The Walking Tour: Rockefeller Mansion and Philipsburg Manor

In Kykuit, visitors enjoy a two-hour guided walking tour of an architectural masterpiece that offers palatial views of the Hudson River from its proliferation of stone terraces. This excursion, which includes a stroll around landscaped gardens and ornate fountains, should appeal to the aesthete in everyone.

Also on display is a breathtaking collection of artwork, including over seventy pieces of 20th century sculpture from famous artists such as Pablo Picasso and Aristide Maillol. For those who love art that moves, the family’s collection of classic cars (such as a Crane Simplex, circa 1918) can be viewed in the coach barn, along with horse-drawn vehicles.

Included in the tour is a trip to nearby Philipsburg Manor, named after Frederick Philipse, a Dutch carpenter who later became the richest man in the colony of York. This site is an interesting accompaniment to the rich opulence of Kyuit, as it is a historic late 18th century Anglo-Dutch farming and milling complex that utilized slave labor to keep itself in operation.

Costumed guides offer a glimpse into American Colonial farm life, the interesting people who lived and worked there, and the rich history of the region. Philipsburg Manor possesses many notable attractions, including period furniture pieces, a slave garden, and a mill. The site offers tourists more facilities than Kykuit, as it features a café, a picnic area overlooking a pond, a visitor’s center (for both Philipsburg Manor and Kykuit), and a museum shop.