After purchasing the 8.5-acre East Avenue property in 1902, George Eastman hired architect J. Foster Warner (1859–1937) to build a Colonial Revival mansion based on the design of the Root House in Buffalo, New York. Warner, Eastman, and landscape architect Alling S. DeForest (1875–1957) created an urban estate complete with working farmland, formal gardens, greenhouses, stables, barns, pastures, and the 35,000-square-foot, fifty-room residence made of reinforced concrete.
Eastman’s house presented a classical facade of decorative craftsmanship. Beneath this exterior were modern conveniences such as an electrical generator, an internal telephone system with 21 stations, a built-in vacuum cleaning system, a central clock network, an elevator, and a great pipe organ, which made the home itself an instrument, a center of the city’s rich musical life from 1905 until Eastman’s death in 1932. Eastman was involved in every aspect of the construction, paying close attention to detail and requiring the use of high-quality materials. To design the interior, Eastman hired William Rutherford Mead (1846–1928) of the premiere New York firm McKim, Mead & White, which had worked on Andrew Carnegie’s house in New York and on the White House. The total cost of the initial construction was $335,000 (around $9 million today). Eastman’s mansion was completed in 1905, and he celebrated with a gala that October.
In 1919, George Eastman sought to enlarge the conservatory in order to make the space oblong rather than square. His architect at the time, William G. Kaelber (1886–1948), drew up plans to cut the house in two and move the rear section 9 ft. 4 in. to the north using horizontal hydraulic jacks on railroad ties with special wheels and tracks. The project cost $750,000 and took approximately three months.
A fourteen-month restoration of the mansion was completed in January 1990. A nationwide search resulted in the recovery of many of Eastman’s belongings thought to have been lost or destroyed. The many photographs made by Eastman and others, as well as details found in letters, bills, and notes, helped to make the restoration authentic.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Residence from across East Avenue, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Brick driveway leading to front of residence, June 1911. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Gardener at work in the west garden, May 1921. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Chauffeur and automobile in front of carriage house, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Close-up view of mahogany and glass door looking into conservatory, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). View of side of staircase showing oriental carpets, bench, and flower arrangement, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Front view of grand staircase showing french doors and windows opening into the conservatory, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). View through doorway of conservatory looking into the terrace garden, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Aerial view of estate taken from the east, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). View of conservatory showing stained glass window closed, ca. 1912. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Dining room fireplace, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Living room, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Partner’s desk in living room, 1905–32. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). View of conservatory with elephant hung and ivory tusk mounted below, 1928. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). West room, ca. 1910. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Conservatory set up with flowers, ca. 1920. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Third-floor dark room and workshops, ca. 1920. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). View of conservatory expansion taken from the location of the present-day Dryden Theatre, 1919. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Residence raised for conservatory expansion—view of back porch, 1919. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). Workers under house during conservatory expansion, 1919. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
George Eastman (American, 1854–1932). View of residence from west garden during conservatory expansion, 1919. Gelatin silver print. George Eastman Museum, gift of the University of Rochester.
