This realistic Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this house museum and its grounds.

Staatsburgh State Historic Site protects one of the finest Gilded Age mansions in the United States. This 1896 house museum is a amazing place to visit in the Middle Hudson Valley.

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Sights & Places of Interest

It is worth spending a few minutes to explain the most common names you might see when visiting this park. Staatsburgh State Historic Site is an official name of this 1896 mansion.

Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills commissioned a remodel of this house into a mansion you see today. As a result, many if not most refer to Staatsburgh State Historic Site as the Mills Mansion.

This is hardly a surprise. The name Staatsburgh presents a lot of opportunities for misspells. See if you could type the name of this park in Google Maps correctly from the first try.

It also does not help that nearby town of Staatsburg, New York uses a different spelling of the same name. Does this sound too confusing? Wait till you hear about two other parks with similar names.

Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park surrounds the historic site from most sides. All trails and roads that start from the Mills Mansion bring you to the state park sooner or later.

If you continue hiking south, you will arrive in Mills Norrie or Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park. This park has a separate entrance for cars. It is best for hiking, golfing, camping, and boating.

This Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh Guide covers the mains things to expect when touring the house and the grounds.

1. Mills Mansion

The Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh State Historic Site has a long history. The first house on this estate dated back to the late 18th century.

It would have been among the oldest houses in the country, on par with the Longfellow House in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sadly, you cannot see the original house today. A fire destroyed it in 1832.

The owners built a Greek Revival home in its place soon after. This 25-room house also did not make it to the present day. The Mills rebuilt that house into a 65-room Beaux-Arts mansion over 1895 and 1896.

This house is a museum that you could tour today. Look for the Greek Revival style features shining through the Beaux-Arts architecture. A portico entrance and the columns are the easiest items to spot.

The Mills Mansion looks little like other houses built in the same era. Just compare it to the 1886 Haas-Lilienthal House in San Francisco, California or the 1886 Meeker Mansion near Seattle, Washington.

The Ernest Hemingway Birthplace House and the Frank Lloyd Wright Houses near Chicago, Illinois are also quite different. They all date to the same decade. Yet, you might not find any common elements.

In fact, the Mills Mansion is most similar to the nearby Vanderbilt Mansion and the Swan House in Atlanta, Georgia.

Like nearly all of the houses listed, you need to join a tour to visit the Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh. This is the only way to see the lavish interior with original and restored furniture and art pieces.

2. Grounds

A guided tour requirement also means that you should plan your visit around the mansion’s tour schedule. This could be a challenge if you visit the Vanderbilt Mansion and Springwood first.

You might run out of time visiting the house museums in Hyde Park, New York. Still, there are a few things to see in Staatsburgh State Historic Park even when the mansion is closed.

The park grounds are a great way to explore Staatsburgh and the Middle Hudson River Valley. You could choose between two trails and a handful of connecting passages.

2.1. Blue Trail

The Blue Trail is the longest trail in the park. It makes a 4-mi (6-km) loop. This trail brings you from Staatsburgh State Historic Park to Ogden & Ruth Livingston Mills and Mills Norrie State Parks.

You will go next to a few houses, hills, campgrounds, and picnic areas alongside the Hudson River. You will see the Cove House, Hoyt House, its Barn Complex, and Historic Ice House.

2.2. Cove House

The Cove House is the only other house within the grounds of Staatsburgh State Historic Site. It is also one of the closest attractions to the mansion. You could reach it in less than 10 minutes on the Blue Trail.

The downhill stroll towards the Hudson River is an easy walk in a park. It is suitable for people of nearly all ages and physical conditions.

You will go through a scenic part of Staatsburgh State Historic Site. No matter what season you visit, you will get amazing views. But with everything else equal the walk is most picturesque in the fall and spring.

Fall foliage and spring blossom create amazing color combinations. New or dying leaves present astonishing green, yellow, orange, and red hues. The walk will fly by as you are admiring the views.

Once you reach the shore, you will notice a structure in the middle of the Hudson River. This is the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse. If you would like to get a better look, turn right towards the Powerhouse.

2.3. Powerhouse

You would need to follow the Blue Trail around the grove. The river and the lighthouse will disappear from sight for a few minutes. Yet, a chance to get even better views is worth the wait and the walk.

The Powerhouse is a small building right on the bank of the Hudson River. It now serves as a picnic shelter. There is a public restroom you could use.

2.4. Esopus Meadows Lighthouse

But great views of the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse are the main selling point of walking to the Powerhouse. This is as close as you could get to the lighthouse without a boat.

This scenic lighthouse has many names and a long history. The locals refer to it as the Esopus Light, Maid of the Meadows, and Middle Hudson River Light.

The lighthouse dates back to 1871, which makes it 25 years older than the Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh. The Esopus Light has been an active lighthouse all this time outside a 30-year break in the 20th century.

This National Historic Lighthouse is still on active duty today. As a result, you could only admire the Maid of the Meadows from the shore or from a boat. No lighthouse tours are available.

2.5. Historic Carriage Barn

The northern section of the Blue Trail loops back towards the Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh shortly after the Powerhouse. The trail will soon switch from a dirt road to a pavement.

Get ready for a moderate climb. This section might not be the easiest for people with strollers or disabilities. Stunning views of the Mills Mansion from the river level will be a reward for your efforts.

The trail then goes into a wooded area before passing by the Historic Carriage Barn. This part of the park is not open to the public.

It serves as a maintenance area. Just turn right at the intersection with the Mills Mansion Road. You will reach the Mills Mansion in just a few minutes.

2.6. Historic Greenhouse Area

You might choose to explore one other area of the park grounds. Take a circle around the Mills Mansion. Once you reach the south parking lot, take the short Red Trail.

You will arrive in the Historic Greenhouse Area shortly. Do not expect an abundance of plants like in Garfield Park Conservatory or Lincoln Park Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois.

But you could still see a few native flowers and plants if you visit this area in the spring. The entire lawn will be in bloom.

Continue with this Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Staatsburgh State Historic Site

Staatsburgh State Historic Site is a park in the Hudson River Valley in Upstate New York. The Mills Mansion is just north of Hyde Park, New York.

The park is 100 miles (160 km) north of New York City. You should budget about 2.5 hours to reach the Mills Mansion from Manhattan. Weekday traffic could make the trip even longer.

There are few viable alternatives to driving to Staatsburgh. You could take a Hudson Line train from Grand Central and a C bus. A one way trip will take between 3.5 hours and 5 hours.

It will cost you $20 for a train ride and $1.75 for a bus ride each way. You would also need to walk for about 45 minutes from the nearest bust stop.

If you spend 5 hours just getting to the park, you will have little time to see the mansion. You would also have to skip nearly all other sights in the area.

The Vanderbilt Mansion is 5 miles (8 km) north of the Mills Mansion. Springwood, the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, is 7 miles (11 km) away. Val-Kill Cottage is also close by.

As a result, you could easily spend a day in the Hyde Park area. You could tour four beautiful house museums within less than 15-mi (24-km) radius.

Driving is the only way to reach Staatsburgh, see a few other mansions, and drive back in one day. Out-of-state visitors should consider renting a car from the airport.

New York Stewart (SWF) and Albany (ALB) are the closest airports to the park. You could be touring the Mills Mansion in about 90 minutes from either airport.

LaGuardia (LGA), JFK, and Newark Liberty (EWR) are the closest hubs. Budget about 2.5 hours to reach Staatsburgh from any of them.

Where to Stay near Mills Mansion

It could be a good idea to look for a place to stay near Staatsburgh. This way, you could explore everything Hyde Park has to offer without worrying about a long drive back.

A couple of places to stay are just a short drive from the Mills Mansion. But these properties often carry hefty price tags per night. If luxury is your thing, stop by Mirbeau Inn & Spa, Rhinebeck.

You would need to drive further to find more affordable places to stay. Homewood Suites By Hilton Poughkeepsie is 30 minutes south from Staatsburgh. But this hotel offers a great value.

A similar review applies to SpringHill Suites by Marriott Fishkill. This place to stay is about 45 minutes from the park. Yet, it is on the way to New York City if this is where the road takes you next.

There are other options to consider if you are driving to destinations in Upstate New York. Morgan State House Inn is a solid choice in Albany, New York.

Take a look at Middletown, New York if you are going to New Jersey or Pennsylvania next. Residence Inn Middletown Goshen and Stagecoach Inn are great for visiting Delaware Water Gap and Grey Towers.

While it is quite a bit further away, you should not overlook New York City area hotels. Staying in Manhattan with a car is not a good idea. But Fort Lee and Bronx have a good number of places to stay.

Check out Hyatt Place Fort Lee/George Washington Bridge and Highbridge Hotel. Both have nice reviews and parking available, albeit at an additional charge.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

The Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh is right at the intersection of three different parks. Each of them has slightly different hours of operation and entry fees.

The mansion itself is part of Staatsburgh State Historic Site. It is the smallest park of the three. This park only covers the mansion and a few sections of the Blue and Red Trails.

There are no fees to walk the trails and explore the grounds. But the mansion tours cost $10 per adult and $8 per student or senior. Children 12 and under could visit the mansion for free.

Unlike Vanderbilt Mansion and Springwood, the National Park Service does not manage the Mills Mansion. Instead, Staatsburgh is a State Historic Site.

So, your America the Beautiful annual pass will not give you any discount. But you could purchase an Empire Pass if you visit New York State Parks frequently.

The Mills Mansion tour schedule differs by season. The tours are most frequent in the summer and around December holidays. They run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday then.

There are no mansion tours during most of November due to the holiday decorations. The tours are also less frequent between January and March. It is a good idea to book your tour spot in advance.

If you visit the park in the winter or on a weekday, the trails will be your main attraction. In this case, you could wander into two other parks.

Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park and Mills Norrie State Park have most of the trails in the area. They are open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.

You could enjoy the trails for free. But you would need to pay various fees to camp, go golfing, or use the park’s marina.

Takeaways: Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh

The Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh State Historic Park is a great addition to the Middle Hudson Valley itinerary. If you enjoy house museums and scenic views, you should make a stop at the Mills Mansion.

This 1896 house will not disappoint you. A mix of the Beaux-Arts and the Greek Revival styles is one of the best landmarks of the Gilded Age.

Make sure you visit the park during the tour days. Book your spot on the mansion tour in advance. It will help you plan the Hyde Park adventure after exploring some of the 65 rooms of this mansion.

But if you lose track of time touring Vanderbilt Mansion, Val-Kill, or FDR Home, you could skip the Mills Mansion. Unless you could join a tour, you might not find Staatsburgh grounds worth an extra drive.

Take a look at this Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

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