Kykuit Tour

Every time we pass by the Philipsburg Manor visitor center on route 9, we are reminded to take a tour of the mansions. So this sunny Sunday afternoon, we took a tour of the Rockefeller Mansion at Kykuit. It was a 2 hr long tour that included the mansions and the surrounding gardens. The guide made it very interesting with a very detailed historic account of the lives of the Rockefeller family, who can be considered as American royalty. At $23 per person, the tour was an interesting experience that complimented what we had seen on the Newport Mansions tour.

The entire mansion was a museum that exhibited various pieces from around the world especially ceramic pieces from Chinese dynasties. The art gallery in the basement included an eclectic collection by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. The tour ended at the coach barn which included a collection of carriages and antique cars of the family. The highlight of the tour for me were the splendid views of the Hudson Valley from the Pocantico Hills, the highest point of the surrounding area, where the mansion is situated.