Founding Father John Jay was born in New York City, but the family moved to Rye when he still was an infant. They Jay Heritage Center occupies 23 acres of a 400-acre farmstead where he spent his boyhood.
When John Jay died in 1829, his older son, Peter Augustus Jay, inherited the Rye property. Peter Augustus razed the rambling farmhouse where John Jay spent his childhood. In 1838, he constructed the Greek Revival-style mansion which dominates the site today. The mansion currently is undergoing restoration, but is open for tours. Check the website for operating hours.
You are looking for a small loc k'n' lock, hidden a short distance from parking. Beyond the site you will see a meadow strectching to Long Island Sound. It is said to be the oldest continuously mowed meadow in the state. Explore and you will find trails into Westchester County's adjacent Marshlands Conservancy Park.