Martin Van Buren named his home “Lindenwald” for the linden trees that lined the adjacent road. He wanted his Federal-style home to resemble an Italian villa so an Italianate tower was added to the property.   

Van Buren purchased the property of 137 acres in 1839. He lived at Lindenwald from 1841 until his death in 1862, spending most of his time as a gentleman farmer. He orchestrated most of his political activities from the home, first as a candidate for the Democratic nomination in 1844, and then again as a candidate for the Free Soil Party in 1848.