Visit the Hudson Valley’s Most Historic Homes

New York’s bucolic Hudson Valley —just north of Manhattan—has enticed an array of artists, writers, business tycoons, politicians, and even military heroes to settle there over the past three centuries. It’s no surprise, then, that the region’s many architectural gems are just as diverse as its inhabitants. The valley, which extends from Albany to Troy, is home to grand historic estates that are some of the East Coast’s finest examples of Federal, Victorian, and Gothic Revival architecture. Many of these properties are still operational and have been converted into museums to be enjoyed by the public. Here are five must-visit Hudson Valley homes, perfect for history buffs and design enthusiasts alike.

Kykuit

Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller built the pastoral hilltop oasis of Kykuit in Sleepy Hollow in 1913.

Sunnyside

One of the region’s most beloved historic sites, Sunnyside is the former home of writer Washington Irving, whose best-known literary works include The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Irving himself designed this riverside property, in collaboration with his neighbor, artist George Harvey.

Locust Grove

Offering sweeping views of the Hudson River, Poughkeepsie’s 200-acre Locust Grove was designed in 1851 by architect A. J. Davis for artist and inventor Samuel Morse. The property’s second owners, the Young family, filled the Italianate villa with Hudson River School paintings and early-19th-century American furniture, which is still on view today.

Clermont

Clermont was once home to members of the prominent Livingston family, including Robert R. Livingston Jr.—who drafted the Declaration of Independence and swore George Washington into office. The property was famously burned down by the British in 1777 during the Revolutionary War (as punishment for the family’s support of the rebels) but was rebuilt shortly thereafter.

Staatsburgh

Constructed in the 1890s and designed by McKim, Mead & White, this stately Beaux Arts mansion was one of five homes owned by financier and philanthropist Ogden Mills and his wife, Ruth Livingston Mills. Situated atop a grassy hill overlooking the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River, the Gilded Age estate boasts 65 rooms and 14 baths.