BRIDGEHAMPTON MUSEUM

—– Nathaniel Rogers House —–

The Nathaniel Rogers House was built c. 1840 by famed painter of miniature portraits Nathaniel Rogers, and included three full stories and a fourth-story cupola, an Ionic two-story front porch with four columns, and elegant rooftop balustrades. The house was converted from a private residence in 1885 into a hotel and was renamed the Hampton House. It reverted to a private residence in 1949 by the Hopping family, who had been the Hampton House owners and who continued to live in the house until 2004. The House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a Town of Southampton Landmark.

Nathaniel Rogers (1787-1844), one of the founders of the National Academy of Design, was one of the most respected and popular miniaturists of the 19th century and has been described as being the first in rank among American miniature painters. Rogers was born in Bridgehampton, to a farmer and the daughter of a local minister. After moving to New York City, Rogers quickly attained prominence and between 1817 and 1831 he exhibited at the American Academy of Fine Arts, and the National Academy of Design.

Rogers prospered in his career and in 1839 retired to Bridgehampton and bought and re-modeled an 1820 Federal style house built and owned by Abraham Rose. His home is considered architecturally significant, and according to Preservation Long Island (formerly SPLIA), is one of the two most important surviving Greek Revival structures on Long Island.

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