Mary Williamson Averell Harriman

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Mary Williamson Averell Harriman was a prominent American philanthropist and conservationist, best known for her pivotal role in the establishment of Harriman State Park in New York. After the death of her husband, railroad magnate Edward Henry Harriman, she championed the preservation of the Hudson Highlands by offering the state 10,000 acres of land and a $1 million endowment to abandon plans for a prison complex in favor of creating a public park. Her efforts were instrumental in shaping the region's landscape and reflect the growing conservation movement of the early 20th century.