Myrna

We like to see Mansions and antique furniture. We will be in Manhattan Sun, Mon and Tues and have a car so going outside of Manhattan is not a problem. Any suggestions welcome.

KenCT

No a mansion, certainly, but the Metropolitan Museum of Art has one of the finest furniture collections in the world. The Frick, a little further down Fifth Avenue is a mansion turned museum.

KenCT

Regarding the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this site includes a virtual tour of the period rooms, and information about the American furniture collection.

http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/vr_html/vr/temp_virtual_intro1.htm

This is a history of the Frick Collection, which includes furniture and decorative arts.

http://www.frick.org/html/chist1f.htm

Elizabeth

I really really really hope you go to the Old Merchants House Museum, which is the only private house in Manhattan which has all of its original furnishings. It's a well-to-do merchant's house (not a mansion like the Frick), but historically and furniturally very very lovely and interesting.

Find out about when tours are scheduled (you are only allowed to go in as a tour member, the docents are lovely).

Myrna

Thanks. Anyone know about the Rockerfeller mansion in Tarrytown. Directions from Times Square area.

Myrna

ttt

xx

Kykuit is closed and won't reopen until April.

KenCT

You're probably thinking of Kykuit, John D. Rockefeller's estate. It's open from April through October and advance reservations are required.

Howard

Another mansion worth visiting is the Cooper Hewitt Museum on Fifth Avenue.
One minor correction on Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate: Reservations are not required, but are advised! If you're in the area when it's open, it's a must-see! It's easy to reach: Take a Metro North train to Tarrytown and a cab to Phillipsburg Manor (another restoration); the Kykuit tours leave from there.

Myrna

Are there any others to see in Tarrytown?

Howard

Myrna, not in Tarrytown, which is the beginning of the Hudson Valley. Starting in that town and driving north along the Hudson makes for a great weekend (or longer) trip in the spring, summer or fall.
For more details, check out these two websites:
http://www.hudsonvalley.org
http://www.hvnet.com
Let me know if you have any more questions about the area.

patty

Visit the Morris-Jumel Mansion at 65 Jumel Terrace in upper Manhattan (at 160th St, between St. Nicholas & Edgecombe which are between Amsterdam & Harlem River Drive). It's Manhattan's oldest house, lived in by Eliza Jumel, Aaron Burr's wife at one time. You could drive up there but I'm not sure about parking or you can take the C train (local) to 163rd and Amsterdam.

While you're up there, especially if you drive, you can zip up to the Cloisters Museum and also Dyckman House, which is not a mansion, but is the last Dutch colonial farmhouse in Manhattan.

Then there's Long Island's North Shore, or Gold Coast. We've been to Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay. Coe Hall, the mansion, was great, but the gardens are the attraction (516-922-9206, 922-9511 or 922-9210).

Close to Planting Fields in Oyster Bay is Sagamore Hill, the last home of Teddy Roosevelt (516-922-4447).

There are two more places but they may be closed for the winter. Sands Point Preserve has two castles - Hampstead House and Falaise (516-571-7900). And there's Old Westbury Gardens & House (516--333-0048).

Have fun!

KenCT

Regarding Kykuit, according to the website: http://www.rbf.org/kykuit.html
reservations are necessary. "Open April through October, tours depart from Philipsburg Manor, reservations necessary through Historic Hudson Valley, (914) 631-9491."

Howard

Not to be argumentative, Ken, but I know of people who have dropped in on weekdays without reservations and gotten in. Having said that, I would still recommend reservations, however.

Philip

Try taking a trip up to Hyde Park, NY. It's a 2 hour drive out of the city. You can see the Vanderbilt Mansion and also, while not a "mansion", the Franklin Roosevelt house.