From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, Friends of Philipse Manor Hall”¯will hold an open house to welcome the Yonkers community and beyond to the recently renovated and reopened national and Yonkers landmark.
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site ”“ once the home of 17th-century Dutch landowner Frederick Philpse I whose great-granddaughter Mary Eliza Philipse was George Washington”™s first love serves as a museum of history, art and architecture and a host to community organizations, educational programs and special events. The Friends of Philipse Manor Hall offers lectures, musical performances, holiday events and educational programming to engage local residents, encourage visitation and foster support and appreciation for this unique site.”¯”‹
The open house will be the first event hosted by Friends of Philipse Manor Hall since the reopening of this historic site after a $20 million renovation of the building and grounds, as well as the design of new, interactive exhibits.”¯
“We are excited to invite the public to this free, one-day open house to see the amazing restorations and renovations that have certainly made Philipse Manor Hall a world-class museum,” said Friends of Philipse Manor Hall Board President Dave Martin. “This historic site is full of history, and we want to share that with everyone in the community. I also want to encourage everyone who enjoys the museum to consider signing up to become a member, which not only helps support Philipse Manor Hall but also offers some great benefits and special access to the museum.”
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 and visitors with wheelchairs and walkers, and are sensitive to visitors of all ages, abilities and cultural experiences.
In keeping with that sensitivity, they incorporate the journeys of the Philipse family, the indigenous people from whom the Philipse lands were derived, and the 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. ”¯
The exhibits include a variety of interactive elements, including augmented reality experiences and touch, smell and sound elements that incorporate the languages heard in the colonial period ”“ Munsee, Dutch and KiKongo.
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For more, visit”¯FriendsofPhilipseManorHall.org.
