Dating back to the 1680s, Philipse
Manor Hall sits near the confluence of the Nepperhan (Saw Mill) and Hudson
Rivers, the site of a Munsee Lunaape village. Used by four generations of the
Philipse family and worked by the people they enslaved and European tenant
farmers, the Philipse Manor was once over 200,000 acres and helped make the
Philipse family the richest in New York. Loyalists during the American
Revolution, they fled to England and the Hall was owned by several individuals
before becoming the Yonkers Village Hall and later Yonkers City Hall. When a
new City Hall was built in the early 20th century, the house was preserved
through the generosity of Eva Smith Cochran and donated to New York State to
serve as a historic site. Today, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
provides visitors with a balanced approach to interpreting the lives of
Indigenous, European, and African people at PMH to understand the complex
relationships that took place at the Manor from the earliest days of the Dutch
Colony of New Netherland to the American Revolution and beyond. Learn more at Philipse Manor Hall's Virtual Wing
Don't miss these popular destinations and attractions within or near the historic site
- Beczak Environmental Education Center-exhibits and programs both indoors, outdoors and in the Hudson River! Maintained by Sarah Lawrence College
- Philipse Manor Hall Community Gallery-located in the Gothic Chamber, this space features temporary exhibits from local artists and community groups.
- Science Barge-The Science Barge is a prototype sustainable urban farm developed by NY Sun Works and operates as an environmental education center. The barge is maintained by Groundwork Hudson Valley.
- Untermyer Gardens Conservancy- Located a few miles north of the Manor, the Conservancy collaborates with the City of Yonkers to facilitate the restoration and promotion of Samuel Untermyer's property and gardens for the general public. Open daily until sunset, free of charge.
- Philipsburg Manor-another site of Frederick Philipse, this restored Dutch Colonial manor house and grounds features farm animals and a water-powered mill. Maintained by Historic Hudson Valley
- Sunnyside-19th century romantic landscape estate of Washington Irving (author of Rip Van Winkle, among other others). Maintained by Historic Hudson Valley.
- John Jay Homestead State Historic Site-located 20 miles north of the Manor Hall, the Homestead is the retirement home of local Founding Father and Philipse relative, John Jay. Situated on 52 acres of the original property, the grounds are open daily with scheduled guided tours of the house on most days.
- Rockefeller State Park Preserve-located 15 miles north, idealized carriage trails created by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Access to 55 miles of meandering trails with streams, pastures, ridges, a 22-acre lake and the Hudson River.
- Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park- Opened in 1842 to bring fresh water to NYC, in 1968 the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation purchased 26.2 miles of the original 41 mile aqueduct which is now a hiking, biking and walking trail that passes a few blocks away from Philipse Manor Hall.
Philipse Manor Hall welcomes
students and adults from a wide variety of educational organizations for
special programs and private tours! Program options include field trips,
walking tours, in-class programs, lectures, and more. Visit www.philipsemanorhall.com/education
for details and how to register.
Self-guided tours of Philipse
Manor Hall's interactive exhibits may be taken any time during museum hours.
Museum interpreters are available daily to answer questions.
Guided Tours: 10:30 am, 12:00 pm,
1:30 pm, 3:00 pm
Guided tours included with the
regular admission price. Tour size is limited, so reservations are recommended.
Please call (914) 965-4027 for tour times and to reserve your space or visit
www.philipsemanorhall.com/plan-your-visit
During the warmer months, Philipse
Manor Hall also offers a walking tour of the daylighted Saw Mill River and the
Yonkers Waterfront. Visit
www.philipsemanorhall.com/events
for dates and to register. Walking tour fees include general admission to the
museum.
Special themed tours, lectures,
and other on-site public programs are also available. Dates and times vary.
Visit
www.philipsemanorhall.com/events
for what's next on the calendar.
Northern Slavery Collective Conference
Monday, February 6, 2023 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site is pleased to host the First Annual Northern Slavery Collective Conference. The Northern Slavery Collective (NorSC) is a cohort of museums and historic sites rethinking their current narratives by including the stories of enslaved and free people who lived and worked on these properties. The conference can be attended in person or virtually. The conference includes panel presentations, roundtable discussion, a tour of Philipse Manor Hall, opportunities for networking, and more. Featuring keynote speaker Lavada Nahon, Lead Interpreter of African American History for the New York State Bureau of Historic Sites. This conference is open to museum and heritage professionals, historians, and the public interested in the history and interpretation of enslavement in the north. Tickets are $30 for in-person and $15 for virtual access. Full schedule, call for papers, and scholarship information at
www.philipsemanorhall.com/programs-and-events.
Lecture: “Doing the Work: How Including the Enslaved Expands our Understanding of Colonial New York”
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 07:00 PM
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Historians have identified at least 115 named individuals enslaved by the Philipse family at their properties in Manhattan and Westchester. Additional references to unnamed individuals increase the total to over 125. The enslaved communities living at the Philipse properties were large and diverse. With residences in Manhattan, Yonkers, and Sleepy Hollow, warehouses in all three locations, gristmills, sawmills, farmland, livestock, and sailing vessels, a large and skilled enslaved workforce was essential. Lavada Nahon is the lead Interpreter of African American History for the Bureau of Historic Sites, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. She served as project lead for the new "Our Whole History" exhibit at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site. In-person tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students. Tickets include general admission to the museum. Virtual attendance via WebEx is free, but registration is required. Register at
www.philipsemanorhall.com/programs-and-events.