20 Must-See HUDSON VALLEY MANSIONS

the Hudson Valley a place known for its Rolling Hills its sprawling Estates and a treasure Trove of historical landmarks an idyllic Paradise frequented by Rich individuals Desiring an escape from the city life Welcome to schmann C the place where we talk all things Rich exclusive and fancy schmancy today we are taking you through the Hudson Valley a part of New York State you don't want to miss located along the Hudson River and what was known as the center of transportation and Commerce in Eastern New York the area exploded into affluence since the days of Dutch and English settlers well into the 20th century dominated by Majestic Highlands and fjords with spectacular views of the river and Catskills at every turn how could it not be the place where the rich would want to build their Estates so if you've got a few minutes to spare you're welcome to join us on our tour of the most pastoral most historic mansions in this most Splendid section of New York State our tour will start in lower Hudson Valley taking you all the way up to Albany in the Upper Valley as we make stops in each location prepare to be amazed at the sheer beauty of these homes as well as the vast history and prominent role that this region played in the formation of the United States so without further delay here are the top 20 must-see Hudson Valley mansions our first stop is going to be number one the van Cortland House Museum okay who says the Bronx isn't a part of the Hudson Valley well we beg to differ since it is on the mainland and right off the Hudson River it qualifies anyway this High Federal Brick Mansion once belonged to Frederick van Cortland a wealthy Merchant of Dutch descent known as the oldest building in the Bronx you can find it in the southwest portion of Van Cortland Park George Washington is also known to have slept here on multiple occasions throughout the Revolutionary War Frederick van Cortland had died prior to the home's completion in 1748 but it was inherited by his son James and remained in the Van Cortlandt family for over 130 years the home and land was sold to the city of New York in 1889 and today it is a museum and park offering House tours and educational programs on the van Cortland family the enslaved people that lived on the property as well as New York's Dutch history number two wave Hill we have another Bronx property for you this time it's right off the Hudson River in the Riverdale section wave Hill is a 28-acre estate with two unique mansions to explore this wave Hill House built in 1843 in the Greek Revival Style by William Lewis Morris a prominent attorney and there's also the glindor 2 house which was originally built in the 1860s then rebuilt in 1927 after the original was struck by lightning the estate was owned by the Perkins Family during the Gilded Age in the early half of the 20th century Mark Twain as well as Theodore Roosevelt are both known to have leased the estate during the summer months the Perkins Family later gifted the property to the city of New York in 1960. today wave Hill is a cultural center that comes with botanical gardens Trails Lawns and gorgeous views overlooking the Hudson you can also book garden and gallery tours or bring the entire family to take part in all types of educational and cultural events number three Phillips Manor hall we're now going to head up to Yonkers to view this Dutch Colonial known as the second oldest building in Westchester County built in 1682 for Frederick Phillips it was a part of Phillipsburg Manor a 52 000 acre Plantation along the Hudson that took up all of what we know as Yonkers today also spilling into other parts of Westchester County the structure served as a stopover point on the long journey up and down the river between Lord Phillips's home in New Amsterdam and the Northern parts of the manor after the building was inherited by his grandson and great-grandson it became the family's primary home it was abandoned by his great-grandson Frederick Phillips III when he declared his allegiance to the British crown and escaped to Britain after refusing to support the Revolutionary cause by 1868 it became Yonkers municipal center and by 1912 it underwent an intensive restoration and opened as a museum today you can visit the Phillips Manor hall for exhibits community events and Educational Tours on Dutch New York the slave trade Native Americans and the American Revolution number four Glenview mansion we're still in Yonkers now at this Greystone Victorian built in 1877. this same Mansion also made an appearance in HBO's The Gilded Age as the home of Mrs Astor the Glenview Mansion was commissioned by financier John Bond Trevor as a small country estate for his family that would be close enough to commute to his job in New York City by rail this was at a time when Yonkers were still Rural and similar houses were cropping up in the area by the early 1920s Yonkers have become a Suburban neighborhood and the massive Mansion was the center of attention in a sea of modest Suburban housing after the Trevor family sold the home to the city of Yonkers in 1922 the Glenview Mansion became the Hudson River Museum today the museum has expanded to include another building on the property however you can still visit the Mansion for guided House tours and panoramic views of the Hudson River number five Sunnyside this cottage-like mini Mansion located directly on the Hudson in Tarrytown was home to famous American Author Washington Irving completed in 1835 Sunnyside is a Revival of multiple architectural Styles including Dutch Colonial Scottish Gothic and Tudor best known for his short stories such as the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle Washington Irving was eager for a home of his own and after securing his estate he poured his heart and soul into its design he named the estate after a farm on a Hill Called Sunnyside that he had visited in Abbotsford Scotland in 1945 John D Rockefeller purchased the estate from the Irving family and restored it to its original condition he opened it as a House museum in 1947 and today it is still operated as a museum by historic Hudson Valley you can visit this charming estate for tours led by guides in Period costume to view a large collection of Irving's original furnishings and accessories and see just how this founding father of American literature lived number six the Lindhurst Mansion this is another mansion that served as the backdrop for HBO's The Gilded Age as well as many other Hollywood Productions constructed in 1838 for William Paulding JR this well-known Gothic Revival Castle sits on a gorgeous 67-acre Park overlooking the Hudson River it was later purchased by Jay Gould and remained in the family for decades until 1961 when it was donated to the National Trust for historic preservation by Anna Gould the Goulds were meticulous in keeping the home intact and true to how they found it back in the 1880s on the inside you'll find a dim somewhat medieval but extremely romantic setting characteristic of Gothic and Gilded Age Interiors today the estate is open year round and you can visit for Mansion tours to walk the grounds attend exhibitions craft fairs cultural events or just rent the venue for your own event number seven key cut just slightly up the river from the Lindhurst Mansion is an estate that was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family here we are at kaikut an estate you cannot afford to miss the name kaikut stems from the Dutch word kaikalt which actually means look out or watch out this impressive Georgian Revival Mansion sits on the highest point in pocantico Hills the extensive Rockefeller estate in the town of Mount Pleasant built in the Years between 1908 and 1913 it overlooks the Hudson River giving you breathtaking views of the entire area today the estate is owned by The National Trust for historic preservation but maintained by the Rockefeller Brothers fund guided tours of the Mansion are given by historic Hudson Valley where you get to view not only the fine European Interiors but also original works by some of the biggest names in 20th century art as well as the coach barn and beautifully landscaped grounds number eight the van Cortland Manor we've now arrived at Croton on Hudson to see another home belonging to the prosperous and prominent van Cortland family this colonial home was built in 1732 on the 86 000 acre Manor of Van Cortland it was built as a simple hunting lodge for the lord of the land at the time stephanus van Cortland it wasn't until 1749 when his grandson Pierre van Cortland and his family made it their primary home that it turned into the elegant residence that you see today the manner is significant as Pierre had sided with the colonies during the Revolutionary War and its resources were used to feed and assist the Continental Army the family ended up vacating the home in the thick of the war as it was ransacked by the British but they returned afterwards and brought it back to working order after falling into disrepair by 1953 the home was purchased and restored by John D Rockefeller and is now owned and operated by historic Hudson Valley today you can visit the 17-acre manor for House tours boasting original van Cortland family Furnishings for walks throughout its Gardens and to attend its annual jack-o-lantern Blaze one of the area's biggest Halloween events number nine the van Cortland upper manor house okay we've got one more van Cortland home for you this one is a little further north in the hamlet of Cortland Manor in the town of Cortland yes we know the names of these van Cortland homes and locations can make your head spin anyway this Gothic Revival and italianate Brick House was built between 1756 and 1773 by the same Pierre van Cortland of the van Cortland Manor as their second home it was where some of the family members sought Refuge when their lower house in Croton was seized by the British during the Revolutionary War this home was also known to host George Washington on several occasions throughout the war since 1850 it has had several owners outside the van Cortland family and multiple editions were added over the years it has been used as a nursing home as well as a town hall today the home is closed to the public as it has been remodeled and is currently used as offices number 10 basketball house and Gardens this home was completed in 1808 for States Dyckman a descendant of early Dutch settlers a complete anglophile and an active loyalist who managed to keep his wealth After the Revolutionary War by pandering to the British his federal-style home is a product of his long-awaited vision to own a lavish estate equipped with a farm and towing tasteful English furnishings and accessories he named it Boscobel after Boscobel house in Shropshire England sadly Dyckman died in 1806 two years before the estate's completion his widow moved in regardless and the dyckmann family retained ownership of the house until 1920. to escape the wrecking ball in 1955 it was moved from its original location in Westchester County's Montrose to a plot in the hamlet of Garrison in Putnam County by an organization called friends of boscoval today Boscobel is open to the public as a House Museum featuring dyckman's beautifully furnished home gardens educational programs and fun events for the entire family number 11. the Morse mansion this italianate style Villa on the Locust Grove Estate was completed in 1851 as a summer home for Samuel F B Morse the inventor of the Telegraph and Morse code in 1901 the Morse family sold the home to William and Martha young a wealthy couple from Poughkeepsie throughout the 20th century the couple expanded beautified and modernized the home they kept it in their family for decades until 1975 when their daughter Annette young established a not-for-profit ensuring her family's estate would be protected as a museum and nature preserve in perpetuity today you can visit the Locust Grove Estate on a hill overlooking the scenic Hudson River it includes this historic home featuring The Young family's massive collection of furniture paintings and decorative Arts 200 Acres of landscaped grounds including five miles of hiking trails and a visitor center complete with art galleries a museum shop and classrooms for educational programs now let's head on up to Hyde Park to have a look at number 12. Springwood estate this one thousand square mile estate was the lifetime home of 32nd President Franklin Roosevelt the home on the property was built in 1793 as a farmhouse and later renovated in 1850 into an italianate style Villa by a second owner James Roosevelt senior purchased the estate in 1866 and raised his family there Franklin inherited the estate after his father's death in 1900 and moved back in when he married Eleanor in 1905. to better suit his style and political Ambitions Roosevelt renovated the Mansion again in 1916 adding the two large fields and wings and turning it into the colonial revival that we see today he would go on to host multiple cabinet members and foreign dignitaries at the home two years prior to his death Roosevelt donated Springwood estate to the American people today the estate is a museum administered by the National Park Service and you can visit year round to experience the home where FDR and his wife Eleanor would go for Extended Stays from the White House number 13. Hyde Park a bit further up the road in Hyde Park is a mansion built specifically for the aristocratic lifestyle this classical style home was built by Frederick William Vanderbilt constructed between 1896 and 1899 as a country Palace it is historically known as Hyde Park or just simply the Vanderbilt mansion the 54 room Mansion was richly decorated using exotic wood paneling imported marble Lush velvets French tapestries and antique building components salvaged from the great houses of Europe customary of that time at the time of Vanderbilt's passing in 1938 he left the house to his late wife's niece Margaret Van Allen who later transferred the house its furnishings and 200 acres to the U.S government the house entered the National Park Service and was open to the public in 1940 as a national museum free of charge and explore its grounds to witness Scenic views of the Hudson River beautiful Italian Gardens manicured Landscapes and of course to take a guided tour of the impeccably preserved fully furnished mansion number 14. the Mills mansion you're probably thinking that this elegant Bose Arts Mansion overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskills looks just like the Vanderbilt mansion we just visited well that's because it was designed by the same Architects located in startsburg state Historic Site this Gilded Age home was built in 1832 for Morgan Lewis the third governor of New York State his great-granddaughter Ruth Livingston Mills inherited the home in 1890 and shortly afterwards she and her husband Ogden Mills commissioned a remodeling to what you see today the couple and their children lived there mainly during the fall as they had several other houses to inhabit throughout the other seasons the mill family continued to acquire property surrounding the estate throughout the early 20th century thereby enlarging it to over 1 600 acres in 1938 their daughter Gladys Mills Phipps donated the Mansion together with 192 acres to the state of New York as a memorial to her parents today you can visit startsburg State historic site to tour the mansion's historic rooms filled with the family's original furniture and decorative Arts you can also tour the grounds and attend special events throughout the year number 15. wilderstein this Reinbeck home on a wooded Bluff overlooking the Hudson was constructed in 1852 for wealthy property developer Thomas holy sutley and his wife Catherine Murray bound originally built as a two-story italianate Villa on 40 acres it was renovated in 1888 into the Colossal Queen anne-style country house that you see today the home remained in the suckley family for three generations with each generation ensuring that the Interiors remained intact and true to its Gilded Age origins The Last family member to inhabit wilderstein was Margaret Daisy suckley a distant cousin and close Confidant of Franklin D Roosevelt prior to her death in 1991 she opened the home to the public and established the wilderstein preservation a non-profit dedicated to the care of the property today you can visit wilderstein for guided Mansion tours from May through October or to walk the beautifully landscaped grounds at any time of the year number 16. The Bard College campus we're now in Annandale on Hudson a hamlet in Dutchess County designated for Bard College a small private liberal arts school what's unique about this campus is that it's a Haven for beautiful historic mansions first there's blithewit an opulent Georgian Revival built in 1900 complete with a tiered formal Garden on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River today the building is used to house the levy economics Institute second we have Montgomery Place a 380 acre estate also overlooking the Hudson that once belonged to the Livingston family it consists of this elegant Federal italianate Mansion formal Gardens manicured Lawns a farm Orchards a greenhouse and is basically an arboretum then there's Ward Manor a magnificent 1916 Tudor style manner used as the students residence hall it sits on 100 acres and comes with a matching Gatehouse used as the college's Center for civic engagement there are several other very interesting buildings on this campus that are well worth seeing though the buildings are close to the public you are welcome to tour the campus grounds to admire the architecture and Gardens and to take in these spectacular views foreign Claremont Manor let's continue up to Germantown where we can zoom in on this fabulous Georgian Mansion sitting on a 500 acre estate that was previously owned by the famous Livingston family particularly Chancellor Robert R Livingston one of the founding fathers who drafted the Declaration of Independence and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase among many other things Claremont Manor was built in 1782 as a replacement for a first mansion that was set on fire by the British during the Revolutionary War for siding with the Patriots the final Livingston to inhabit the home was John Henry Livingston and his wife Alice both of whom valued the home's important historical role and created the many landscape Gardens that you still see today after the death of John Henry Alice donated the property to the state of New York today you can visit Claremont Manor during spring and summer for guided tours of the rooms where the formation of the United States took place to tour the grounds and of course for Majestic views of the Hudson River number 18 Alana we're now in Hudson New York where we will find a gorgeous Victorian Villa with a middle eastern Motif that was the home of Frederick Edwin Church a renowned 19th century landscape painter the mansion's Exotic look comes from inspiration he received after he and his wife spent 18 months touring Rome in the Middle East completed in 1872 the 250 acre estate comes with stunning flower gardens five miles of carriage drives and of course the Mansion featuring eclectic Furnishings the diverse collection of art including Church's own artwork his Studio as well as decorative objects from around the world it may possibly be one of the most beautiful sights in the entire Hudson Valley Alana narrowly escaped the wrecking ball after being sold to developers in 1964. thankfully New York State purchased the estate in 1966 and it became a museum today the home and grounds of the Elana State historic site are open to the public year-round for guided tours educational programs exhibitions hiking picnicking fishing and even cross-country skiing number 19. the Schuyler mansion we finally made it to Albany the state capital where we'll find this Georgian style mansion that was built in 1765 for Catherine Van Rensselaer and Philip Schuyler both of wealthy Dutch descent Philip Schuyler was a rich Merchant a general in the Revolutionary War and later a U.S senator the Skyler Mansion was a home bustling with activity as the household had many children and the family was well known for hosting guests such as George and Martha Washington Ben Franklin and James Madison it was also the place where their daughter Eliza married Alexander Hamilton if you're familiar with the musical Hamilton then you'll know that the Schuyler sisters came from this home it's also the place that President William Fillmore married Caroline Carmichael in 1855. during the American Revolution Philip Schuyler is also known to have operated a network of spies out of this home which almost got him kidnapped this very unassuming mansion that's so rich in history was sold to the state of New York in 1911 and after three years of restoration it opened to the public as a historic site and Museum today you can visit the Schuyler Mansion for guided tours as well as an orientation exhibition in The Visitor Center focusing on Philip Schuyler his family the enslaved men and women of the house as well as his guests our last stop is going to be at another unassuming mansion in the heart of Albany so last but not least we'll give you number 20. the ten Brook Mansion this little-known Greek Revival gem sitting on four acres of historic Gardens was built in 1797 for Elizabeth Tenbrook and her husband Abraham ten Brook was the mayor of Albany as well as a major general of the Albany militia during the Revolutionary War it started out as a federal-style mansion however in 1848 it was renovated into the Greek Revival mansion that you see today by banker and philanthropist thomasworth Olcott the house remained in the allcott family for 100 years after that and was sold to the Albany County Historical Association in 1948. today the ten Brook Mansion is a place that retells the stories of the Albany area it zooms in on its various past residents from the men and women of high society making all the decisions to the enslaved men and women of the ten Brook family as well as the Irish working class who serve the olcotts you can visit the ten Brook Mansion to enjoy its magnificent Gardens to partake in educational programs to tour the mansion and to attend a special event and that's it for the top 20 must-see Hudson Valley mansions so which of these did you like the most which Mansions are you thinking of adding to your bucket list are there any that we missed and you feel should have made this list well we certainly hope we've inspired you to head for the Hudson Valley on your next vacation we know for a fact you won't be disappointed anyway if there's anything else you would like to mention about this topic feel free to share it with us in the comments below furthermore if you've got any value out of this video be sure to like subscribe and click on the Bell icon so you never miss out on another video with that said we'd like to thank you for watching and we'll see each other next time foreign

Channel: Schmancy

Views: 148,511

Keywords: hudson river valley, hudson valley NY, schmancy33, lyndhurst mansion castle, wave hill, boscobel house & gardens, springwood estate, blithewood, montgomery place, bard college, annandale-on-hudson, ward manor, olana, ten broeck mansion, schuyler mansion, clermont manor, van cortlandt house museum, van cortlandt manor, mills mansion, staatsburg state historic site, wilderstein, vanderbilt mansion, kykuit, sunnyside tarrytown, glenview mansion, philipse manor hall, morse mansion

Id: fnlsGMkI5pM

Length: 23min 3sec (1383 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 23 2023