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    Vanderbilt Museum

    4.2 (166 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 5:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

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    Melissa N.

    A one-of-a kind museum housing William K. Vanderbilt's collection of animals and all sorts of interesting artifacts. The grounds are beautiful and the waterfront views are stunning. There is also a planetarium with a fun and educational show. It's a nice place to spend the day - 4 stars.

    Stephanie G.

    Very cool old gilded age house + museum. You can buy grounds tickets online, but you can't buy a tour until the day of in person, which I thought was odd. It's worth it to upgrade to get the tour but be prepared it might not be right when you want it. Luckily, you can see part of the house without a tour, including a lot of marine and biological specimens collected by a couple of the Vanderbilts, as well as some information on their sailing/yahting history and a couple of old cars. The house tour covers the living space, and our guide was thorough on the art the Vanderbilts collected and good information on the family. There is also a planetarium on site, but the gift shop is only for that, not the Vanderbilt Museum. It's got a nice view of the sea and plenty of parking. It's an interesting way to spend a few hours but wear some comfortable shoes.

    Aleksandra E.

    It is a wonderful place to visit, making you feel like you're not in New York. It's an ideal spot for a picnic. The venue also hosts weddings, which look very romantic. Additionally, there are activities for kids that have educational value.

    The family crest.
    Vanessa V.

    There were fantastic exhibits of fish and other sea creatures from around the world. We also did the mansion tour and got to see things like the $80,000 organ that provided entertainment to the Vanderbilts and their guests! A fun day trio while on Long Island.

    One of the antique cars.
    Santia G.

    Located in Centerport in Suffolk, Long Island. Beautifully kept grounds offering a variety of touristy experiences in one location. Planetarium, toured walks, a hike, marine museum, museum of the mansion including antique cars, rooms kept in their original condition, expansive grounds to explore with views of the water. They have cats that appear to live on the grounds and cared for by the folks that work there. We came on a beautiful May Saturday afternoon and happened to arrive right as a wedding was getting started. We were directed to park along side the main road on the grass because of the wedding. The grounds have a good amount of cobblestone to walk on and given the amount of walking in general and stairs to climb up/down, would definitely recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes. They have multiple discounts offered from northwell health employee, to veterans, to children 12 and under, to local library membership, AARP as well. There were 6 of us (5 adults and 1 child age 10) and we paid just $8 after all the discounts we had were applied. We were too late for the planetarium and guided tour but were able to explore the different homes and were pleasantly surprised at the history within. I absolutely see myself returning and do recommend to others who find themselves in Suffolk looking for a fun time.

    Matthew N.

    An ideal short trip from NYC for a taste of wealth and history from New York's robber baron era. The museum used to be one of William K. Vanderbilt's mansions housing many animals and fish he collected during his numerous ocean journeys. The collection has over 40,000 objects, including some authentic pottery and weapons from Africa and Southeast Asia. The museum has good ramps for access and some seating if you get tired of walking. The gardens were well manicured and the walking trails offer some views of the water. We spent about 3 hours on the grounds and museum and didn't even get a chance to visit the planetarium (which costs extra), but it seemed kind of small so we passed. Overall, a great place to spend an afternoon!

    Chip P.

    Just like I remember it when I visited as a child! The same petrified sea life, gorgeous grounds, and museum exhibits in the mansion. Lots of fun instagramable photo spots overlooking the sound. Planetarium offers some fun later light shows with music for kids. Great day trip with family, friends or for a date.

    Judy L.

    Gorgeous mansion, with outdoor space. We enjoyed the grounds and the waterview. Nice place for pictures. The other side of the water has small waterfront town for eatery and coffee.

    Jeremy W.

    I don't even know where to start. This museum was pretty dope. 8 dollars a person just for the standard viewing of 5 different locations. Never seen a place like this with do much history and old school architecture from the old school cobble stone floors to the old school buildings. I really loved all the history in this place and such a great place to have weddings. Make sure if you come, you wear comfortable sneakers because there is a-lot of walking and the flooring is all cobble stone and not easy to walk on. Aldo a lot of up and down hills so be prepared to break a sweat. Every room had different animals and different species to check out and I enjoyed the history and the story to every room. I really enjoyed myself and would come back here over and over. Such a cool place to bring kids or even do dates. Highly recommend this place and very cool place.

    Hunter S.

    If you're coming from NYC, it can be a long haul. It's only about 40 miles, but traffic on the Friday afternoon that I went was brutal, and it took an hour and a half to get there. That being said, it's a beautiful estate with amazing panoramic views of Long Island Sound. Great photo opportunities, unique architecture. The mansion (the Vanderbilts called it a cottage and you can't take photos inside) is full of unique artifacts/decor. Tile from Portugal. Paneling from an English manor. Antique furniture. Lavish baths. Our guide, Margaret, was very informative. Lots of interesting facts and drama surrounding this family! Volunteers are very helpful as well. Brian helped me find my way around and made sure I had cold water on a hot day. General admission to the grounds was around 10 dollars and the mansion tour was 6 dollars. There is a planetarium on site, as well as collections of taxidermy and wildlife specimens that the Vanderbilts collected on their travels. Our guide told us that Vanderbilt always intended this home to become a museum after his death, so he prepared it like one during his life.

    Starlyn L.

    Great museum and the staff are very helpful. You'll do quite a bit of walking and I do not recommend wearing heels of any kind lol.

    Rita L.

    Looking for a place to go on the weekend? Vanderbilt Museum is a good option to check out! I was there a month ago when the weather was still pretty nice. Picked a sunny day to go outdoors and actually enjoyed the views a lot there! It's a good spot to spend a day, take some pictures and walk around. You can bring a picnic mat or just sit on the grass and enjoy the lovely views! Bring lunch or snacks too so you can eat there. I bought shake shack on the way and ate it there :) Check out the marine museum and their giant whale shark by habitat gallery :) Admission is $10 for adults, kids are free under 2. Check their website for the hours before you go!

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    10 months ago

    Fun day great walking tours, though the landscape could be tricky, rolling hills and all. But all in all a nice place to spend a few hours!

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    11 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Went there on a date, and the place entirely was a lot of fun as well as educational.

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    8 months ago

    Wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Make sure you book a tour of living quarters. . Go on a sunny to explore the grounds

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The astronomer who lead the experience was amazing. My sister and I are still laughing at her "pizza" joke. Can't wait to go back!

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    2 years ago

    Thanks to a fabulous tour by Jim Kelly, Director, I do not hesitate to suggest you stop by, spend the day. Awe-inspiring.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great visit and tour! Management and Tour Guides provided exemplary service. Information was clear and well published and presented.

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    Ask the Community - Vanderbilt Museum

    Review Highlights - Vanderbilt Museum

    You can bring lunch and have it anywhere, We had it on the big hill next to the mansion, so we had great view of sound.

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