Montauk State Preserve

Topics:

State Preserves

The historic Montauk estate was the home and estate of William Larrabee, Iowa’s twelfth governor (1886–1890). This 46-acre preserve is located one mile northeast of Clermont in northeastern Fayette County. 

Back to top

About the Land

Constructed in 1874, Montauk was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 1976, the Larrabee heirs donated Montauk to the State Historical Society. It was dedicated as a historical state preserve in 1984.

The preserve sits atop a bluff overlooking the town of Clermont.

Back to top

Directions

  1. From West Union, take Highway 18 east to Clermont (sign: Montauk—Entrance 1/2 mile)
  2. Continue to the preserve entrance north of the highway (sign: Montauk—Iowa Governor Home State Historical Site).
Back to top

The Estate

 In addition to the historic mansion and its landscaped grounds, the estate contains several other buildings and structures, including a: 

  • Caretaker’s house
  • Water tower
  • Well house
  • Laundry
  • Creamery
  • Workshop
  • Barn
  • Corncribs
  • Sheds 
  • Vegetable garden
  • Orchard
  • Statuary

The vintage two-story house was designed by E. Thomas Mix and built in 1874 for $20,000. This twelve-room, Italianate house was made of brick and limestone from a local quarry. 

The governor’s wife, Anna, whose East Coast family had seafaring ties, named Montauk after a Long Island lighthouse. The sweeping circular drive was lined with bronze statues of Civil War heroes Grant, Sherman, Farragut, and Dodge. 

William Larrabee

William Larrabee resided at Montauk from its construction in 1874 until his death in 1912. One of his daughters lived in the house until her death in 1965 at the age of ninety-seven.

Prior to serving as governor from 1886 to 1890, William Larrabee served in the state Senate from 1867 to 1885. His chief interests were agricultural aid, education, transportation, and prohibition. He was a prosperous miller, farmer, teacher, inventor, and banker. 

Larrabee was one of Iowa’s wealthiest landowners during the late nineteenth century. “Thanks to his visionary spirit and crusading temperament, William Larrabee helped change the face of Iowa politics, making government more responsive to the needs of many people,” said Rebecca Christian in the winter 1983 Iowan magazine.

The Larrabee House

As a preserve, Montauk demonstrates the historic importance of Governor Larrabee, the lifestyle of a wealthy Iowa family in the late 1800s, and the furnishings of Victorian America. The original furniture and belongings are still intact. Montauk is managed by the State Historical Society and is maintained as a charming, lived-in atmosphere. 

The house is arranged with flowers and personal memorabilia to reflect seasonal changes in decor, customs, and preferences of the Larrabee family. Nine rooms of the mansion are open to the public, including the: 

  • Sitting room
  • Library
  • Music room
  • Dining room
  • Kitchen
  • Bedrooms

Several other buildings on the grounds have been restored and are open to the public. 

Back to top

Visitor Information

The preserve is open from 12 noon to 4 p.m. from Memorial Day through the end of October. 

Guided tours are available and begin at the front door every quarter hour. Free tours for educational groups may be arranged by appointment. 

Other historic sites in the town of Clermont include:

  • The railroad depot
  • Lincoln Park and Statues
  • David B. Henderson statue
  • 1912 Clermont Opera House
  • Clermont Museum
  • 1937 John Deer tractor
  • Burkhard Riegel’s blacksmith shop
  • Stone Jail
  • Power plant
  • 1927 Hart Parr tractor
  • 1896 Kimball pipe organ (largest in the United States) in the Union Sunday School
  • Larrabee School
  • Gateway to City Park
  • Bandshell
  • Rueben’s Toys
Back to top