Dating back to the 1680s, Philipse
Manor Hall sits near the confluence of the Nepperhan (Saw Mill) and Hudson
Rivers, the site of a Munsee Lunaape village. Used by four generations of the
Philipse family and worked by the people they enslaved and European tenant
farmers, the Philipse Manor was once over 200,000 acres and helped make the
Philipse family the richest in New York. Loyalists during the American
Revolution, they fled to England and the Hall was owned by several individuals
before becoming the Yonkers Village Hall and later Yonkers City Hall. When a
new City Hall was built in the early 20th century, the house was preserved
through the generosity of Eva Smith Cochran and donated to New York State to
serve as a historic site. Today, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
provides visitors with a balanced approach to interpreting the lives of
Indigenous, European, and African people at PMH to understand the complex
relationships that took place at the Manor from the earliest days of the Dutch
Colony of New Netherland to the American Revolution and beyond.
Learn more at Philipse Manor Hall's Virtual WingDon't miss these popular destinations and attractions within or near the historic site
- Beczak Environmental Education Center-exhibits and programs both indoors, outdoors and in the Hudson River! Maintained by Sarah Lawrence College
- Philipse Manor Hall Community Gallery-located in the Gothic Chamber, this space features temporary exhibits from local artists and community groups.
- Science Barge-The Science Barge is a prototype sustainable urban farm developed by NY Sun Works and operates as an environmental education center. The barge is maintained by Groundwork Hudson Valley.
- Untermyer Gardens Conservancy- Located a few miles north of the Manor, the Conservancy collaborates with the City of Yonkers to facilitate the restoration and promotion of Samuel Untermyer's property and gardens for the general public. Open daily until sunset, free of charge.
- Philipsburg Manor-another site of Frederick Philipse, this restored Dutch Colonial manor house and grounds features farm animals and a water-powered mill. Maintained by Historic Hudson Valley
- Sunnyside-19th century romantic landscape estate of Washington Irving (author of Rip Van Winkle, among other others). Maintained by Historic Hudson Valley.
- John Jay Homestead State Historic Site-located 20 miles north of the Manor Hall, the Homestead is the retirement home of local Founding Father and Philipse relative, John Jay. Situated on 52 acres of the original property, the grounds are open daily with scheduled guided tours of the house on most days.
- Rockefeller State Park Preserve-located 15 miles north, idealized carriage trails created by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Access to 55 miles of meandering trails with streams, pastures, ridges, a 22-acre lake and the Hudson River.
- Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park- Opened in 1842 to bring fresh water to NYC, in 1968 the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation purchased 26.2 miles of the original 41 mile aqueduct which is now a hiking, biking and walking trail that passes a few blocks away from Philipse Manor Hall.
Philipse Manor Hall welcomes
students and adults from a wide variety of educational organizations for
special programs and private tours! Program options include field trips,
walking tours, in-class programs, lectures, and more. Visit www.philipsemanorhall.com/education
for details and how to register.
Self-guided tours of Philipse
Manor Hall's interactive exhibits may be taken any time during museum hours.
Museum interpreters are available daily to answer questions.
Guided Tours: 10:30 am, 12:00 pm,
1:30 pm, 3:00 pm
Guided tours included with the
regular admission price. Tour size is limited, so reservations are recommended.
Please call (914) 965-4027 for tour times and to reserve your space or visit
www.philipsemanorhall.com/plan-your-visit
During the warmer months, Philipse
Manor Hall also offers a walking tour of the daylighted Saw Mill River and the
Yonkers Waterfront. Visit
www.philipsemanorhall.com/events
for dates and to register. Walking tour fees include general admission to the
museum.
Special themed tours, lectures,
and other on-site public programs are also available. Dates and times vary.
Visit
www.philipsemanorhall.com/events
for what's next on the calendar.
PMH at the Big Play Date
Saturday, August 15, 2026 11:00 AM - 03:00 PM
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Step back into a simpler time and play like it's 1750! Try your hand at colonial games like ninepins, make your own whirligigs and clay marbles, or play historic games like hoop and stick, stilts, cornhole, and bubbles. Philipse Manor Hall staff will be there to join in the fun with historical games. There will also be a special drumming workshop with Sankofa Drumming. Tickets and more information at
philipsemanorhall.com.
Registration: Required
Yonkers Waterfront Walking Tour
Sunday, August 16, 2026 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Join us as we explore Yonkers' historic downtown area, including the daylighted Saw Mill River, Yonkers Train Station, Yonkers Recreation Pier, the Enslaved African Rain Garden, and more. We'll cover Yonkers' history from its early Indigenous origins to the present, with emphasis on the 18th and 19th centuries. If you've ever wondered how and why Yonkers developed, and what the downtown used to look like, this is the tour for you! Tickets include museum admission. Call 914-965-4027 or email philipsemanorhall@parks.ny.gov to register. Learn more at
philipsemanorhall.com.
Registration: Required
Summer Historical Games Series
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Join us outdoors (weather-permitting) for family programs at Philipse Manor Hall on Wednesdays August 5 & 19! Learn how people of the past entertained themselves tabletop games like mancala, shut the box, captain's mistress, nine man's morris, skittles, and more, plus hand-eye coordination games like quoits, cup and ball, jacob's ladder, and outdoor-only games like graces, hoop and stick, battledore and shuttlecock, and more. This program is free and open to the public, no registration required. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Yonkers Waterfront Walking Tour
Saturday, September 5, 2026 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
(914) 965-4027
Join us as we explore Yonkers' historic downtown area, including the daylighted Saw Mill River, Yonkers Train Station, Yonkers Recreation Pier, the Enslaved African Rain Garden, and more. We'll cover Yonkers' history from its early Indigenous origins to the present, with emphasis on the 18th and 19th centuries. If you've ever wondered how and why Yonkers developed, and what the downtown used to look like, this is the tour for you! Tickets include museum admission. Call 914-965-4027 or email philipsemanorhall@parks.ny.gov to register. Learn more at
philipsemanorhall.com.
Registration: Required
Virtual Lecture: Suffering for the Crown: The Hudson Valley Loyalists and the Violence of Revolution
Sunday, September 6, 2026 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Kieran J. O'Keefe will discuss his new book, Suffering for the Crown: The Hudson Valley Loyalists and the Violence of Revolution. This lecture will chart the formation of a Loyalist community in the Hudson Valley during the Imperial Crisis, continue by examining the Revolution as a civil war in the region, and conclude by tracing the experiences of Loyalists after the Revolution, looking at both those Loyalists who stayed in New York and those who moved to Canada. The talk will explore the war's enduring psychological and social legacies, providing a nuanced understanding of the Revolution's human cost. Access to this virtual program is free and open to everyone. Learn more at
philipsemanorhall.com.
Registration: Required