Visiting Staatsburgh State Historic Site

There is no wrong time to visit Staatsburgh. This Gilded Age beauty is a treat any time of year.

Touring the mansion at Christmas is truly special. The gorgeous holiday decorations and sheer elegance of the wood-paneled rooms decked out for the season just might eclipse all of the historic site challengers in the region. A spring visit exploring the expansive grounds and the sloping lawn overlooking the Hudson River can be equally memorable. Summertime brings outdoor concerts on that bucolic lawn, with meandering walking paths and cool breezes from the river. And fall at the mansion is a sight to behold, with the Hudson Valley’s autumn show on full display.

Staatsburgh was a seasonal home for financier and philanthropist Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills. It started out as a more modest 25-room Greek Revival style home before undergoing a stunning transformation into a 65-room Beaux-Arts mansion in 1895-96. The home, which also features 14 bathrooms, was typically opened for the Mills’ visits in the fall, when they would host up to 80 guests at a time.

Staatsburgh, also sometimes referred to as Mills Mansion, became a State Historic Site in 1938, opening up its 192-acres property to the public. The site is located in a hamlet in Hyde Park, NY that almost bears its name: Staatsburgh was shortened to Staatsburg without the “h” to meet postal requirements.

Today, visitors can tour the basement to learn more about the family that built it and see servants’ quarters and more. Upstairs, the restored sections of the mansion feature the family’s furniture and artwork. The spaces are truly spectacular and provide a glimpse of extravagance and craftsmanship from another time.

The basement and main levels are both accessible, but by different entrances, so it is worth calling ahead if this is a concern.

Be sure to check out the site’s gift shop, which is one of the area’s best.

Read more about the Staatsburgh and find details on current programming and hours at the State Park website and at the Virtually Staatsburgh website.

The grounds of Staatsburgh are a wonderful place to explore any time of year.