Historic Hudson Valley Landmarks Reopen

Historic Hudson Valley Landmarks Reopen

After a long COVID break, Historic Hudson Valley has quietly reopened its National Historic Landmarks for public tours and other events. Philipsburg Manor, Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, and Union Church reopened in early May while Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate, opened on May 21. All four sites will be open to the public on Memorial Day weekend and through November.

Phiilpsburg Manor: Historic Hudson Valley sites include, Philipsburg Manor, a trading center featuring an historic grist mill and a beehive oven, is restored to its 1750 appearance when it was home to several hundred tenant farmers and two dozen African slaves. It recently received a multi-million dollar facelift to build a new walking bridge over its millpond. Programs and events show how Dutch, African, and Native American cultures became entwined at this colonial outpost. It is the country’s first living history museum to focus on the history of northern slavery. Guided tours which include the grounds, Manor House and grist mill are conducted Friday-Sunday, May 6-November 13, as well as Memorial Day, July 4, and Columbus Day. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (65+) and young adults (18-25), and $10 for children. Admission is by timed entrance. Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., two miles north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Get Tickets Here.

Washington Irving’s Sunnyside: At Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, visitors can explore the author’s cottage and the bucolic grounds, on the banks of the Hudson River, which were designed by Irving himself, while learning about the man who wrote America’s favorite ghost story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Whose characters, from the Headless Horseman to Rip Van Winkle, are global icons, and Irving’s legacy lives on at his whimsical estate. The site will be open for guided tours Friday-Sunday, May 6-November 6, as well as Memorial Day and July 4. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (65+) and young adults (18-25), and $10 for children. Admission is by timed ticket only. Washington Irving’s Sunnyside is at 3 W Sunnyside Lane, Tarrytown (Irvington), one mile south of the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Union Church of Pocantico Hills: Visitors to Union Church of Pocantico Hills can view spectacular stained-glass windows by European masters, including the last commissioned work by Henri Matisse and nine windows by Marc Chagall, learning the inspiration behind each one. The church will be open for guided tours Friday-Sunday, May 6-November 13, as well as Memorial Day, July 4, and Columbus Day. Tickets are $9. Tours are free for Historic Hudson Valley Members and children under 3. Admission is by timed ticket only. Union Church of Pocantico Hills is at 555 Bedford Road, Tarrytown.

Kykuit, The Rockefeller Estate: Historic Hudson Valley’s crown jewel, Kykuit is the six-story stone house and gardens the was home to you generation of the Rockefeller family from John D., the founder of Standard Oil is 1896, through New York Governor and Vice President of the United States Nelson and his wife Happy. As we described it in our Bucket List: Kykuit article, a trip to Kykuit is more than a house tour on steroids. It’s a mini trip to MOMA, Versailles, Storm King and a classic car museum all rolled into one. The full tour includes the house, Nelson Rockefeller’s gallery of Modern Art that includes works by Picasso, Warhol and Chagall. The classical Italian, French and English gardens that are a cerebral mix of breath-taking site lines, beautiful plantings, and world-class sculpture. And the Coach Barn that houses Rockefeller’s collection of horse drawn carriages and classic cars. The site will be open for guided tours Friday-Sunday, May 21-September 30; Wednesday-Monday, October 1-November 13. All visits to Kykuit start at the Kykuit and Philipsburg Manor Visitor Center, located at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., two miles north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Get Tickets Here.

About Historic Hudson Valley

Historic Hudson Valley, Westchester County’s largest cultural organization, educates and entertains more than 325,000 visitors a year through school programs, tours of National Historic Landmarks, and Halloween-themed experiences, which have earned a national reputation as among the best in the country.