Kykuit Open House: Free Exploration

Local audiences who have not previously visited Kykuit are invited to enjoy a free tour of the Hudson Valley’s top cultural attraction before it opens for the season.

Kykuit is an iconic Beaux-Arts villa with a world-class art collection, majestic gardens, and sweeping Hudson River views. Completed in 1913, Kykuit—a name derived from the Dutch word for lookout—was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family, beginning with the philanthropist and oil magnate John D. Rockefeller. Now a historic house museum and a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this extraordinary landmark has been continuously and meticulously maintained for over 100 years.

Free Exploration at Kykuit is a new way to experience this classic historic site. Visitors are encouraged to explore the first and second floors of the house, art galleries, and select gardens at their own pace, spending as much time as they would like in each area. Museum educators will be stationed throughout the property to provide information about the site and to direct visitors to points of interest.

Guests must park at Philipsburg Manor and travel via shuttle to and from Kykuit. Shuttle buses depart Philipsburg Manor every 15 minutes between 9:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., with return shuttles leaving Kykuit every 15 minutes between 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

All visitors must reserve a free timed-entry ticket before visiting. Children must be at least ten years old to participate and must be accompanied by an adult.  

Accessibility: Handicapped parking is available at the Philipsburg Manor Visitor Center, as are ADA-accessible restrooms. Limited handicapped parking is available at Kykuit if boarding shuttle vans is prohibitive; please call in advance to make arrangements for parking at Kykuit. Public restrooms at Kykuit are limited. The second floor of Kykuit is not wheelchair accessible. This tour offers very few places to sit down. There are some steps and uneven terrain in the gardens.