Yaddo was the estate of financier Spencer Trask and his wife, author/poet Katrina Trask. Since none of their four children survived them, the Trasks, being strong supporters of the arts, arranged to have the 400 acre property preserved with a perpetual endowment that could be available to artists, writers and composers as a retreat. Because of its intended use, the cottages and grounds around the main house are off limits to tourists. However, there are formal and informal gardens which are free and open to the public. There are occasional but rare open house events where one may be able to see more of the property.

It is really quite a sight, on our September visit the roses were well past their peak, but there were still a few in bloom. The formal portion is Italianate in design; the informal rock garden is more of a natural, indigenous form.

Hundreds of creative people have been guests here over the years; there are lists at the website. Composers Leonard Berstein and Ned Rorem, and writers Saul Bellow and John Cheever were among the names that popped up as Ye Olde Photographer scanned some of the list.

We walked out and back from our B&B, about a two mile round trip that took us past many awesome private homes, as well as the famous race track.

This gallery is part of the 2014 tour!