahn, it now operates as a hotel, where you can stay in one of 34 guestrooms and suites for a firsthand experience of early 20th-century luxury. Or if that's a little out of your price range, you can take a tour of the house and grounds, where you'll explore:

• The ballroom
• The library
• The Formal Gardens

The area is also rumored to be haunted, with reported sightings of shadowy figures around the bushes outside and near Kahn's portrait.

Chelsea Mansion - East Norwich, NY

Address: 34 Muttontown Ln, East Norwich, NY 11732

Chelsea Mansion is one of Long Island's great monuments to upper-class life in the 1920s. Inspired by a farmhouse Benjamin Moore saw along the Yangtze River, the house combines Chinese architecture with 18th century English and French influences. In addition to the home itself, the surrounding grounds are breathtaking, with walking paths that lead you through a circular moon gate and past trees, flowers, hedges, ferns, and ponds of lotus leaves. Located near East Norwich homes for sale, be sure to check out the Sert Gallery, which features a sprawling, 85-foot mural by artist Jose Maria Sert.

Stony Brook Grist Mill - Stony Brook, NY

100 Harbor Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11790

By far the oldest structure on this list, Stony Brook Grist Mill dates back to 1751. During the Revolutionary War, it provided grain to British soldiers and was one of the most fully equipped milling facilities of its time, with apparatus to mill all different grains, as well as pressing wine grapes. Now, it provides general tours of the mill's history, as well as more in-depth tours like The Dusty Program and The Art and Science of Hydraulics, which demonstrate the mill's inner workings. And don't forget to check out the Country Store gift shop, where you'll find:

• Jams and jellies
• Colonial cookbooks
• Antique kitchen utensils

Located near Stony Brook homes for sale, the mill is also rumored to be haunted, with reports of echoing footsteps, haunted screams, and sightings of a young girl or a man in colonial clothing around the upper floors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are any of these historic Long Island homes actually open to the public for tours?

Yes. Most of the homes on this list offer public tours. The Phillips House in Rockville Centre welcomes visitors on weekend afternoons, with group tours available by request. Oheka Castle in Huntington offers guided tours of its grounds and interior, and the Stony Brook Grist Mill runs both general history tours and specialized programs on its milling process. Coindre Hall and Chelsea Mansion can also be visited, with Coindre Hall additionally available to book for private events like weddings.

Can I host an event, like a wedding, at one of these historic properties?

Definitely. Coindre Hall in Huntington offers event packages for weddings, cocktail parties, and brunches in its grand ballroom and piazza. Oheka Castle takes this a step further. Since it now operates as a boutique hotel, you can actually stay overnight in one of its 34 guestrooms and suites in addition to hosting an event there.

Is it true that some of these homes are haunted?

According to local legend, yes. Several of these homes have reputations for paranormal activity. Coindre Hall is said to have sightings of mysterious figures in period clothing, Oheka Castle has reports of shadowy figures near the grounds and Otto Kahn's portrait, and the Stony Brook Grist Mill is rumored to have echoing footsteps and sightings of a young girl or man in colonial dress. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the history behind these stories is part of what makes each property worth visiting.

Create Your Own History in Your Long Island Home

The best stories are the ones you make yourself. There are plenty of Nassau County homes for sale and Suffolk County homes for sale, and one of them is the place where your story begins. Contact us and let us help you find that home.