8. Oldest Building: Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House, Brooklyn (1652)
“Oldest” is one of the most written-about superlatives here at Untapped New York. We’ve compiled lists of the oldest houses in every borough. The oldest building in all of New York City is the Wyckoff Farmhouse at 5816 Clarendon Road, in Canarsie. It dates from circa 1652. Owner Pieter Claesen Wyckoff arrived in New Netherlands in 1637 as an indentured servant to the van Rensselaer family. He went on to become a successful farmer and magistrate.
Over the centuries, additions were made to the house and its land was sold away. On December 24, 1967, it became the first building designated as a New York City landmark. Today, the house is open to the public and is operated under the auspices of the Historic House Trust. Discover the oldest buildings in each of the 5 boroughs of New York City here and more of Brooklyn’s oldest buildings here!