Louise Nevelson | NYC Day Trippers

NYC Day Trippers: August 1, 2010
Sites: Kykuit

We have always loved the Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown area. It is so rich in history and it always makes for a nice day trip outside of the city. On Sunday, we visited Kykuit which is the Rockefeller Mansion. This particular trip works well for those that want to spend some time both indoors and outdoors. The visitor center is at Phillipsburg Manor (also recommended as a daytrip but today we focus on Kykuit). There are several tour options. We selected the Classic tour ($23) which runs daily except for Tuesdays. It is a guided tour that begins with a film at the visitor center. We then boarded a shuttle bus with the guide that brought us to the mansion within a few minutes.

This exquisite mansion was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family, beginning with the philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil.

The tour took us through the main rooms of the six-story stone house. Then through the expansive, terraced gardens containing Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller’s collection of 20th-century sculpture. Artists represented include Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson, and David Smith, among many others. The private, underground art galleries with Governor Rockefeller’s collection of Picasso tapestries, and the huge Coach Barn which included many classic automobiles and horse-drawn carriages were also included in the tour.

The view overlooking the Hudson River is spectacular. I can only imagine how beautiful the grounds are in the fall. I guess we’ll have to visit again.

Later we went for a bite to eat in Tarrytown and then took a walk to the area marking the capture of Major Andre by the local militia men. How exciting is that?