The Armour-Stiner Octagon House

I visited the Armor Stiner octagon house during the Victorian Christmas holidays tour and it definitely was magical. It truly felt like a fairytale as soon as we stepped out of the car. The Christmas trees, the decorations and the rooms were breathtaking. I would highly recommend you book a tour here.

Great house, great tour, & great guides. Definitely add this unique home to your Hudson Valley itinerary. We’ve been visiting historic homes allow the Hudson from hours North of Albany, down to Brooklyn. Somehow, we missed this home. We enjoyed an interesting tour and its touch of spookiness added for the season. Definitely worth a stop if you are visiting the area or add it to your to-do list if you are a historical house hunter as we are!

Looking for seasonal experiences, the Victorian Christmas here is first class. Walking through history and being part of an architectural family's passion project is a great way to kindle the holiday spirit. The picturesque dusting of snow was a lucky bonus as was our wonderful docent.

My husband and I booked a tour of the octagon house over this past weekend. We were in awe of how beautiful the house and property were. All the staff were knowledgeable and answered all our questions as they guided us through the estate. I often find Halloween tours to be overly done and cheesy however, this was not the case at the octagon house and we are looking forward to returning on our future stays.

My first visit to this extraordinary architectural treasure right after a snowfall. The guided tour was as well done as the beauty and history was fascinating. I look forward to visiting again in the spring when the gardens are in bloom!

We went to visit this gorgeous and meticulously restored mid-19th century home over the week before Christmas when it was resplendent in holiday decorations. The home, the tour, the docent Cathy and staff were incredible. We had a fresh coat of snow to make it even more special and may need to return in spring or summer to experience the grounds. I highly recommend it!

Visited during the Christmas holiday. What a beautiful home. We were treated to a great tour as we stepped back in time so see the Christmas holiday in the 1800s. The tour was fine by actors who included all the guests (us) in preparation for the arrival of Old Fezziwig. At the end of the tour we heard from Fezziwig as he recited Stave 2 of A Christmas Carol. Then we all sang Deck the Halls. It was magical. A must visit!

A devoted 50 year plus restoration by Joseph P Lombardi, and his family, of a unique and delightful 1860s era octagonal home in the beautiful community of Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. Truly worth a visit.

What a beautiful restoration and great tour! It was decorated for Christmas and I learned quite a bit about Victorian holiday traditions. It is necessary to buy a ticket! There is enough parking for those who purchased ticket in advance. Group meets on the porch and then we split into to groups each with a guide. We started on the first floor while the other group did opposite. Our guide was knowledgeable and handled all questions. This truly is a beautiful piece of history and the restoration was a huge investment- it is gorgeous.

If you need a way to start off your spooky season, this is the place to go!!! The property is absolutely gorgeous, and the home and history of the building is so fascinating. We've had some friends in our party that have attended these tours multiple times and they have said that every tour is different. The guide we had said that it was one of her first tours here and she did incredibly well! She was very attentive and gave us space to digest the history as well as the surroundings! I will definitely be coming back!

We took the Victorian Christmas tour on a Saturday, which was booked a couple of weeks in advance. The tour guide, Mia, was lovely and provided excellent information. It blows my mind that this is a privately owned historic property, I want to do that when I grow up! Each room was beautifully appointed and Mia provided an informative and entertaining explanation in each. There is a small gift shop and bathroom at the end of the tour. Entering the drive and parking was a bit of a tricky situation but the tour guides are there to organize that show. This property is not accessible for those with mobility issues.

Looking for seasonal experiences, the Victorian Christmas here is first class. Walking through history and being part of an architectural family's passion project is a great way to kindle the holiday spirit. The picturesque dusting of snow was a lucky bonus as was our wonderful docent.

A beautifully restored home. The attention to detail in the restoration is simply amazing. I took the Victorian Christmas tour and my tour guide Max was really great. Will definitely go back in different seasons

We went to visit this gorgeous and meticulously restored mid-19th century home over the week before Christmas when it was resplendent in holiday decorations. The home, the tour, the docent Cathy and staff were incredible. We had a fresh coat of snow to make it even more special and may need to return in spring or summer to experience the grounds. I highly recommend it!

Exquisite!!!! Our tour was incredible, so much to see and learn. Our guide was delightful and patient. We didn't feel rushed, openly made comments, asked questions and toured 3 floors of the house! The antiques and history are dreamy! Can't wait to return to take another step back in time. Thank you This is a must see in the Hudson Valley!

I was excited to see this house, and I wasn't disappointed!! What an interesting house! The docent was knowledgeable and entertaining and, all though small, the grounds were a pleasure to walk.

This jewel is a feast for the eyes! A smorgasbord of treasures! First: this a private residence owned by a preservationist and his family. They do periodically live there. Tours are usually done seasonally--Christmas, Halloween, special events. I came for the spirits and mysteries tour and to view a special "cabinet of curiosities" installation by Ryan Matthew Cohn, of Oddities fame (the show and the flea market). Our tour was probably particularly crowded, as a group of 8 came, making all of us total 17. Two tour groups split us up to make it easier, and while one group was touring upstairs, the other was touring downstairs. Rick was our guide, and he had a voice made for dramatics and was fun and informative. There are so many BIG and small details in this house. The Egyptian room is impressive. The ladies parlor has a beautiful cloud ceiling. Lamps, chairs, woodwork, rugs--all intricate and enrapturing. You could come back 100 times and find new things each time. The current owners have spent endless money and time restoring things as close to original as possible, including color matching original paint found underneath layers of newer paint. The cabinet of curiosities exhibit was awesome. All sorts of macabre, morbid, and weird antiquities. Anatomical sculptures, skeletons (including a painstakingly prepared snake skeleton, done by Cohn himself). Taxidermy, ancient artifacts with a story. Wonderfully curated, but not sure any tour could allow enough time to really explore this room. Tour lasted about an hour. I got there a little early so I could take photos around the property, which includes a beautiful greenhouse and gardens. I paid just over 33 dollars. I came from the city, easily accessible by the metro and Amtrak. I took the metro from Grand Central Station and got off at Irvington, then walked about 7-8/10ths of a mile. You can get off a little earlier at Ardsley on Hudson, which is comparable length, but the locals and conductors told me the Irvington stop is better. Both are hilly, but Irvington less so, and Irvington takes you through their quaint downtown. Great getaway from the city, and I'm pretty sure there is no place like it in the world.

This is a beautful, distinctive house with an interesting history. Our guide did a great job of describing how it passed to different owners through the years, and how the current owner went about painstakingly restoring it and opening it to the public. The octagon theme is carried throughout the house in the woodworking, lighting fixtures, carpets, and even pressed glassed dinnerware. The very sweet garden also reflects the octagon theme. We visited Teddy Roosevelt's summer home, Sagamore Hill (in Oyster Bay, Long Island) the day before, and that was a great tour but this one was just as interesting. Well worth a visit, and after visiting you can go have a lovely lunch at one of the riverfront restaurants, such as Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry.

What a lovely and intriguing home and architectural gem! The Victorian Christmas tour was a special way to get into the spirit of the season. So many beautiful Christmas trees, a wonderful train display, and many stunning Victorian Christmas cards on display on a breathtaking Wooten writing desk. The grounds and home are beautifully maintained and there are so many details in every nook and cranny to appreciate, including along the 360-degree veranda. The exterior is as stunning as its interior. Will be sure to return for the Halloween tour next year!

Beautifully restored house. Wonderful victorian Christmas tour. Our guide Olivia was knowledgeable and friendly. Plan to return in the spring.

My wife and friend visited the Octagon House on a lovely Sunday afternoon for their 1:00 pm tour. The grounds and garden are pretty and the exterior of the house is beautiful, specifically the 360 degree covered porch. Be ready to climb two levels of steep stairs and stand the entire time. However, it's worth it. Our tour was supposed to last one hour but ended up being about one hour and 20 minutes. We had a fantastic tour guide who knew the history of this house backwards and forwards. The rooms were nicely decorated and learning about the families that resided there was memorable. The gift shop at the end of the tour has nice little collectables and post cards. The price of the tour is very reasonable. This is not a child friendly tour. Be careful when you drive up because most likely you will miss the entrance. The entrance is a small gravel path and not a driveway with a sign. Remember, I told you this.

A lovely home and great history. DO NOT buy the glass model ornament of the house. I was told it was "well wrapped", which apparently means two sheets of tissue paper. The whole thing was shattered when I opened it after a car ride home. Definitely not worth the cost!.

We really enjoyed our visit to the Octagon House today! The tour group was very small and our guide was very knowledgable about the house, delivering a high quality tour. The tour did not feel rushed and the guide was very open to questions. The house itself is unique and interesting; if you're interested in ornate 1800's homes, this tour is a must!

Love the Tour andtheplace. Well worth the price. Great collection of Hudson River paintings and prints. Beautiful grounds to come in the Spring

The historic home is stunningly beautiful! The visit was informative and the guide made it interesting. Thank you.

A visit to the Armour-Steiner Octagon House is well worth it, whether your interest is history, architecture, decorative arts, or 19th century culture. The guide did an excellent job of explaining the details of the building, its restoration and the historical context. The reservation and check in process were efficient and professional. The landscaping of the grounds and the ancillary structures are beautiful. The meticulous restoration work spanned years and I am grateful that the owners took on this project and are sharing it with us.

Touring this beautiful home was a pleasure. I'm going to start the review by saying that I highly recommend it. This tour will take you through a home with a great rich history. It's amazing how the owners took advantage of every single inch of living space. Each room is filled with details of each owner's life experiences and family of the latest owner still lives on the property. The tour will also take you to the greenhouse, which is so charming, clean, and is nicely decorated. The garden is so serene and must be a wonderful oasis, in order to relax and enjoy the flowing fountain in the middle. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable with every aspect of this property, did not rush through the tour, and allowed everyone time to take as many pictures as we desired. The pictures that you will view do not do justice to how glamorous this property is maintained. During our tour, masks were mandatory for the interior portion of the tour, but we were able to remove them, during the exterior tour. Not only will this visit be worth your while, but you will also be very close to Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, which will provide more options, in order to keep you in the area for the entire day.

Amazing piece of history and charm on the Hudson. We loved our tour and the guide gave us so much detail and information on the history and architecture.

As someone who loves Victorian architecture, this tour was AMAZING! Our tour guide Lyla was very knowledgeable and shared so much interesting history about the property, owners, restoration process, etc. I loved this tour and would highly recommend it! The home and property are STUNNING!

Beautiful, so very interesting. Gorgeous flower garden and greenhouse. Great tour guide Rick. Would highly recommend.

What a wonderful experience we had! Such a beautiful, interesting house with such rich history and extraordinary gardens. Our docent Kate was filled with incredible knowledge, and was so happy to share it. Her enthusiasm was contagious and she added so much to the joy of our experience. Thank you!

The house itself was very lovely, but the tour was quite disappointing bc of the guide, Kelly. She had a cold standoffish way about her, barriers that made it uncomfortable to ask questions or interact with her. On the surface she was smiling, but there was a strong negative undertone which revealed itself more and more as the tour unfolded. At one point I asked a question and was told in front of the tour group that she was going to wait for the entire group to catch up bc she was 'sure that others would also want to hear the answer'. She was condescending and unpleasant about it, like a scolding schoolteacher. It was not clear that more tour participants were supposed to be gathering at that one spot; if she'd told me pleasantly, I would have understood. She also seemed impatient to finish up the tour, telling some stragglers who were still in one of the other rooms that she could not take the rest of the group down to the basement/gift shop unless everyone was done. The next tour was not due for over an hour; there seemed no pragmatic reason for urgency. The tour information was spotty and impossible to fill in as Kelly seemed to limit her responses to questions. I got the impression she was trying to redirect any questions relating to the authenticity of the items in the restoration. There were 3 chairs in the Egyptian room said to have been originals with the Stiner name on them; yet there were 2-3 reproductions of those chairs in the room. It's puzzling as to why and how those exact replica pieces would have been constructed during the original period. I've been on many estate tours such as Kyuit, Irving house, Biltmore state. I feel the Octagon House tour did not provide the same level of history, nor any whimsical narrative to the home legacy that is commonly provided with humor and personal touch on these type of tours. There were photos in one room of a property in France that is also owned and restored by the owner of Octagon House. I had questions but felt I had to stick to the narrow window of allowed question time. I went home and found the information myself as to the identity of that estate. Once we got to the gift shop, my husband and I quickly left, in no mood to spend any money there. Kelly also guides tours at Lyndhurst Mansion, where I had planned to visit during the holidays. I now am cancelling those plans. This area relies on people coming from surrounding areas, including NYC; part of the charm in visiting is being around people who are welcoming, people who retain their humanity as they are not caught up in the hustle and bustle of city life. One unpleasant person can drive away patrons of local businesses. It's not community-minded to behave in such manner. Bottom line, I had entered the home and begun the tour very eager and spending time looking around with a lot of curiosity. But a certain point in the tour, I felt a bit let down, and that affected my mood and attention span for the remainder of my time there.

Taking some time to leave the city and checking out the historic homes of the Hudson valley should be done monthly if not weekly. Weekend warriors have been limited to various event due to this pandemic. Happily I reserved a tour for my mother and I to get an up close of this beautiful Octagon home built in 1860. Reserved four are only available at certain time of the year. Taking the tour inside during the holidays was the best way to step back into time, reliving the history of Christmas past. The historic restoration and preservation of the home and grounds are immaculate. The docents were full of knowledge and made the tour most enjoyable. Schedule your spring tour soon!

My friend and I wanted to do something during the holiday season that felt festive, yet unique. I found out about The Armour-Stiner Octagon mansion and immediately knew this was the experience we were looking for. We greatly enjoyed our tour and our Gide was just lovely! The whole experience felt cozy, warm ( physically and metaphorically) and festive! Our tour group included 14 people; allowing for easy movement and comfort. Almost every room was larger than expected and the octagon structure lent itself to a uniquely conveniently layout. We marveled at how beautifully the mansion was restored and the great condition all the carpets, paintings, furniture , walls and decorations are in. We also loved that we were able to tour all levels of the home, which is also unique. The beautifully festive Christmas trees contributed to the warmth felt as we toured. The octagon shape of the home allowed for a greater level of brightness in each room with beautiful views of the surrounding property. We felt transported in time and found it easy to dream of living in such a beautiful home. I highly recommend a visit!!

An absolutely stunning place to visit. The house is so beautiful. The details are impeccable, a wonderful treat to visit if you are in the Westchester area. I've already gone twice and I can't wait to go back. I want to do the holiday tours for Halloween and Christmas. I recommend this place to all my friends.

this place was amazing! i just love the fact that a house looks unique like this thats close to home. beautiful architecture and colors. the garden was small and beautiful. lovely water fountain and flowers. the green house was of course hot lol. it was very nice as well. lots of nice flowers. the tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. very welcoming. things you need to know. get there early! they will start without you. bathrooms are downstairs. house is obviously old so be careful not to touch anything. take lots of photos. parking is limited. i got there about 40 mins early but it was ok because we got parking and we were able to take tons of photos before everyone got there. tour lasts an hour but goes fast.

We had a wonderful morning here. Our guide was excellent and well informed. We will definitely return.!

impressive house, impressive tour very interesting history of the renovations... Beautifully redone... Tour guide was great, and the price was fair

Lyla was a fantastic guide and so knowledgeable about the house- we loved her! We did the Nothing Is Impossible - Preservation Focus Tour, and our group was only 6 people which gave the visit a nice intimate experience. We didn't feel rushed to look around during the tour and Lyla was able to answer everyone's questions about the home and other interests. The house is kept in amazing condition and the preservation efforts do not go unnoticed! Also enjoyed the "Cabinet of Curiosities" installation (if you like natural history/creepy things), would highly recommend! Overall, the house itself is a great sight to see and worth the visit! 10/10 recommendation for our guide Lyla!!!!

Excellent tour of this unique 19 th century house. interesting that it is still privately owned.

i go on historical house tours all the time and this one was by far my favorite. the tour guide was super interesting to listen to and kept the group engaged. also threw in some victorian christmas history since i went on the christmas tour and it was super interesting i learned a few new things! this house is SO beautiful! definitely recommend

This fascinating piece of architectural history situated on the Hudson River in Westchester county New York is quite the unique home that has been lovingly restored. We toured recently with a group of ladies who enjoy seeing unusual things in our area, and this place generated much lively discussion following the hour long tour. The Lumbardi's have taken on quite a structure with a fascinating history and preserved it in a way that shows a glimpse into the past and an unusual bit of architectural whimsey.

The Octagon House is beautifully preserved, enchanted piece of architecture and our tour guide, Kateri, was completely enchanting. She welcomed us with such warmth and fun knowledge that I almost thought she was Mrs. Octagon herself. The house was more beautiful than I had imagined and we left feeling like we had gone on a mini vacation.

Our group of 11 salsa and hustle dancers really enjoyed the amazing tour of the Octagon house. There were so many interesting details to learn about the house and our tour guide was so friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend!!!

This is such a wonderful place to visit. I have been there twice, once in the summer and once decorated for Christmas. Both times it was a fun and interesting visit. The tour guides are great. They are both knowledgeable and entertaining. The house is beautifully maintained and the grounds are lovely as well. I highly recommend this outing. It's well worth the trip.

My son and I were visiting from out of town, driving around this area, and we had really wanted to see this house, but we couldn't fit a tour into our hectic day. As we drove by, we decided just to pull in the driveway to get a quick look at it. As we do, a snappish woman approaches us. 'Are you here for the tour?' 'No, we wanted to go on it, but couldn't. We thought we would just take a look at the outside.' She replies, in a tone dripping with passive-aggressive hostility, 'This is private property.' I look at her, sort of stunned at her rudeness, and she says, "Buh-bye." Wow. It doesn't cost anything to be, like, human. It was just such a cold and unnecessarily unpleasant moment. I get that she has a historic house to run, and the roof probably leaks, but also, I think, when you are taking care of something old and beautiful for posterity, it would be nice if you could appreciate other people's interest in your site, rather than acting like they were dog-doo. I will not be returning - so, everybody loses. Nasty people suck.

A very fun tour of this unique home. Our guide had Many interesting stories and tidbits about the origin and history of this very beautifully maintained grounds and completely restored building. Would recommend to all.

What an incredible home! The details of insuring all the furniture and colors by the owner / renovator were amazing. The carpets where thick and gorgeous. All the furniture was original. The colors were fantastic. The stories were great. Highly recommend this tour.

Love it! This place is so pretty, the tour guides are fantastic and you can take photos inside! We came over the holidays and it's decorated - just adorable (could be because it is an actual residence...). Totally recommend - plus it's actually open while things like Sunnyside & Kykuit are closed during the winter.

The A-S Octagon House is probably the greatest example of Victorian styles I've seen in the US. The restoration is impeccable; the Lombardi family has done the nation a great service. The furnishings are uniformly museum-worthy and the house and grounds are gorgeous. It's a fantastic example of how not boring the Victorians could be, as well as a time capsule to the 19th century.

I first visited Irvington NY (delightful river town - just north of Dobbs Ferry) in 2014. I would visit Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving -and Lyndhurst....but as I drove around I discovered the Octagon House. I was thrilled when this year they opened it up for tours. The tour is one of the best. There is so much to appreciate...This is a must see for fans of restoration architecture and the Victorian era.

I found out about this house through Instagram and was amazed by the photos of the exterior. My friends and I drove from Brooklyn (it was only a little over an hour) to check it out, thinking we'd only get to admire the outside. Turns out, there is a guided tour of the exquisite interior! We were so impressed by the two docents -- they were dynamic and informative and warm -- and by the hard work that has gone into preserving this gem. I highly recommend this as a fun day trip from the city.

This building just looks nice you will be able to see it if your getting off the metro north and it just looks beautiful! It has two floors mutiple larges windows you can see into it and also you can smell the fresh air when you come up. I would suggest if you want to take a trip outside the city stop out to tarrytown just to take a sight at this place