Press Release
June 17, 2014
Randy Simons
Dan Keefe
518-486-1868
Lorenzo Mansion State Historic Site to Reopen for Tours July 18
Guided tours of the Lorenzo Mansion are scheduled to resume on Friday, July 18, following the installation of a new, state-of-the-art heating, ventilation and air cleaning (HVAC) system at the period house.
Tours will run until October 13 on Wednesdays through Sundays, and Monday holidays, 10 AM to 4:30 PM, with the last tour of the day beginning at 4 PM. Group tours may also be scheduled year-round by prior arrangement with the site. Fees: Adults, $5; Seniors and Students, $4; Children 12 and under, free. Friends of Lorenzo members receive free admission.
The normal house tour schedule at the site has been delayed due to construction. Replacing the outdated HVAC at the mansion will improve the experience for site visitors, while also modernizing the climate controls within the 1807 mansion to protect its historic collections. The $225,000 upgrade is one of 279 capital improvement projects that have started at State Parks and Historic Sites across New York since 2012 under Governor Cuomo's New York Works initiative. Masonry restoration of both the western and eastern portions of the stone 'ha ha wall' along Rte. 20 has also commenced.
The grounds of Lorenzo Mansion are open year-round from dawn to dusk, including the formal garden and Dark Aisle arboretum. A variety of events are scheduled throughout the summer:
- Shakespeare on the Lawn: As You Like It, Thursday, June 19, 7 PM. The Friends of Lorenzo and Red House Arts sponsor a free outdoor performance of one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies.
- CAVAC Arts and Crafts Show, Saturday & Sunday, July 5 and 6, 10 AM - 5 PM. More than 100 artisans are featured on the historic grounds at Lorenzo for this popular annual arts and crafts show and sale sponsored by the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC).
- Schoolhouse Summer Day Camp Session I: NATURE LOVERS, Monday through Friday, July 7 - 11, 9 AM - 4 PM. The Friends of Lorenzo invite boys and girls (ages 8-12) to explore late 19th Century rural education and daily life at Rippleton Schoolhouse and Lorenzo, featuring scientific exploration and the study of local flora, fauna and ecosystems.
- Symphoria at Lorenzo, Friday, July 11, 8 PM. The Friends of Lorenzo and Symphoria sponsor a free, open-air symphonic concert on the historic front lawn of Lorenzo. 38th Annual Lorenzo Driving Competition, Saturday & Sunday, July 19 and 20, 8 AM - 5 PM. The historic landscape at Lorenzo sets the backdrop for this acclaimed pleasure driving competition featuring tests of horse and carriage skill, timing, and style. S
- choolhouse Summer Day Camp Session II: ARTISTIC CREATIONS, Monday through Friday, July 28 - August 1, 9 AM - 4 PM. The Friends of Lorenzo invite boys and girls (ages 8-12) to explore late 19th Century rural education and daily life at Rippleton Schoolhouse and Lorenzo, focusing on the discovery of different art mediums and techniques of the 19th Century.
- A Fashionable Ladies' Garden Tea, Sunday, August 3, 1:30 - 3:30 PM. The Friends of Lorenzo sponsor an informative and delectable afternoon featuring a "full" English tea in the Ellen Shipman garden.
- Moonlight Medley: Music & Movie at Lorenzo, Thursday, August 14, 6:30 PM. Enjoy a summer evening of free live music and classic cinema on the front lawn of Lorenzo, featuring the 1987 classic film Moonstruck.
For more information on tours and events, including fees and registration, please visit www.lorenzoNY.org or call (315) 655-3200.