Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site

"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!"

"Great historic site recommend a guided tour"

"In New York's vast and storied history, the Dutch have played an integral role as the first Europeans to settle the area. For locals, the vestiges of Dutch influence can still be seen in place names such as Brooklyn, Van Cortlandt, Yonkers, Roosevelt etc. Philpse Manor is one of the few remaining physical examples of this influence. After an extensive revamping, it provides visitors with even more insights and edification into the colonial and pre-colonial history of New York. The new exhibits are clear, concise and allow visitors to more readily engage with and comprehend the realities of life during this time. Significantly, this fresh outlook not only relates the European experiences but also those of the various indigenous and enslaved peoples who played pivotal roles in the history of New York. Staff complements this pleasant experience with professionalism, helpfulness and care for the site and its history."

"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!"