Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site

The building was restored to its original Georgian facade at the beginning at 20th century. There is some time period furniture but manor is mostly empty of personal family belongings (with few notable exceptions) comparing to other historic houses. So why 5 star rating? It is very thought provoking museum exposition at many levels… Dutch carpenter turned merchant and his wife, a savvy business woman, realized their American dream building large business empire including huge real estate wealth by obtaining manor patent and had three generations of family residing in the house, with their grandson losing it all by choosing the wrong side (allegiance to British crown). Parallel story line is Munsee Lenape Indians fighting alongside Revolutionary Army in hopes of reversing the land deal wrongs done at the imperial times. Yet another dilemma was facing enslaved people at times of Revolutionary war: British had promised freedom to all individuals whose owners took the rebel side, hence about 20000 of enslaved people fought on the British side (some of them indeed lived as free people in Nova Scotia after the war) vs 9000 on the rebel’s side… Taking guided tour was much more engaging and interesting vs self-tour option in my opinion, helps to get most out of the visit.

I Did the walking tour that began at the Manor hall. I learned many things about Yonkers and the surrounding areas. There are many pieces of art along the waterfront that are quite beautiful.They alone are worth the walking tour. I highly recommend a tour of the Manor and the walking tour.

What a wonderful, inviting atmosphere with a patient, kind and knowledgeable staff! We visited on a weekday afternoon, and the staff was so pleasant. We arrived an hour early for the 3pm historical tour, and the docent brought us to a really cool open room to play old-fashioned games with our children. Obviously it is still a 340 year old home so children need to behave accordingly and not run around touching everything, but I found it to be balanced with letting children be children and still enforcing the respect and decorum due the building. In terms of history, I found this place to be again - balanced. There is no such thing as neutral; everyone carries a worldview with them as they interpret the facts. That said, this was a well-balanced presentation of the history of this local area without tainting it with too many present-day politically driven interpretations. I would highly recommend this as an educational visit and the tour is definitely vital to getting a feel for the history. The display right in the entry way with the indigenous man, the Dutch woman and the African man, along with the map depicting global trade were beautiful. Seeing the complicated history of how I came to be formally in a museum setting was very validating. My mom always told me this history, but I have yet to see it on display like this in any history museums. Usually, the complex history is compartmentalized or one culture is emphasized over the other. There is a small parking lot where we were able to park both of our cars, the bathrooms are impeccably kept and easily accessible.

The most balanced, inclusive, local history museum I've yet visited. I have to say that I've visited Yonkers and the facade of the Philipse Manor Hall many times as a kayak guide out of midtown Manhattan, but over the winter holidays decided to bring the family by train (Metro North out of Grand Central) and pay it a longer visit. As a lifelong history buff, I've visited hundreds of such museums in dozens of states since I was a kid (I just turned 55, so...) and this one---recently renovated and re-opened I'm told---includes not just the land-usurping founding family but the enslaved people and First Peoples as much as is possible in equal measure. The stories of the Munsee Lunape (Lenape) and the many Africans (most of west-African extraction) are told side-by-side with that of the Dutch that arrived in the 16th century. It is a fascinating, tragic, intertwined story that adults and kids should see. Static artifacts and displays are mixed with video, audio (hear words in Lenape and an African dialect), touch (a cured beaver pelt for example) and even the smells of some of the product produced here. Lisbeth, our guide gave a wonderful presentation, even opening the front half-door (apologies, I've forgotten the Dutch name for it Lisbeth!) and allowing us to imagine the view the Philipses had, and education coordinator John F. was a font of additional information. Kudos to all of you. Keep up the great work!

What a wonderful Museum. Not only is it well done but they make sure that they do not leave anything out. They’re not trying to pick sides, but they are trying to make sure that you get a well-rounded education when you visit this museum. The house itself is so historic and hearing your shoes on the original floorboards below you is amazing.

I had a great and educational experience at Philipse Manor. Keith our tour guide was exceptional, he was knowledgeable and engaging, I learned a lot!

Definitely take some time out of your day to visit this place! The interactive exhibits are designed for all learners in mind. Whether you’re strolling through or doing a full tour, you will thoroughly enjoy this site. I can tell the staff have put a lot of hard work into renovating the museum and it’s paid off. Don’t miss it!

Absolutely wonderful St. Nicholas Day celebration. The staff and special guests did a wonderful job having crafts, hot chocolate and cookies available for for all the families. April Armstrong kept the kids engaged with her songs and stories.

I was in New York earlier this year for a friend's wedding. We stayed in New Rochelle but the ceremony was in Yonkers so I wanted to make sure to check out some of what Yonkers had to offer. Unfortunately, when I visited, the Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site was closed due to Covid. As a result, I was only able to check it out from the outside. After parking in their parking lot, we walked around the exterior. There were a few placards to read. And we peaked through the windows to see what we could see inside. I'd definitely like to return one day and get the full experience! Within walking distance from Philipse Manor Hall is a park and several restaurants.

It used to be nestled in a vast area, now this mansion is reduced to small lot. Newly renovated last year, the house is not that big but it's super interesting. There are many displays that you can play around. We didn't think we would spend an hour here. We thought, maybe 20 minutes at most. If you love old historical building and its interiors, this one might not for you because the house itself now is just a shell. But if you like history from different perspectives, you'll love this place. The stories here balance between Munsee tribes, slaves and Philipse's family. The staff here were very friendly, polite, and helpful. Admission $6. Oh and if you collect NPS passport stamp cancellations, this place is part of Hudson Valley NHA passport program.

Its not really review, but I do plan to visit as soon as the virus is past us. I'm the 7th great grandson of the man who built the hall. MY grandmother was a Phillips. The loyalist part is troubling but it might be good to know his grandson lost his leg fighting for the Union in the War between the States.

For anyone interested in Westchester history, this is a must-see. Set among the urban center of Yonkers, this house dates back to the 1600s and the beginnings of Yonkers. Though surrounded by buildings, you can see glimpses of the Palisades and imagine the much bigger waterway that used to come almost to the front of the house. It's a very impressive house for the time period, though mostly empty now, and walking through it you get a sense of the lifestyle of the very wealthy Loyalist family that owned it and much of Westchester up until the Revolutionary War.