The Wainwright House was founded in 1951 by Fonrose Wainwright Condict after a conversation with the Reverend Norman Vincent Peale. Fonrose decided to dedicate her family estate as a non-profit, non-sectarian, holistic learning center. The estate now includes 5.1 acres of grounds overlooking Milton Harbor, a mansion in style of a French chateau, carriage house and a smaller cottage. 

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Wainwright House has a special place in history. It initially served as a home for the Laymen's Movement, an association of businessmen founded in 1941 to encourage spiritual values in the workplace. Among its members were John D. Rockefeller, J. C. Penney, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Additionally, the United Nations' conferences on conflict resolution were held at the estate. Dag Hammarskjold, Secretary General of the United Nations, presented Wainwright House with a 300-year-old altar made from an African Agba tree, located today in the meditation room.

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For almost 75 years, Wainwright House has been the site of conferences, meetings, sacred ceremonies, and classes in a variety of disciplines, ranging from Far Eastern religions to Christianity, from relatively pragmatic self-help to mysticism-inspired philosophies. Luminaries who have visited the Wainwright House include Joseph Campbell, Deepak Chopra, Ram Das, Aldous Huxley, and Dr. Bernie Siegel.

 

Today, Wainwright House continues to host these events, and serves the Westchester community by providing a venue for social and corporate events, wellness and movement classes, and sacred ceremonies. The facilities include three buildings with meeting rooms, dining rooms, a meditation room, library, solarium, and lodging for programs and retreats.

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Join us to support the Wainwright House mission and be part of sustaining Wainwright House for future generations. 

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