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    Christine R.

    Stopped here and did the mansion tour. The mansion itself as well as the surrounding area is absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed the tour very much

    Vanderbilt mansion
    James A.

    One of a few Vanderbilt mansions open to the public for tours, this mansion and its grounds, located in Hyde Park, NY, is a great example of an opulent summer home built by a third generation scion of the proud Vanderbilt family. My wife and I took the 50 minute guided tour and really enjoyed it. The Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site is part of the National Park Service, thus the annual 'America the Beautiful' pass gets you in, otherwise it's $15 per visitor. The home can only be viewed via a guided tour, lasting about 50 minutes. Our guide was Ranger Ryan, who was very informative . We purchased tickets when we got there, and was able to join the 11 am tour, consisting of about 20 visitors, including us. We started from the visitor center (originally the guest house, free to enter and has itself a lot of valuable information to share, Air conditioned, bathrooms, and a hydrations station), walking outside to the entrance of the home. Our ranger gave us four rules and a suggestion before we entered the home: Don't touch anything except railings; Stay with the guide, not wandering off; no flash photography; no food or drink (except water). The suggestion was to ask questions: which we did and got some really good and interesting answers. My question was around maintenance. Ryan answered that the admission fee doesn't cover the cost of operations, and that maintenance is part of the Department of Interior's budget which doesn't increase with inflation (and might be cut). We started at the main foyer. The common theme was that most rooms were cordoned off, but were open for viewing. Twenty seemed to be a good number: not too crowded giving opportunity to view what you wanted without having to wait too long. We walked up the stairs to the second floor where the main bedrooms were. It had 5 guest rooms, and two master bedrooms (his/her) modeled on how European royalty lived. The home was built just when electricity was becoming available, so the wiring could be reused to light the house. Coal furnaces were used for the cold winters and forced air vents were available on the first floor. However, the mansion is not air conditioned, and large fans were strategically placed throughout for air circulation. We finished the tour by walking down to the basement (there is a small retrofitted elevator available as well), where there were 8 male servant quarters. We then walked upstairs through the cellar doors, back outside. Dozens of Vanderbilt mansions were built by this generation. While most of them were torn down, many of them are still around and some available for public tours. The most famous one is the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC (owned by the Biltmore Company, whose leadership are Vanderbilt descendants). Many others are owned by non-profit local preservation societies with the mansion in Hyde Park being the only public There seems to be a renewed interest in the Gilded Age (1870 - 1900), a term coined by Mark Twain to tweak the time as being superficial, with little substance underneath. A new mini-series by HBO highlights this period, and was available on our Delta flight. Visiting the Vanderbilt Mansion is another hands-on way to learn more about the period. We did just that, and enjoyed the experience. Note: The founder of the family was 'Commodore' Cornelius Vanderbilt, railroad industrialist/robber baron, founder of Vanderbilt University. His son, William Henry, doubled the family's fortunes by continuing his father's practices. It was his children that proceeded to spend down this fortune, with these mansions being a remnant of this practice. This mansion in Hyde Park was the product of his son, Fredrick William, the only one who died with more worth than when he inherited. He had no children, thus passed it down to his wife's niece, who donated it to the US Government. The famous Biltmore Estate was done by his brother, George Washington, and the current owners (Biltmore Company) is run by the great-grandson of George. Finally, the most famous Vanderbilt alive today (Anderson Cooper), family tree is tied to his great-grandfather (Cornelius II), the brother of Frederick. Thus his third-cousin is the one running the Biltmore Company (main revenue source being the Biltmore estate itself).

    Dwayne W.

    The Vanderbilt mansion is excellence of yesteryear. My wife and I toured this mansion in upstate that's right NY . Every floor was a new view. And the grounds were simply amazing. Definitely a trip worth taking.

    Stairway to Garden
    Genoa D.

    Free to the public for strolling, lounging in the sun on a blanket, photoshoots and enjoying the scenery/property. Parking is ample. The property is massive and so so beautiful. Tours can be booked for a small fee for those who would like to explore the Mansion's interior and learn a lil bit.

    The Kitchen
    Stephanie T.

    The Vanderbilt family built and owned numerous mansions and I've been fortunate to visit the Marble House and The Breakers in Newport, RI. When I saw the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site was in the area of where I was visiting, I knew I had to make this a stop. Entrance to the Vanderbilt Mansion is by a guided tour only and tickets can only be purchased in-person at the Pavilion Visitor Center. Tickets are $15.00 per person. I arrived Saturday morning about 10:30am and there is a good sized parking lot. The signs are very helpful. After walking into the Pavilion Visitor Center, the park ranger informed us that the next available tour is at 12:00pm and we could explore the formal gardens till our tour time. The Formal Gardens is located approximately 750 feet south of the Vanderbilt Mansion. It was beautiful to walk around and many volunteers were spotted working hard to maintain the garden. There was a reflecting pool, terraces, pergola and loggia with 3 levels of annuals, perennials and roses. At 12:00pm, the park ranger introduced himself in front of the Pavilion Visitor Center and walked us over to the mansion. We explored the first floor rooms (the Entrance Hall, Living Room, Dining Room, Reception Room, Office). It was very cool to listen to how the space was used and to imagine it. The park ranger told us that guests would enter into The Entrance Hall and then following dinner, men would remain in the dining room for cigars, while the ladies would retire to the Living Room for coffee and liquors. The men would join them later for games of cards, charades, and music. We then went up the Grand Staircase to the second floor rooms (Mrs. Vanderbilt's Room, Mr. Vanderbilt's Room, Boudoir, Red Rooms for guests, and the Blue Room for single guests and their chaperone). Lastly, we went down the stairs to the service basement. We explored the Kitchen and Basement Hall. The tour lasted about an hour and the park ranger was very knowledgeable about the history. The Formal Gardens and the Vanderbilt Mansion were a great place to visit and I really enjoyed it. It is also very nice that people can visit the Formal Gardens at no charge and walk around the grounds.

    One of many rooms inside the mansion
    Rich M.

    Sunday afternoon tour 1pm already sold out so we purchased tickets for the 2pm tour. Tour guide very knowledgeable about the Vanderbilt Mansion with 20 years experience hosting tours. You get a glimpse of the Gilded Age glamour during this tour. Your takes about 1 hour stairs are a plenty walking up to second level and down into the cellar. There is a small elevator if you need it. It is extremely hot inside the mansion during the summer months so be prepared and bring water or a fan. It was a worthwhile experience.

    Heather C.

    The rangers who do the tours are very knowledgeable and should be paid more than they are for the amount of information they know. Our tour group was large but they managed it well. Make sure to arrive early to purchase tickets as they sell out quickly and can only be bought at the site.

    Honestly? It is free, it is convenient, it is peaceful. Is it an absolute must visit? Probably not, but if you happen to be around it is worthing checking out. Spent 1 hour there and it was enough to explore most things. If you want to enter into the mansion building itself you'll have to book a tour, we skipped it and preferred to explore the outside.

    Path behind the house down to the Hudson River
    Bryan W.

    A very enjoyable trip back into the Gilded Age here. Incredible opulence that rivals the old money estates of Europe. ...and this was just a seasonal home for entertaining guests of society. The National Park Service does a great job preserving and maintaining the property while giving visitors an educational tour. It's sad that lack of funding prevents full access to areas of the home though, like the 3rd floor and portions of the basement (servant quarters). Definitely worth visiting still.

    Chithra V.

    Definitely checkout if you are wanting to do a mansion tour. This is not the first Vanderbilt mansion I'm visiting since I have been to the one in Newport and Carolinas. So this one in upstate is not as big as the one in Newport, RI. However, the maintenance need to be appreciated. They are currently renovating some parts of the mansion so those areas were restricted in the tour. The tour took about an hour and it cannot be self guided. There is a guide who will walk through all the areas of the mansion and explain how the living was back in those days. The lawn outside is very well maintained as it still have those trees planted years ago during the Vanderbilt period.

    Jason S.

    Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site A Masterpiece of American Design. Built by of one of the first families of wealth in America and designed by one of the nation's preeminent architects (McKim, Mead & White). The Vanderbilt Mansion is a home built expressly for the aristocratic lifestyle. Opulence is the main attraction at this Gilded-Age mansion. The Beaux Arts country retreat belonged to the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Inside Hyde Park, you stroll through 54 rooms of gorgeous woodwork, painted Venetian ceilings, and furnishings worthy of a brawl between Christie's and Sotheby's. The site sits on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River and from that height you have a spectacular view of the river and the Catskills. It's about 90 miles north of New York City, the estate was near to the New York Central Railroad, where Frederick was the Director. Friends thought of Frederick as modest and unassuming--although you wouldn't guess it after seeing his house. The 55,000-square-foot mansion boasts 10 guest rooms and 14 bathrooms. Downstairs, Frederick and his wife entertained at a 30-person dining table. An antique carved ceiling determined the dining room's exact size. Many of the original furnishings remain. There are 15th-century Flemish tapestries, Louis XVI tables, and Ming vases. Sixteenth-century fireplaces were brought from Italy. One bears the Medici family crest.

    Me and my honey in an incredible tree at the Vanderbilt grounds.
    Mary T.

    I love taking walks on the grounds at the mansion and bringing the pups. Oh and summer concerts are great and FREE!!!! The gardens are beautiful. Shout out to all the volunteers that care for them. They are a dedicated bunch! I've been know to sit by the fountain and paint. I should be clear...try to paint because I'm not that good. But who cares right? I'm having fun. My favorite place is the long walk from the mansion down to Bard Rock and scrambling a bit to get close to the river. My grown kids and I love to sit there and chat while my husband is worrying that I'm going to fall in. Then taking the dirt road over to the carriage house and back up to the mansion. There's the road back but there's also a dirt path on the left that takes you to the gardens. Someone once told me that whole loop is 3 miles but I'm not sure. Go and relax there. There's a spot by the exit that has a bench with an incredible view...you must stop and snap a pic.

    Ernie F.

    In all of these years, I finally made a stop here with a large party, with a beautiful property and lots of scenery to observe. A big field is spotted just as soon as you enter, with a big parking lot and a smaller one. Along the way, a lovely view across the Hudson River is well-seen plus on a clear day, the Catskills. The highlight of the journey is walking toward the river, which is called Bard Rock still within the property of Vanderbilt. A lot of opportunities to take photos and take in nature for sure. There are picnic tables provided throughout the park. The Mansion will be for another visit, which looks pretty awesome.

    Dining area inside the mansion

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    1 year ago

    When I attended Vassar College this was my hideaway to study - on a good day there is nothing better than the gardens!

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    1 year ago

    Such a lovely place, my husband and I go here frequently. The rose garden is a beautiful picture spot.

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    11 months ago

    Beautiful grounds and our tour guide was superior!! We highly recommend this and try staying a bit so you can enjoy the grounds

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    1 year ago

    Mike gave us a fabulous tour and the extravagance of the mansion cannot be described. It was over the top amazing. Highly recommend.

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    2 years ago

    Worth the visit. Beautiful home. Guided tours are great. I visit grounds often to walk and enjoy the Hudson River views and sunsets.

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    Ask the Community - Vanderbilt Mansion

    Review Highlights - Vanderbilt Mansion

    The huge lawns are filled with trees that were planted years ago, and there is a wonderful view of the Hudson River.

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    Home of Franklin D Roosevelt - Inside.

    Home of Franklin D Roosevelt

    (45 reviews)

    The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt is part of a larger Roosevelt themed location that you can choose…read moreto do one or all of. There is a shared visitors center, the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center, where you can purchase tickets accordingly. We stopped in thinking we would purchase the Home tickets and explore the center a bit, but the friendly ranger told us there was room for us on the tour starting in 5 minutes if we wanted to head straight down to the meeting spot. The tour itself was quite informative, and the house is well preserved. This is FDR's childhood and adulthood home, and this is reflected in the house itself, where we were shown the room in which he was born, his childhood room, and the room he stayed in as an adult with its two phones - one a direct line to the White House. The mobility accommodations added after FDR's round with polio are also evident in the house, with an example of a home wheelchair he designed using a standard dining chair on bicycle wheels (so it would match when he was seated at the table), ramps, and a manual elevator he used to move between floors. The nearby grounds are also nice to explore - beautiful gardens, intriguing artwork, and you can pay your respects to the Roosevelts. FDR's Presidential Library is also located on the grounds, though with a separate entry. The Visitor Center has good amenities, including a cafe, the Uncle Sam's Canteen, run by the friendliest staff who were pulling out freshly baked croissants when we initially stopped in; a theatre where they show a film about the Roosevelts, a gift shop, and clean restrooms.

    7/9/25: We visited the historic home of FDR. It's a must see for all, no matter your political…read moreaffiliation. All visits are by guided tour. Springwood was Roosevelt's birthplace. In addition, Franklin and Eleanor raised their six children at the family estate. The decor is understated, unlike like the Vanderbilt's. After FDR was stricken with polio, the home was designed for his wheelchair access. During the tour, the female guide spoke at length in a couple of areas. ***Think there should be some type of wall guide hand rail for those who are unable to stand for periods of time listening to the guide. The second floor of the home has a narrow walkway. I think the people that oversee the estate should consider my suggestion for people with mobility issues. This is why I took one star off. On the grounds, you'll see a statue of President Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill, FDR Presidential Library and museum, beautiful gardens and a café. Looking forward to going back to visit the FDR Presidential library and museum. Due to time constraints, we only saw half of it. In the Library and Museum, we did see an excellent exhibition of wonderful letters from famous persons (World Politicians, Scientists, Celebrities) to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Admission fees as follows: Federal Park Pass- Free Standard- $15 A parking lot is available outside the visiting center.

    Hyde Park Trails Roosevelt Farm & Forest - A wonderful woodland walk

    Hyde Park Trails Roosevelt Farm & Forest

    (3 reviews)

    5/21/21 This hot and…read moremoggy day brought us to this trail, with an endless amount of shade along the way. We started on the 9G end and walked toward Route 9. There are not a lot of views in the distance you'll get along the way but will notice turns and hills with endless views of the woods. The main trail is on a gravel path followed by two additional dirt trails indicating yellow and red. Both of these trails end up back at the gravel trail if you choose to go that way. We had a great experience going round trip enjoying the scenery. The name of the main trail is called the Hyde Park Trail which connects with other trails along the way, which a matter of fact connects with River Front Park (see my other review). Please, I strongly encourage you to bring bug spray because we screwed up. It's very bad along the whole journey. Also, check for ticks.

    We really enjoyed our afternoon hike at Roosevelt Farm Lane Trail. This park came to my attention…read morewhen I was doing a search for local parks with carriage roads. Not only are the roads here in good condition, but most of the road has great shade from the trees, so even if it is hot out you are not suffering too much. I am not a tree expert or anything, but I think there are a lot of pine trees in these woods because the smell of pine was strong throughout our hike, which was really nice. Located in a few places on the trial were information plaques with QR Codes, so make sure you have a QR reader app installed on your phone before you visit so you can scan the code and listen to the guided tour on your phone.

    Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park

    Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park

    (35 reviews)

    This a a fantastic area to camp in, there are SO MANY things you can do in the neighborhood…read more(Vanderbilt mansion, CIA, Roosevelt presidential library and museum, orchards and farms, walkway over the Hudson). In terms of the campground, the bathrooms and showers are great. The actual campsite are way too close together and there are these little seed pod things that get everywhere and are harmless, but kind of suck anyway.

    Well well, Norrie State Park was the first discovery for me when I was on a field trip during my…read morehigh school career when we visited the Norrie Point Environmental Center. This review is going toward the hiking me and my friend experienced, and it was a good one. We parked at the closet entrance, which is on the left. We took the blue trail which is 4.59 miles to exist (making it the longest trail). Some of the markers along the way are not clearly marked as we ended up going the wrong way, making it confusing. One of the blue markers on a tree was facing at the wrong angle. We then figured it out later on thankfully, as we saw the marker up ahead. With me being good with maps and getting around, we ended up going off the path onto the main road to the Hudson River close up. There are a couple of spaces for parking. We got back on the blue trail as it did a big loop and got on the red trail for a bit, until reaching the main road and followed that to the parking lot where we parked. There are multiple trails along the way to take in, as the white trail, according to the map follows the river, which looks appealing. That will be for another visit. To keep life simple, there should be more maps provided along with updated signage for trail colors, which will then bring up my rating.

    Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum - A letter to FDR from child star Shirley Temple.

    Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

    (126 reviews)

    STEPH JUDGEMENT: The OG Presidential Library that's still going strong…read more FDR was the first to make his archives public, starting the Presidential Library tradition. The museum building and grounds were very well-maintained, and the exhibition signage looked recently updated. It was a great way to learn all about FDR the president as well as the man, and all his accomplishments as well as failures. I was glad to see that there was also a lot about his wife, Eleanor, who lived for many decades after his death and influenced the world greatly in her own right. On the day of our visit they had free admission to the Roosevelt House Museum, so we took advantage of that as well. Overall we had a great time and learned a lot--a worthwhile stop.

    7/9/25 & 9/30/25: Twice we visited the FDR Presidential Library and Museum…read more There's two levels dedicated to the library and museum. Presently, a special exhibit called "Signature Moments" letters from The Famous, The Infamous and Every day Americans to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor are on display. It's truly a must see! The rest of the museum and library has several video rooms of his speeches, pictures from all 4 terms, his actual Presidential desk, room for radio addresses, his car designed to accommodate his disability and so much more.... Another section is dedicated to his wife Eleanor Roosevelt. A woman who was truly ahead of her time. In the library, there was a file cabinet where J Edgar Hoover kept FBI information on Mrs. Roosevelt. The first time we visited the complex, we toured the home and less than half of the library and museum. To throughly visit both places in one day would be too much. On 9/30, we returned to completely tour the rest of the library and museum. Totally impressed with the thoroughness of FDR Presidential Library and Museum. He was a President for all people.

    Vanderbilt Mansion - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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