Lovely grounds overlooking Constitution Marsh & Island, the Hudson, and West Point on the far…read moreshore. and main building. I'm sure they host weddings on the front lawn. The main building was actually relocated to this site from further south and has a rich history of the initial construction, gradual decay, disassembly, resurrection, catastrophic damage, and aggressive renovation. The main plaster/cement ceiling in the upstairs library actually crashed down one evening a few years ago and damaged much of the home with plaster dust. Fortunately, charitable contributions have helped to restore most of the site as a 2026, except for vintage-era wallpaper and some furniture. We were fortunate to visit after a winter of intensive renovation, which allowed us to get a much better sense of the home. Displays in the adjacent visitor's center and grounds provide some interesting history, but you should really time your arrival to take a tour led by one of the volunteer docents. It is a beautiful home, which I would give 5-stars to if renovations were complete.

My friend and I were in the area on a cold Saturday and decided to take a tour. We were the only…read moreone braving the cold. Our tour guide Carol was excellent! She was friendly and knowledgeable and answered all of our questions and was so thorough in explaining the history of the house and how it go where it is now. We didn't get the experience the gardens since there was snow but I will be back in the warmer weather to see the grounds. The view of the Hudson was gorgeous!

I don't think I understand modern art, yet I spend hours here every visit…read more I usually prefer to wonder alone but sometimes tours are nice because then I can talk to others who also enjoy but don't understand the exhibits either.

Beacon, NY - virtually every person I've brought to DIA has had the exact same reaction of "WTF is…read morethis?" when they glance upon the pile of dirt, roomful of garbage, or giant monochromatic canvas, and throw up their hands in irritation and bewilderment. It's part of the fun (at least everything's a conversation piece, as you argue what is the point/meaning of this), but I appreciate the BS check called out by my philistine friends and husband who are unmoved by the academic hoo-ha that I, a pretentious art twat fed a steady diet of "theory & criticism" at university, so love to make a cerebral meal out of. Conceptual and contemporary art aren't everyone's cup of tea, but you don't have to understand or even appreciate art to bask in this massive gallery of space, light, airiness, minimalist beauty, and contemplation. To walk through these open spaces is meditation. And if you stay into the afternoon, the light is spectacular. Plus, like in any art museum, it's always fun to check out the hip international street fashion people are sporting. In addition to the changing exhibitions and installations showcasing both established voices and next-gen up-and-comers, DIA boasts works of magnificent scale by the likes of Richard Serra, Andy Warhol, Louise Bourgeois, Gerhardt Richter, etc. in its permanent or longterm collection that to me is worth the price of admission alone. The collection highlights works by many important artists of the 60s & 70s, the era in which DIA was founded to help artists achieve visionary projects that were ambitious in size or scope. The basement level always has cool special exhibits, so don't miss it! And if you think "jeez my kid can make this!", take them to the family friendly events and programs like Saturday Studio where your little Mondrian or Damien Hurst in the making can create projects that are surely refrigerator- if not gallery-worthy. Then save it for 40 years and auction off their "Untitled #1" or tape a piece of fruit to a wall for buckaroos when they become famous. If this experience really leaves you miserable, you can escape to the quaint towns of Beacon or nearby Cold Springs after, where there's lots to do, shop, eat & drink. This is a fantastic stretch of the Hudson Valley to explore! To conclude, I'd love to invite you to my next performance art happening, where I light a pile of debris on fire and title it "Hot Trash."

Went on the last day before it closes for the season…read more It's very modern ticket center and restrooms. There is also a free tram that takes you around if you don't want to walk. A qr code on the map can be scanned in order to obtain additional information on the sculptures. Some extra walking might need to be done in order to get to the foot of the sculptures. There are also bike rentals if interested. Staff are all kind and helpful. Just ask. Dress warm if you come this time of year. It's definitely a lot more colder then downstate. Cider in the outdoor cafe helped a bit. Will try to come back in warmer months as there's picnic tables that may make it a great day trip.

STEPH JUDGMENT: An incredible (mostly) outdoor art museum…read more We'd heard a lot of great things about this museum so we knew it was a must-visit. Even with our high expectations we were still very impressed. It's a 500+ acre museum where most of the works are monumental and/or site-specific sculptures. The $25 admission is a great deal for so much amazing art, and the equally amazing grounds. We spent 6+ hours here but didn't get to see everything. We were also just on foot, but they do have trams and bike rentals. The weather was gorgeous on the day of our visit and we were having a ball wending our way around leafy trails and expansive emerald meadows, all interspersed with works of art. There was also a re-creation of a Norman chateau that served as an indoor museum and gift shop. Their cafe was excellent; I got the French onion burger with veggie patty (mushroom-based, great flavor, with melted Gruyere) and an iced cold brew, and the hubby got a grilled cheese, which was also good. We had such a great time; would definitely love to visit Sharon

We had a wonderful visit here! A friendly volunteer named Steve shared revolutionary war history…read moreand the important role Fishkill and this home had during that period. He was so knowledgeable and incorporated the items in each room to help us imagine what life in the late 18th century was like. There's also pamphlets for self-guided tours of the grounds. Plan to spend at least an hour here to explore both. There is no admission fee but they do ask for a donation.

This place is located about an hour away from New York City. Great place to visit as a part of a…read moreweekend getaway. The guided tour were great. The staff here are all very knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

Nice little gallery on Main Street in Beacon. They sell all local stuff. I adore places like these…read more Such a great place to do Christmas shopping, and you have the added benefit of supporting local artists. Lots of items, from photographs and paintings, Christmas ornaments, cards, scarves, jewelry, and much more! I saw a lot of things I liked, but I only wound up buying a pair of earrings (for myself!) ($25) that are Christmas themed (see picture!). Will definitely return any time I go to Beacon!

Really loved the Riverwinds Gallery on our last trip to Beacon! The store had a wide variety of…read moreoptions ranging from pottery to photographs to paintings, jewelry and more. We purchased a great painting after spending a few minutes speaking with it's artist who was working around the shop. Everyone there who ran the gallery was helpful and friendly, we spend several minutes in the store after our purchase talking to the owners and other artists who were around, about the town and other great things to see. A must see in Beacon!

This museum is small, so it allows you to have an up close and personal experience with the art…read morework. I was gory enough to see an exhibit by Bisa Butler in this space. The tickets were time which prevented over crowding. They also have a delightful sculpture garden to enjoy when the weather permits.

I loved my experience here. The art was beautiful, and I loved the different styles, materials, and…read moremediums that were used to create fine works of art. The influences of each piece were really interesting, and everything was beautiful. They even had an outdoor seating area where you could hang out and look at one of the beautiful sculptures in the back. The only reason why this review is three stars is that the security guards kept following us around the exhibits and watching us very closely as if we were going to touch something or steal something. It made me really uncomfortable. Although I loved the museum, they needed to chill a bit. I know how to visit museums being from NYC where they have pieces by the big names. I loved the artists here, though. They were really good and I was inspired.

We visited this store today, and it has many lovely & interesting (and in some cases, amusing)…read moreitems for sale (sculptures, various types of artwork, etc.). It's a good size space and we enjoyed looking at everything. Also, the man working there was *very* friendly (and low-key, which was nice). However, be prepared for "sticker shock"....

This is really among my favorite shops in Westchester. They have a great collection of unique…read morehand-crafted goods! If you like dogs, this is the shop for you because they seem to specialize in dog-themed items. But it is a great shop to get that special person any unique item. Some of the items may be a little expensive, but these are hand-made items mostly made by local artisans. The prices are comparable to other similar shops and if we don't support local businesses like this, they won't be there to serve us.

This is a beautiful place with hiking trails and historical buildings you have to visit in Cold…read moreSprings. This was an ironworks factory President James Madison chose to supply artillery to the U.S. military. It operated from 1818-1911. It was really important in the civil war. They also made locomotives, ships, and water pipes and an important part of the Industrial Revolution. There's a visitor's center and they'll give you a map with trails of different levels. It's free to visit

We love this preserve. Great place to take a walk and enjoy the fall foliage. It's very quiet and…read morepeaceful out here.

Impressive small museum giving a great perspective on local history, events, and art.read more

I found my visit to be a waste of time. There is one room with large pictures of the West Point…read moreFoundry's cannons aboard civil war ships. Two other rooms have pictures of modern houses in Garrison, NY designed by self-assured Harvard-trained architects. I am not sure how this qualifies as Putnam history or why I spent $5 per adult on it.

Such a beautiful historic site. The Wrights were innovators who designed dishes, furniture,…read morehousewares. This house reflected their sense of minimalism and peace.

I was there a few months ago and had a wonderful time with a very enthusiastic and well informed…read moreguide named Maddie who took our group on a 90 minute tour of the house and grounds. It was a very interesting and fun tour. There are also 3 trails available that you can walk after the tour if you choose to do so ranging in difficulty. I deducted a star because this particular tour is not accessible for everyone especially the elderly or anyone who may have issues with their balance and/or mobility. I think they should reconsider because the terrain could be incredibly challenging. Even though it is briefly mentioned on their website I still believe this point should be more clearly emphasized or explained.