Kykuit Closes for the Season
Sponsored by Historic Hudson Valley
| When | November 2, 2008 |
| Where | Kykuit Tarrytown, New York |
| For More Information | (914) 631-9491 http://www.hudsonvalley.org |
Kykuit, the estate that served as home to four generations of Rockefellers, closes to visitors for the season on Sunday, November 2. The estate includes a six-story stone house, expansive terraced gardens, art galleries, outdoor sculpture, commanding Hudson River views, and much more. Historic Hudson Valley operates the public visitation program at Kykuit, a National Trust Historic Site that is operated and maintained by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund as a center for its philanthropic programs.
The fall of 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the family's residency at Kykuit. The year 2008 also marks the 100th birthday of Nelson A. Rockefeller, the New York governor and United States vice president who lived at Kykuit from 1962 until his death in 1979. Visiting Kykuit is included on Westchester Magazine's newly published "must-do" list. In a May cover story, the magazine called Kykuit "spectacular indoors and out."
The 2008 Kykuit season offers a new, streamlined tour menu: Classic, Grand, Kids, Timesaver, and Selected Highlights. "The tours are better than ever," said Susan T. Greenstein, director of the Kykuit visitation program for Historic Hudson Valley. "We've taken a look at visitor feedback, and while Kykuit tours consistently generate very high marks, we've adjusted the tours so that the visitor experience will be even more satisfying. There's a tour for everyone, and all are led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides."
The Classic is ideal for first-time visitors and is a shorter experience than the comprehensive three-hour Grand. Besides seeing the mansion, both tours include visits to Kykuit's art galleries, terraced gardens, and cavernous Coach Barn, with its collection of horse-drawn carriages, vintage automobiles, and equestrian equipment. Introduced last year, the weekend-only Kids Tour is entirely revamped in response to audience feedback and is ideal for those visiting Kykuit with children under 10. This abbreviated guided tour includes time with child friendly sculptures in the estate's gardens, such as Mouse on a Table, a whimsical, brightly colored sculpture by Dutch artist Karel Appel. Both the 90-minute Timesaver and Selected Highlights emphasize the house and gardens and omit the Coach Barn and art galleries.
Kykuit, which means "lookout" in Dutch, owing to its hilltop location overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades, was built by John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, whose business acumen made him the richest man in America in his day. He later became the country's first great philanthropist. By his death in 1937, he had given more than half his fortune to various philanthropic programs.
For the second year, visitors can buy their tickets online in advance, choosing the exact tour, time, and date they want to visit. Tickets are on sale now at www.hudsonvalley.org. Tours operate daily, except Tuesdays. "We also learned from visitors that they really appreciate the opportunity to book tours in advance online. It makes visiting Kykuit so much easier," said Ms. Greenstein. Ticket prices for Kykuit tours range from $21-$38; $13-$28 for Historic Hudson Valley members. Tickets for the Kids Tour are $15; $10 for Historic Hudson Valley members.
Advanced ticket buying is strongly recommended, particularly for weekend tours, which fill up quickly. Besides online at www.hudsonvalley.org, tickets may be purchased by calling 914-631-9491 (service charge additional) or at the Kykuit Visitor Center at Philipsburg Manor, 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow. All tours start at the Kykuit Visitor Center; doors open at 9 a.m. For information: www.hudsonvalley.org.
Historic Hudson Valley is a network of six historic sites in Sleepy Hollow Country and the Great Estates region; Washington Irving's Sunnyside; Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate, a historic site of the National Trust; Philipsburg Manor; the Union Church of Pocantico Hills; Van Cortlandt Manor; and Montgomery Place Historic Estate.
