At Kykuit, the
Rockefeller estate,
Historic Hudson Valley marks
two 100th anniversaries with a new tour menu
Historic site's season begins on Saturday, May 10
POCANTICO HILLS, NY (May
7, 2008) - With a new, streamlined tour menu, Kykuit, the estate that served as
home to four generations of Rockefellers, opens to visitors for the season on
Saturday, May 10. The estate includes a six-story stone house, expansive
terraced gardens, art galleries, outdoor sculpture, commanding Hudson River views, and much more.
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 Kykuit season, which
runs through November 2, opens with a new, streamlined tour menu: Classic,
Grand, Kids, Timesaver, and Selected Highlights. Historic Hudson Valley operates the public visitation program at Kykuit,
a historic site of the National Trust that is operated and maintained by the
Rockefeller Brothers Fund as a center for its philanthropic programs.
"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.
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