Kykuit Season Opens To Visitors Today

Kykuit, the six-story stone house and rolling hilltop estate that served as home to four generations of Rockefellers, opens to visitors for the season on Saturday, May 7. The Kykuit season runs through Nov. 6. Tours are available daily except Tuesdays.

Kykuit's art, architecture, and gardens are consistently rated the top visitor attraction in the lower Hudson Valley and draw tens of thousands of visitors annually. Westchester Magazine includes a Kykuit visit on its "must-do" list, calling it "spectacular indoors and out."

Kykuit, which means "lookout" in Dutch, includes a six-story stone house, expansive terraced gardens, art galleries, outdoor sculpture, and commanding Hudson River views. Its hilltop location overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades is 500 feet above sea level.

Visitors to Kykuit learn the story of the Rockefellers, beginning with 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.

Besides basking in the lush gardens and getting a close-up view of magnificent art and architecture, visitors learn about the family that created the iconic estate.

"We use the remarkable backdrop of the house, sculptures, gardens, and landscape to tell the story of the Rockefeller's commitment to philanthropy, public service, the environment, and the arts, as well as its family traditions," said Thom Thacker, director of the Kykuit visitation program for Historic Hudson Valley.

Visitors can choose from four tours: Classic, Grand, Timesaver, and Selected Highlights.

The Classic, ideal for first-time visitors, is a shorter experience than the comprehensive three-hour Grand. Besides the mansion, both of these tours include time in Kykuit's art galleries, terraced gardens, and Coach Barn, with its collection of horse-drawn carriages, vintage automobiles, and equestrian equipment. The 90-minute Timesaver is ideal for those on tighter schedules, while Selected Highlights maximizes time in the estate's gardens.

Visitors can buy tickets online in advance, choosing the exact tour, time, and date they want to visit. Tickets are on sale now at www.hudsonvalley.org. Ticket prices range from $21-$40; $13-$30 for Historic Hudson Valley or National Trust members.

Visitors can reach Kykuit via a special Metro-North Railroad package that includes discounted admission to both Kykuit and nearby Philipsburg Manor, plus rail fare. Information: www.mta.info.

For those interested in making a full weekend out of a visit, Tarrytown House Estate offers a special package that includes overnight accommodations and tickets to Kykuit plus three Historic Hudson Valley properties, Philipsburg Manor, Union Church of Pocantico Hills, and Washington Irving's Sunnyside. Information: www.tarrytownhouseestate.com

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 914-631-8200 (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.

Kykuit, a historic site of the National Trust, is operated and maintained by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund as a center for its philanthropic programs. Historic Hudson Valley operates public programs.

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