Historic House Trust Festival Events
Friday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13, 2013
More than two dozen historic NYC locales open their doors offering special events and tours.
October 11
Special Evening Tour of Gracie Mansion and Treats
at Gracie Mansion (in Carl Schurz Park), Manhattan
5:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Tours of this 1799 country house, which has been the official residence to New York City mayors since 1942, are usually not offered in the evenings, making this a special treat for people…
Free!
October 12
Kings County Second Annual Fiber Festival
at Washington Park (in J.J. Byrne Playground), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
The Kings County Fiber Festival includes crocheters, dyers, rug makers, felters, knitters, quilters, spinners, and weavers, as well as artists creating design works that incorporate fiber…
Free!
October 12
Edgar Allen Poe Cottage House Tour: Mealtime in Poe’s Era
at Edgar Allen Poe Cottage (in Poe Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
With his ailing wife Virginia confined to her bed and his writing consuming his rare free moments, how did Edgar Allan Poe make sure that his family was well fed? On your tour of Poe…
Free!
October 12
Valentine-Varian House Tour: Foodway of the Past
at Valentine-Varian House (in Valentine Varian House), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Come experience what 18th century Bronx residents feasted on in this food-based tour of the Valentine-Varian House. Learn about how our Bronx forebears grew, prepared, and consumed…
Free!
October 12
Free Admission to the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
at Edgar Allen Poe Cottage (in Poe Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
This year, the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage will participate in Openhouse NY and Historic House Trust Festival. The museum will offer free admission on Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00…
Free!
October 12
Free Admission to the Museum of Bronx History
at Valentine-Varian House (in Valentine Varian House), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
This year, the Museum of Bronx History will participate in Openhouse NY and Historic House Trust Festival. The museum will offer free admission on Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00…
Free!
October 12
Special Tour: From the Cellar to the Attic
at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum (in Fidler-Wyckoff House Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Take this rare opportunity to see the attic of a 17th century Dutch colonial dwelling, featuring original timbers. Get a sneak peek at the 18th century root cellar, where…
Free!
October 12
A Conversation with General George Washington
at Van Cortlandt House Museum (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Come visit and speak to George Washington as he gives you a tour of the Van Cortlandt House Museum. Learn about his visits to what was then Lower-Yonkers in Westchester County.…
Free!
October 12
The “Clear Comfort” Tea Room Tour
at Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Enjoy your afternoon with some tea and biscuits while learning about one of America’s earliest and most profilic photographers by touring her historic home. The tours will focus…
Free!
October 12
Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm Stand
at Decker Farm, Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the historic 1800s Decker Farm and enjoy a guided tour through the 1810 farmhouse and a hayride. Purchase a pumpkin to bring home. Free shuttle bus service from the…
October 12
The Legacy of Seguine Mansion: Special Tour
at Seguine Mansion, Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Discover the beauty of Seguine Mansion, which overlooks Prince’s Bay. Learn about the family’s oyster harvesting business and the significance of the estate in Staten…
Free!
October 12
Historic House Trust Festival and OpenHouseNY Weekend at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Come explore the splendor of a 19th century Greek Revival mansion. There will be guided tours by costumed docents each hour at qa uarter past the hour.
Free!
October 12
Bones Tour of an Old Dutch Farmhouse
at Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
One of 14 farmhouses from King County’s Dutch settlement period, Lefferts Historic House was built by Pieter Lefferts around 1783. His son John Later supervised a Federal style…
Free!
October 12
Special Performance and Backstage Tour: Hansel and Gretel’s Halloween Adventure
at Morris-Jumel Mansion (in Roger Morris Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
City Parks Foundation is reserving 20 free seats to each 1:00 p.m. performance of “Hansel & Gretel’s Halloween Adventure.” There will be a backstage tour and…
Free!
Best For
Kids
October 12
Preservation and Progress Tour of the Bowne House
at Bowne House (in Margaret I. Carman Green – Weeping Beech), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Get a first-hand look and progress update of the renovation at Flushing’s own Bowne House. Built in 1661, the John Bowne House is an amalgam of New World Dutch and English…
Free!
October 12
Free Guided Tours: From the Constitution to the Civil War
at King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Come visit the home of an outspoken opponent of slavery for a free guided tour. The last tour begins at 4:30 p.m. This event is part of the Historic House Trust of New York City’s…
Free!
October 12
Journey Through Queens History: Tour the Homestead & the Queens Historical Society
at Kingsland Homestead, Queens
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Built in 1785, Kingsland Homestead is now the home of the Queens Historical Society. Tour the Kingsland Homestead and visit the gift shop to find out more about historic Queens.…
October 12
Tour of Jacob Tysen House (Presented by Historic Richmond Town)
at Judge Jacob Tysen House, Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Judge Jacob Tysen House was built in 1835. The tall portico with fluted columns and composite capitals makes an impreessive statement of the Greek Revival style. In the…
Free!
October 12
at Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tour the Voorlezer’s House, the oldest wooden school house in North America, built by the Dutch Reformed Congregation, the buidling also served as a church and a home for the teacher or…
Free!
October 12
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
2:00 p.m.
Take a tour of Queens County Farm Museum’s 30 acres, led by one of their farmers. Maximum amount of people per tour is 50. This is event is part of OpenHouseNewYork Weekend…
Free!
October 12
Glass Painting Demonstration with Cristina Cipriani
at Lewis H. Latimer House (in Lewis H Latimer House), Queens
2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Come and see the free art demonstrations for children and young adults by Cristina Cipriani, in the Latimer House’s fall garden. This event is part of the Historic House Trust of…
Free!
October 12
“Hello Hyacinth”: A Reading By Amanda DeLalla
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
3:00 p.m.
Based on the 90s Britcom Keeping Up Appearances , “Hello Hyacinth” centers on “a day in the life” of British wannabe socialite Hyacinth Bucket, her henpecked husband,…
Free!
October 12
at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Enjoy a true Victorian low tea in the Orangerie served by docents in period dress. Learn about low versus high tea, tea history, and etiquette, all while delighting in delicious,…
October 13
Special Tour: From the Cellar to the Attic
at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum (in Fidler-Wyckoff House Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Take this rare opportunity to see the attic of a 17th century Dutch colonial dwelling, featuring original timbers. Get a sneak peek at the 18th century root cellar, where…
Free!
October 13
Historical Tea Tasting Series: Preparing the Proper “Cuppa”
at Morris-Jumel Mansion (in Roger Morris Park), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Three workshops to increase your basic understanding of tea, tea and food pairings, and proper preparation. Join us for this delightful afternoon of tea and scones while attendees…
October 13
The “Clear Comfort” Tea Room Tour
at Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Enjoy your afternoon with some tea and biscuits while learning about one of America’s earliest and most profilic photographers by touring her historic home. The tours will focus…
Free!
October 13
Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm Stand
at Decker Farm, Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the historic 1800s Decker Farm and enjoy a guided tour through the 1810 farmhouse and a hayride. Purchase a pumpkin to bring home. Free shuttle bus service from the…
Best For
Kids
October 13
Historic House Trust Festival and OpenHouseNY Weekend at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Come explore the splendor of a 19th century Greek Revival mansion. There will be guided tours by costumed docents each hour at qa uarter past the hour.
Free!
October 13
Bones Tour of an Old Dutch Farmhouse
at Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
One of 14 farmhouses from King County’s Dutch settlement period, Lefferts Historic House was built by Pieter Lefferts around 1783. His son John Later supervised a Federal style…
Free!
October 13
Mealtime in Poe’s Era: Free House Tours
at Edgar Allen Poe Cottage (in Poe Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
With his ailing wife Virginia confined to her bed and his writing consuming his rare free moments, how did Edgar Allan Poe make sure that his family was well fed? On your tour of Poe…
Free!
October 13
Valentine-Varian House Tour: Foodways of the Past
at Valentine-Varian House (in Valentine Varian House), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Come experience what 18th century Bronx residents feasted on this food-based tour of the Valentine-Varian House. Learn about how our Bronx forebears grew, prepared, and consumed…
Free!
October 13
Special Performance and Backstage Tour: Hansel and Gretel’s Halloween Adventure
at Morris-Jumel Mansion (in Roger Morris Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
City Parks Foundation is reserving 20 free seats to each 1:00 p.m. performance of “Hansel & Gretel’s Halloween Adventure.” There will be a backstage tour and…
Free!
Best For
Kids
October 13
Free Guided Tours: From Constitution to the Civil War
at King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Come visit the home of this outspoken opponent of slavery. There will be free guided tours of King Manor Museum. The last tour begins at 2:00 p.m. This event is part of the…
Free!
October 13
Journey Through Queens History: Tour the Homestead & the Queens Historical Society
at Kingsland Homestead, Queens
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Built in 1785, Kingsland Homestead is now the home of the Queens Historical Society. Tour the Kingsland Homestead and visit the gift shop to find out more about historic Queens.…
October 13
Tour of Jacob Tysen House (Presented by Historic Richmond Town)
at Judge Jacob Tysen House, Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Judge Jacob Tysen House was built in 1835. The tall portico with fluted columns and composite capitals makes an impreessive statement of the Greek Revival style. In the…
Free!
October 13
at Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tour the Voorlezer’s House, the oldest wooden school house in North America, built by the Dutch Reformed Congregation, the buidling also served as a church and a home for the teacher or…
Free!
October 13
Free Admission to the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
at Edgar Allen Poe Cottage (in Poe Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
This year, the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage will participate in Openhouse NY and Historic House Trust Festival. The museum will offer free admission on Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00…
Free!
October 13
Farmer-Led Tours of Queens County Farm Museum
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
2:00 p.m.
Take a tour of Queens County Farm Museum’s 30 acres, led by one of their farmers. Maximum amount of people per tour is 50. This is event is part of OpenHouseNewYork Weekend…
Free!
October 13
Glass Painting Demonstration with Cristina Cipriani
at Lewis H. Latimer House (in Lewis H Latimer House), Queens
2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Come and see the free art demonstrations for children and young adults by Cristina Cipriani, in the Latimer House’s fall garden. This event is part of the Historic House Trust of…
Free!
October 13
Talking about History: The History of Cider-making in New York
at King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park), Queens
3:00 p.m.
This lecture will be presented by Andy Brennan of Aaron Burr Cidery. Cider was a popular and important beverage in America from colonial days to the mid-19th century. Safer than…
Free!
October 13
Ninety Years of Fashion History, 1890-1980
at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Join us for the scoop on what the fashionable wore from 1890 to 1980 by Bard Graduate scholar Sarah Pickman. Sarah’s focus on fashion history and anthropology, her work in the Textile…
Free!
