Vanderbilt Mansion: One of 5 Vanderbilt Homes you Can Visit
Vanderbilt Mansion: One of 5 Vanderbilt Homes you Can Visit
Planning a day trip or drive in the Hudson Valley? Looking for somewhere you can take a walk without the crowds of other locations? The Hudson Valley has one of the majestic Vanderbilt Homes right in its back yard.
Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, NY (Dutchess County) is a quick drive North from the Mid-Hudson Bridge and other well-known places including Marist College and the Culinary Institute of America.
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Things to Know before Your Visit to one of the Glorious Vanderbilt Homes:
- The grounds of Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site are Open year-round.
- There is no charge to walk and hike on the grounds.
- There is free parking on site.
- Fees are charged for tours (when available) of the mansion.
- Special events typically take place throughout the year. Check their website for updated information.
Visiting one of the Glorious Vanderbilt Homes:
VISITING HOURS:
Visitors Center & Mansion – Open daily: 9am – 5pm; except major holidays
Grounds: Open daily: 9am – sunset; except major holidays
ADMISSION: (as of the date of this published post)
Grounds: Free
Vanderbilt Mansion Entrance Fee & Tour: $10
WEBSITE:
www.nps.gov/vama/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
How many Vanderbilt Homes are there?
Imagine touring all the Vanderbilt Homes throughout the United States. How many of these homes do you think you’d visit?
Well, there are 5 in total that you can tour:
- The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island
- Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island
- Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina
- Eagle’s Nest in Centerport, New York
- Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York
Where is Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site?
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site is located in Hyde Park, NY in Dutchess County.
A short drive North from the Mid-Hudson Bridge, the Walkway over the Hudson, Marist College, the Culinary Institute of America and the Hyde Park Drive-In, the location of the National Historic Site is perfect to visit on a Day Trip from NYC.
Located off of Route 9, in Hyde Park, one can venture either North or South on Route 9 and bump into many great things to do.
Hyde Park, NY is sandwiched between Staatsburg, NY (home of the Staatsburgh State Historic Site) and Poughkeepsie, NY (home of Locust Grove Estate).
How can one get to the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site?
This magnificent example of the Vanderbilt homes can easily be reached by taking New York Route 9 North from Interstate 84 or from crossing over from the Mid-Hudson Bridge.
From North, take New York Route 9 South. That can also be found from the North at the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge.
Vanderbilt Mansion
119 Vanderbilt Park Rd
Hyde Park, NY
Who lived in the Vanderbilt Mansion?
Now owned by the National Park Service, this beauty of the Vanderbilt homes was once home to Frederick William Vanderbilt and his wife Louise Holmes Anthony.
The mansion has been renovated several times over the years and is, generally, open for tours. Known as a ‘Historic House Museum’, Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park also became a National Historic Landmark in 1940.
What makes this one of many Vanderbilt Homes so special?
#1: The 54-room mansion has amazing Hudson River Views.
Because of its close proximity to the Hudson River, the Vanderbilt mansions offers unbelievable Hudson River Views from the majority of the property.
#2: It is one of the area’s oldest Hudson River Estates.
The property began development in 1764, but the Vanderbilts did not take ownership of the property in 1895.
#3: The property once housed the Vanderbilt’s own New York Central Railroad that took them from the property directly into New York City.
That seems rather convenient, don’t you think?
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The Grounds
The grounds are a total of 211 acres. It’s small in comparison to the 600 acres of the original estate.
There are majestic Italian Gardens on the property, as well as, stonework that complimented the gardens throughout.
The Mansion
The 54-room mansion is filled with fascinating pieces of art and original furniture from the Vanderbilt’s time spent here. ‘Hyde Park’ was primarily the family’s summer home.
While taking a tour, one could see the attention to detail in everything they put into the home.
- The first floor houses the public rooms, such as the dining room, the lobby and the den.
- The second floor houses the primary bedrooms, guest rooms.
- The third floor consisted of more guest rooms and the Servant’s Hall (separated from the guest rooms).
The mansion also has a back staircase where the servants moved about from the basement to the other floors.
Did you know that the Vanderbilt Estate had electric lighting before the surrounding area? It was powered by a hydroelectric plant built on the estate.
Did I convince you to make a visit yet?
You are welcome to visit the grounds of the estate for a quick stroll, a hike, to enjoy the views and/or have a picnic.
During our visit, we saw several people walking their dogs, others exercising and some just enjoying their time reading a book.
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What attractions are near Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site?
Other places to visit near this popular Vanderbilt home are:
- Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library, Museum & Home of FDR National Historic Site
- Hyde Park Historical Society Museum
- Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
- Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park
- Staatsburgh State Historic Site / Mills Mansion
- Locust Grove Estate
Tips for an Amazing Visit to one of the many elegant Vanderbilt Homes:
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, like these. The grounds are expansive and the tours (when available) consist of a lot of walking.
- Take a portable chair or blanket (this one is my favorite) to enjoy the grounds. Although there are many benches on the property, you should always be prepared in case there are more people than usual.
- Take many photos. The mansion is striking and should be photographed so that you have wonderful memories to cherish and to share with others/on social media.
- Tours of the mansion are best enjoyed any season, except during the summer. The mansion has no air conditioning, so it will get rather uncomfortable
Until the Next Adventure…
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