Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
119 Vanderbilt Park Road, Hyde Park, NY, 12538
Perched on the Hudson River, the late 19th-century Vanderbilt Mansion—located in Hyde Park—was once home to the esteemed Vanderbilt family. Preserved as a National Historic Site, the mansion boasts lavish interiors that today provide a peek into the glamorous American elite lifestyles during the post-Civil War Gilded Age.
The basics
Access is by guided tour only, and these reveal the highlights of the Vanderbilt Mansion—there are 54 rooms to explore. Check out the kitchen, ornate sitting rooms, and furnished guestrooms; admire more than 6,500 historic items, from fine art to antique furniture; and hear about the former residents, as well as the cultural and industrial developments of the post-Civil War Gilded Age.
After the tour, leave time to stroll the Italian-style gardens and admire the mansion’s beaux arts architecture from the outside. Hikers can also follow the scenic 3-mile (5-kilometer) Hyde Park trail, which loops around the grounds and the neighboring Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
Things to know before you go
- Admission to the mansion is by guided tour only, which lasts one hour. Children under 15 are free, and access to the gardens and grounds is free for all.
- Admission tickets can be purchased from the Vanderbilt Visitor Center, where there is also a gift shop and restrooms.
- The mansion is accessible for wheelchair users by advance booking; strollers are not allowed inside the house.
How to get there
The Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site is located along the banks of the Hudson River in Hyde Park, New York. From NYC, it’s about a 56-mile (90-kilometer) drive along Route 9, taking about two hours. Trains run from Grand Central Station to Poughkeepsie Station, and from there you can take a local bus to Hyde Park or use the shuttle service (May to October by advance booking only) to the mansion. Free parking is also available.
When to get there
Tours are held several times daily from May to October, and twice daily from November to April. Advance booking is highly recommended in summer, especially on weekends, when tours can sell out quickly. Be aware that the Vanderbilt Mansion is not air-conditioned; summer visitors can visit earlier in the day to avoid midday heat.
Great estates of the Hudson Valley
In the post-Civil War Gilded Age, a number of prominent New York families, artists, and politicians took up residence in the Hudson Valley. With a Hudson Valley New York Great Estates Pass you can visit nine historic sites. In addition to the Vanderbilt Mansion and neighboring Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, see the Verplanck family's Mount Gulian Society; A.J. Davis-designed Locust Grove Estate; 18th-century Clermont Mansion; and Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site.
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