What a wonderful estate! The views are amazing and it's a terrific place for a nice walk. I feel so fortunate to have this gem in my town!

What a beautiful mansion and amazing garden! If you love " Downton Abbey" and are fascinated about the Gilded Age, you need to visit this place! This is considered the most " low key " Vanderbilt Manson as it was used as the vacation home but it is absolutely beautiful. ( And I will never describe it as " low key" even by modern standard). Back then, Vanderbilt wanted the best of the best, so all of the furnitures were bought and shipped from Europe. When the house was donated to US government, a good amount of the furnitures and paintings were donated along with the house, it is great that you get to see those beautiful pieces and wondered how luxurious life they had back then. We took a walk at the garden before we joined the guided tour, if you like taking the photos, you will like the garden, it's gorgeous and it's huge. After taking a walk at garden, we then joined the guide tour ( it's not free but it's worth every penny) and our tour guide did an amazing job. She is extremely knowledgeable and made sure we understand the history of the mansion. It's unfortunate they are renovating the basement kitchen so we can't visit it, but I plan to visit again when the kitchen renovation/rehab done. read more

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We attended a guided tour of the mansion on a cold day in November. Our tour guide, Kevin, was outstanding! He provided great information and insights into the family, staff, and house. He balanced his tour well between speaking and exploring. On the downside, this mansion is one of the smaller you can tour on the east coast, and it pales in comparison to places like The Breakers (in Newport) and Hearst Castle (in California). The grounds are stunning and definitely worth a fall visit. read more

We went here because I thought it would be awesome. Think about it - Vanderbilt was one of the great industrialists of the Gilded Age, one of the richest men in America, and this was his mansion, so it must be incredible, right? Not exactly. The man described above is Cornelius Vanderbilt; this mansion belonged to Frederick Vanderbilt, Cornelius' grandson. Aside from that, this home is not a national monument because it is an important part of American history, etc. The reason it is a national monument is because when Vanderbilt died and the mansion was put on the market, there were no buyers since it was during the Depression. But the new owner was friends with Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was president at the time. FDR lived in the same town as the mansion, so he was familiar with it. So he had the government buy it (for $1) and make it part of the National Park Service. So it's not the main Vanderbilt and even if it was, it wasn't his main home ( which was in NYC). So anyway, we went. The grounds of the estate are quite large and impressive. When you get to the ticket office, that building (which was the guest house) is pretty impressive for what it is; I think it's bigger than my house. So we got our tickets ($10/person) and joined the tour. We were warned that the mansion was being renovated. It was covered in scaffolding so you couldn't get a good look at the outside. Inside, a lot of furnishings wee moved, covered, or packed away. So we didn't get the full experience. The guide stood outside and told us the history of the mansion. Then we went inside and told us more about it. He then let us walk around the large room on the first floor and we could also look at the other first floor rooms, all of which were roped off. These were very nice and to me were the highlight of our tour. Then we went upstairs and and did the same thing, except this time, the upstairs rooms weren't as nice, had even less furniture, and due to the layout, you really couldn't see that much of some rooms. After that, we went down to the basement and he told us a bit more. All in all, the tour lasted about an hour. After that, the guide told us how to get to the rose garden in case we wanted to see that. All in all, I would rate this place a 3. I felt misled in that the mansion didn't belong to the famous Vanderbilt but his grandson instead, and that as such, it wasn't as large as I was expecting. In addition, the state of the mansion when I visited took away from my experience. If it had been in its usual state, the mansion would have been more impressive and more beautiful. So, now that you know it's history, that should prepare you. As I give it 4 stars, I base that on what I think it would get if they weren't renovating it. I recommend going, but I also recommend waiting to go until after they get done renovating. If it's a choice between seeing it in its current state and not going, it's still worth it, but temper your expectations. read more

Lovely landscape and grounds. Tours are information filled with knowledgable staff. A romantic place to go for a walk or a picnic. The gardens are beautiful during the summer. read more

Vanderbilt Mansion - The Mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hyde Park, New York

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Opulent living at it's finest. The furnishings in the estate make it worth touring. The tour guide we had, Dimitri was great. He was knowledgeable plus made it fun. He was easy to listen to. The hour flew by. The views of the Hudson River and the Catskills in the back are amazing. Just walking down to the old boat dock area was enjoyable. There are nice paths to use to get right to the water. read more

We showed up for the 10am tour, but there was a school bus of children there for that particular tour so we were unable to do that one. They said we could come back at noon or four. We chose four o'clock and visited some other local historic sights during our wait. At four o'clock there were about 20 people in our tour and it was $10 per person. We were guided by a park ranger who was very knowledgeable about the Vanderbilt family history and home. It's a very elaborate, spacious home. Definitely worth a visit. The tour lasted about 45 minutes and consisted of the basement, main floor and second floor. The grounds are beautiful. There is a gift shop in the welcome center where you purchase tickets. read more

Vanderbilt Mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hyde Park, New York

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Frustrating that they are closed on Tuesday & Wednesday. Make sure you check their website. Many internet sites/maps say they are open 7 days a week. read more

This was the second NPS site we visited on a beautiful end of summer day. As with the Roosevelt museum and library, this one did not disappoint! The tours take place every half hour and are limited in size. Ours took about an hour. Our guide, Kevin, was very knowledgeable - he put the history of the "mansion" in context and answered a lot of questions. The mansion itself is similar too (but much smaller) than The Breakers in Newport (constructed by another Vanderbilt brother). Virtually all of the original gilded age furnishings are intact, so the home is really a time capsule. The tour begins with a short walk from the visitor center/gift shop, goes through the main level of the house (with plenty of time to take a peek in each of the rooms), then up to the second floor (again with plenty of time to look around) and ends in the basement to view the working spaces of the home (after which everyone departs through the basement door). There's a lot to see at the site in addition to the mansion - there's an extensive garden and some wonderful overlooks to the Hudson River. There's no admission fee to enter the grounds; it would be a nice place for a picnic! There's a fee for the tour (free if you have a National Park pass). read more

This is a home of Vanderbilts. Nice home. Enjoyed the the tour and the tour guide was helpful. Only issue is a lot of rooms were blocked off and could not up close what was really interesting. read more

Vanderbilt Mansion - The exterior of the famous mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hyde Park, New York

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We came here on 4/5/13 for the 10am tour with expectations of a dry lecture and quick tour of the "cottage." What we got instead was a 90 minute chat with Mike Autenrieth, a terrific park ranger who was clearly happy to be there. He was funny, knowledgeable, and made the place come alive. What we like are tours that put the subject into context and give us a sense of time and history. That's both easy and tough with something like the Vanderbilt Mansion. It's easy to explain the history part, but the Vanderbilts existed in an orbit pretty much all to themselves. Mike did a great job of explaining how they fit into their time, but also were outside it as well, forging a path as "new money" in the Golden Age. The house itself is worth a visit on its own merits. While not as enormous as The Breakers or the other Newport houses, it is nonetheless opulent, elegant, and over-the-top in its own way. The grounds are also lovely and worth a stroll. read more

Excellent hidden gem on Millionaire's Mile. Spend some time Googling the Vanderbilt family history or just take the excellent pay tour of the mansion. You will learn American history, architecture, and much more. Additionally, the grounds are meticulously kept, with wide fowl and a family of foxes right at the entrance. Many people were walking their dogs the days I visited. I can't wait to visit over the holidays, as it sounds like the decorations are lovely. read more

Absolutely beautiful! My boyfriend and I got a chance to go inside and it was just so beautiful! Worth the trip for sure! Even if you just walk around the park!! So much to see and so many picture perfect spots! Definitely come on the fall/summer! Best times to see and enjoy the mansion! I love it here!! Especially my dog! He loves walking the trails and paths! read more

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I go here a lot Spring thru Fall to walk with my dogs. The grounds are excellent for walking. You can walk from the mansion down to the Hudson River, then up to the formal gardens and back to the mansion. It's maybe a 2 mile loop and very doable. Often I'll pack a picnic lunch and set up beside Crum Elbow Creek which runs through the property and just read a good book while the dogs recover from their exercise. I've never been inside the mansion but can highly recommend the grounds as a great walking and picnic spot. read more

Extremely well kept estate! The trails and roads in and out are very well maintained! The garden and fountains are all very beautiful! The scenery unbelievable! Hudson river views all picture perfect!!! read more

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This place is gorgeous. 212 acres of land that is free to roam. That's right, FREE. There is no admission to get in and there is no parking fee. All you need to pay for is the tour of the mansion if you want to see the inside. 10 bucks for the tour, very worth it. The tour guide, Mary, really knew her stuff and was ready to answer any questions. The inside of the mansion is just, wow. There's also a big garden to the left of the mansion with grapevines and a small pond. Near the exit there is a road leading down to where the dock for their boat used to be. Another place that you should definitely explore and take the time to sit and soak in the beauty of nature. Also dog-friendly! read more

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Frederick Vanderbilt was the frugal grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. After inheriting part of the $200 million fortune his father (William Henry) inherited from Cornelius, he decided to build the "small" house you can see in Hyde Park. True - there is some sarcasm there, but it's actually true. His siblings went on to build the Marble House and Breakers in Newport, the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina, and by comparison the Vanderbilt Estate is relatively modest. That being said, it cost about $2 million in the late 1890s. As far as visiting the Vanderbilt Estate, it's a great place to go. You don't even need to visit the mansion to have a good time here. For sure, paying the $8 and getting the history, architectural ramblings, and other neat fact in the guided tour is great. And you can't go inside the house without paying for a pass. However, the grounds are simply spectacular - probably what drew Frederick and his wife up here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Plus, unlike us, the train ride was free for them, since the family owned the railroad! Take a picnic lunch, wander around in the trees, and check out the views. If history, gilded age architecture, and the culture of the uber-wealthy interests you (and it is all very interesting, actually), then take the tour. Though you can't really wander about the house freely, and it is sort of a guided tour, there are still some really interesting thing to see. Pick a nice, sunny day, and you won't regret it. read more

What an amazing site, and an amazing tour! Mike was our tour guide, and since we visited in March, we had the luxury of having a small tour (8 people - including my family of 4). The tour starts (and tickets can be bought) in the Pavillion - a small (2000 sq ft) mini mansion that was built in 66 days to provide temporary housing for Fredrick Vanderbilt's family while the main house was constructed. Tickets are $10 a person (free for you and up to 3 others with an annual pass - with FDR's home nearby the tour fees alone will be covered by the $80 annual pass) and there are 4 tours a day. We arrived early and took the 11 am tour. After a short but thorough introduction to this part of the Vanderbilt Family (as well as their relations to Cornelius) and how they made their money, we made the short walk over to the house - and started on the first floor. Upon entering the house you immediately sense the tremendous amount of wealth FV had - but if you've been to the Biltmore or Marble House you will find that FV was extremely conservative compared to other members of the family. Mike was great with giving us an introduction to each room we would see on the floor, and then allowing us about 10 minutes to move room to room to see for ourselves. His was very knowledgable on various pieces of art and furniture in the house - and gave us ample time to explore. After the first floor, you head up the low rise marble steps (complete with velvet handrail) to the second floor, which contains some astounding master and guest bedrooms. We then took the servants stairs down to the basement, to see some of the servants quarters (as well as the icebox and kitchen) Mike provided lots of knowledge about the technology of the house, some of which was astounding. The Vanderbilt's had Thomas Edison plan out a power plant to be placed on the property so that the house could be electrified - as well as some innovative heating and cooling systems that were ahead of their time. A great tour of a great place - make sure to check out the view of the Catskills on the way out, and try and visit the Home of FDR as well! read more

The price was right, $20 for three people if you purchase the annual parks pass. The tour guide was very knowledge about the house, but we were only able to see 1/3 of this place since the rest was under renovations and preparing for holiday decorations. It's a nice short 1 hour tour, though a little disappointing to see a small part of such a grand place. read more

What a great place! This was a very fun an educational tour about one of America's most interesting families and it's a great representation of the Guilded Age in America. It's set along the banks of the Hudson and you get a gorgeous view of the river while you're touring the grounds of the mansion. The tour inside the building is really quite good and it's enjoyable to learn how the building was used as a summer home and that it's one of the smaller Vanderbilt mansions. The mansion is also located in Hyde Park, which is a nice little town where FDR was born and his home is only a few miles down the road from here. The Vanderbilt Mansion is a fun place to tour and you can easily spend a day or weekend in Hyde Park. I highly recommend this place! read more

This mansion served as the summer home of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt, who were here for approximately 6 months of the year. It's a symbol of the gilded age, though the guide says that these Vanderbilts actually lived more modestly in comparison their relatives. When the mansion was first furnished, it was for $1.5 million (what one of Frederick's sister-in-law's parties would cost). The mansion is very imposing on the outside, inside we didn't get to see that many rooms, but there were still some interesting furnishings, and drapings influenced and brought over from France or Europe. The house had electricity and running water when it was built. The grounds are quite large, has trees planted from the 1700's and parts of it overlook the Hudson River. The NPS guide was interesting and provided entertaining knowledge. read more

Thisi s a great place to be at for the tour, or if you want to walk the grounds. The view of the Hudson is terrific. And the house itself is a wonderful throwback to an era long past. The house itself because of its once grand proprietors is ostentatious, garish, if not disgusting. The amount of money and resources used to build this, and simply to flaunt one's wealth in the late 1800s/early 1900s, is jarring. But it's still not something to miss if you're ever in the area. They get a lot more traffic than the FDR Library or house down the street. The guides from the National Park Service are incredibly knowledgeable, and give very good tours. read more

I'm in love with this estate. I've lived out of state and I have yet to find anyplace like it. The landscape is beautiful the views are gorgeous. The gardens are amazing when they're in full bloom. It's free to access the park. The tours of the mansion are inexpensive. I go down by the river whenever I need to decompress after work. read more

The mansion and the grounds are stunning and our tour was exceptionally enjoyable! The group was lead by U.S. Park Ranger Mike Autenrieth who was very knowledgeable and was a great storyteller! It was thoroughly enjoyable to say the least. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a pleasurable afternoon and transport yourself back to the Gilded Age of America. read more

The mansion is pretty incredible and our tour guide really knew his stuff. The mansion was easy to get to, very impressive, and has fabulous grounds. I'd definitely recommend you visit. Go in knowing that you're going to be envious. Makes it easier to swallow :) read more

Vanderbilt Mansion - Live like a Vanderbilt! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hyde Park, New York

We took a tour at 3pm on Friday with Dimitri. He took us room by room and gave us such interesting information. The house was decorated for Christmas and was beautiful. The entire tour is an hour but we were there for an hour and a half. The history of the gilded age and the Vanderbilts are an American treasure. I highly recommend taking the time to go and learn. read more

A friend of mine decided to try out her photography skills on me when I needed someone who could do some maternity shots for me. She choose the Vanderbilt Mansion as her backdrop and on April 13th, I became her model for the day. Now we went here in the very early part of Spring, with only the buds on the trees peeking through, but it was drop dead gorgeous! The views are unbeatable, and the mansion itself it so beautiful. This is definitely a fantastic place to bring your kids for some fun outdoor play, to bring your dogs for a walk or to have a photo shoot like we did! The options for great photo ops are endless in any season. I honestly want to see if she will agree to do some photographs with my daughter when the leaves start changing - I can imagine it looks mighty gorgeous then. I look forward to going on a tour of the place sometime. PS. Parking is free - a welcome surprise. read more

Will definitely go back. Absolutely stunning views of the Hudson ! Didn't feel like waiting for a tour to go inside house, but will definitely go back and then will check the inside out. read more

Take the tour through the summer home of Vanderbilt. Very interesting. Unbelievable craftsmanship of wood, marble, plaster, AND more. Very informative about their lives and that of the servents lives. They all received money from a will. read more

Vanderbilt Mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hyde Park, New York

My boyfriend and I have visited Vanderbilt Mansion twice. The first time was a late trip so we weren't able to take the tour of the mansion but loved walking around the estate during sunset. We came back a week later for the tour and had the pleasure of meeting Mike! He has been a working there for 26 years! The tour started outside - Mike gave out group a great introduction of how the grounds came to be what they are today, he even knew about the huge estate across the Hudson (turned out to be a ministry that Vanderbilt paid for! Very cool) Once we were inside, it was like stepping into a time machine. Everything was in perfect condition and GORGEOUS! We were able to walk around to check out each room then ask any questions. Then we headed upstairs to do the same. The tour ended in the basement which was awesome because we were able to see where the servants lived as well (not bad I'd say - I'd move in...anyways..!) my boyfriend and I stuck around because we had some questions for mike. He spent an extra 40 minutes with us! He spoke of a couple ghost stories and lots more history. We really never wanted to leave! Mike was so informative, friendly and funny! He let us know that he also works at another location nearby (which we will end up going to). The next time we head up to this area, we will take the tour AGAIN if Mike is there. read more

This was a home of Fred Vanderbilt, one of the Vanderbilt grandsons, who still has a local reputation for being a real nice guy although, as a Vanderbilt, he had little else to do except be a nice guy. The mansion itself is billed as a "monument" to the Gilded Age although we were informed, on tour, that it is one of the lesser Vanderbilt family mansions and was used only during winters. Or was it summers? Its primary purpose was to host large parties for the high society set. It's worth seeing, especially when compared to the Roosevelt estate next door: old money Roosevelt vs. new money Vanderbilt; Roosevelt's dark oak and idiosyncratic collections vs. Vanderbilt's huge dining room and ostentatious display of wealth. However, compared to the many other mansions in the Hudson River Valley, there is nothing remarkable about it except its iron frame. Apparently, it was constructed before hot rivets came into use, because it was bolted together with big machine screws. I found that fascinating -- consider the labor involved! -- but your tour guide won't mention this detail, probably because normal people simply aren't interested. See also our review of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. read more

This was such a wonderful historic site visit. If you are looking for a good date activity, a place to walk outside and take pictures or have a picnic -weather permitting; go it's gorgeous! Wonderful Hudson views, gardens, combined with interesting history of one of NY's wealthiest families -The Vanderbilt's. The Tour Guide / Park Ranger - Dimitri was an amazing historian, part actor/ part comedian. He was by far the best narrator we've had at any museum or other tour we've taken world wide. He had a great voice - loud and it projected easily. He was friendly, self deprecating and knew the family history intricately, and had an ease about him. ( All the rangers were awesome BTW) What a great afternoon we had there. If you love these types of visits - go!! If you love NY history Go! If you love parks and the Hudson River go!! read more

Vanderbilt Mansion - Hudson Views from Vanderbilt House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hyde Park, New York

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Can't beat it for a day out! I have strolled the gardens, had picnics, flown kites, etc. It's absolutely beautiful property and you can't beat the view of the Hudson. The house itself is breathtaking. They allow wedding pictures on the premises for a fee, ask the information desk for details. Check their website as they are undergoing extensive construction right now. read more

Already at the gate to the estate, the place is amazing. Just wow. The wonderful gardens and the landscape - it is clear that this is the reason for the wonderful location of the "small" country house of Vanderbilt . The house is beautiful and certainly worth a visit. read more

Huge mansion with lots of history and beautiful decor. One of the lesser known Vanderbilts who preferred privacy. The architecture is breath-taking the dining room is beautifully maintained. The huge lawns are filled with trees that were planted years ago, and there is a wonderful view of the Hudson River. Would definitely recommend a visit if you're in the area. read more

Vanderbilt Mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hyde Park, New York

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It's an interesting site, and offers something to do on a quiet day in this area. It isn't anything that will blow you away, but if you're a fan of the era it is a walk through the memories of America... read more

What an interesting guide we had. Dimitri Was outstanding. It was like being at a well rehearsed documentary , but more. We were all ears for this fascinating story of the Vanderbilts and how they made their fortune and raised their families. The grounds were beautiful on this lovely, sunny August day and we walked thru the park after touring this old world style mansion. I would recommend you stop by for an enjoyable afternoon. Reasonable rates and seniors with a special national parks pass can bring in three guests. So don't leave grandma or grandpa home! read more

I didn't make it to the FDR mansion/ library because I didn't care about the library and $20 seemed like a lot for one person for admission to the mansion, so...I opted for the vanderbilt mansion and am so glad I did. $10 admission transports you back to the Gilded Age. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and patient with all the questions. I learned a great deal about the Vanderbilts and was a bit overcome with the grandeur of the home. Go, you won't regret it. read more

This mansion--one of the smallest of the Vanderbilt mansions--is a monument to the Gilded Age, a period of great wealth, no labor laws, and excesses. For a "smaller" mansion it is quite opulent. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining, though he spent a little too much time outside the mansion giving background info. The views of the nearby Hudson River are spectacular. It is also right down the road from FDR's home (we went later in the day, so we only went to the Vanderbilt house). At $8 for adults (and I believe free admission for kids 15 and under) it is worth a visit. read more

Vanderbilt Mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hyde Park, New York

Grounds themselves are free and open to the public, full of enormous trees and great views. The mansion is being renovated, which hampered the visit, but the ranger's expert, witty delivery nonetheless made the building and its former occupants come alive. Perhaps not worth a trip to Hyde Park on its own, at least until after the renovations are done, but a great complement to the other wonderful sites nearby. read more

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