“Philipse Manor Hall provides a unique window into early Colonial-era life in New York and lends itself to telling the first chapters of the nation’s path to independence,” Governor Hochul said. “The people who lived, worked and traded at the Philipse family home in the 18th century had a tremendous impact on shaping the lower-Hudson Valley. This renovation of Philipse Manor Hall reflects New York State’s strong commitment to preserving our shared heritage – illuminating the full spectrum of our state’s diverse culture and history.”
Philipse Manor Hall is a National Historic Landmark and a Yonkers City Landmark; a status that fully informed State Parks’ approach to the rehabilitation of the site. In addition to the architectural restoration of the Hall, the grounds and building have been updated to improve accessibility, which includes a newly constructed, discreet rear addition that houses new bathrooms and an elevator. The new exhibits have been designed to meet the needs of multilingual speakers, the hearing and visually impaired, visitors with wheelchairs and walkers, and is sensitive to visitors of all ages, abilities, and cultural experiences. Prior to its reopening, Philipse Manor Hall received approximately 15,000 visitors a year, and renovations are expected to double the amount of visitors to approximately 30,000 a year.
The exhibits are additionally offered virtually for those who are not able to visit the site in person, which expands the reach of the site’s dynamic history to an international audience. A website devoted to additional historic and interpretative content called the “Virtual Wing” will include a 360° virtual tour.
The new exhibits incorporate the journeys of the Philipse family, the indigenous people from whom the Philipse lands derive, and enslaved Africans, whose work and trade allowed the Philipse family to prosper during the pre-Revolutionary era. While past exhibits and lectures have documented the role that Africans and indigenous people contributed to New York State history, these expanded permanent exhibits more fully depict and share this complex history with visitors.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Today is an exciting moment for Philipse Manor Hall as it reopens with a new focus. The newly permanent and accessible exhibits will help visitors more fully understand all that Africans and Indigenous people contributed to the history of New York State and the City of Yonkers. I encourage everyone to visit, and congratulate Philipse Manor Hall and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on the reopening.”
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said, “We do not show history through subtraction, we show history through telling the whole story. With the addition of key Yonkers figures and milestones, Philipse Manor Hall will now be a place that takes our residents and visitors on a bona fide journey. I want to thank our partners at the state level for this investment which will document and preserve our city’s growth and development for generations to come.”
For more information, visit
https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/philipsemanorhall/details.aspx.
