13 best historic mansions you can visit in Upstate NY (2024)

Gary Walts | gwalts@nyup.com

13 best historic Upstate NY mansions you can visit

By ChuckD'Imperio| Contributing writer

When it comes to regal, historic mansions, Upstate New York has an embarrassment of riches. Lucky for us, many of these are now open to the public. What a fun way to get a glimpse of the glories of another era. Here are a baker's dozen mansions worthy of a look. Of course, there are hundreds of them across the state. Which ones would you add to the list?

Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com

Seward House Mansion (Auburn)

Built in 1816 by the Miller family, this became the home of William H. Seward when he married Elijah Miller's daughter, Frances. Seward went on to become a U.S. Senator, New York State Governor and U.S. Secretary of State. The house is now a museum to Mr. and Mrs. Seward's life and times. During one period, while Mr. Seward was travelling overseas, Mrs. Seward harbored runaway slaves in the mansion's' basem*nt!

» Website

John Renfro via flickr

Schuyler Mansion (Albany)

This historic brick mansion was built in 1761 for Revolutionary War hero General Philip Schuyler. Many of that era's famous personalities came, visited and stayed the night at this mansion. In fact, Elizabeth Schuyler, Philip's second daughter, got married to Alexander Hamilton in the parlor of this mansion on Dec. 14, 1780.

» Website

NYup.com file photo

Yaddo (Saratoga Springs)

The present structure was built by financier Samuel Trask after his original home burned down in 1881. The stone and wood Queen Anne Revival mansion is not technically open to the public as it is an active working writer's colony. It is a three-story, tower-topped, 55-room estate encompassing nearly 50,000 square feet. However, the famous Yaddo Gardens, which surround the estate, are visited by thousands each year. The writer's colony here has hosted 66 Pulitzer Prize winners, 61 National Book Award winners and a double Nobel Prize-winning writer (Saul Bellow).

» Website

Pubdog via Wikimedia Commons

Governor Reuben Fenton Mansion (Jamestown)

Now the home of the Fenton History Center, this Jamestown landmark was built in 1863. The brick mansion known as "Walnut Grove" features a four-story tower and a life-size bronze statue of Gov. Fenton on the front lawn. He was governor of New York from 1869 to 1875. The Italianate Villa design sets this building apart from the other historic buildings in the city. The mansion is filled with period antiques and is a popular venue for public and private events.

» Website

Jeff Goulding for nyup.com

Olana (Hudson)

This is one of Upstate New York's most visited mansions. Located in Columbia County, this 1872 home incorporates a hodge-podge mix of architectural designs to best reflect the owner's love of world travels. Painter Frederic Church positioned his mansion to take advantage of the breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley in the distance. The valley, and the Hudson River itself, was the subject of many of his most famous paintings. Tours here, of both the mansion and the grounds, are extremely popular, and many interesting public events are scheduled every year. And be sure and ask about the four teapots located on the top of the tower!

» Website

Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com

George Eastman Mansion (Rochester)

This was the home of George Eastman. Today it is a museum which holds the world's largest and oldest photography collections. Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak, was a millionaire who spent considerable sums creating this extravagant mansion, which he bequeathed to the University of Rochester at the time of his death. The building lacks nothing in splendor, extravagance and excess. Rooms include a conservatory, billiard room, library, great hall, living room and much more. Note the large African elephant trophy head crashing through the wall above your head in the Conservatory. Guided tours are offered daily. The public is not allowed into Eastman's private bedroom quarters on the second floor where he committed suicide on March 14, 1932.

» Website

Jay Parker via flickr

Skene Manor (Whitehall)

This 1874 Gothic stone mansion was built overhanging a mountain in Whitehall in 1874. The view from here is spectacular. It is three stories tall, features a clock tower and is made of sandstone blocks quarried from the mountainside by a team of Italian stonemasons. Some call this one of the most haunted mansions in Upstate New York. Tours are given, and many public events are held inside this gorgeous structure.

» Website

George Fisher | Visit1000Islands

Boldt Castle (Thousand Islands)

This is one of the most popular mansions in all of Upstate New York. Literally thousands of visitors have come to this island mansion over the years. Doomed and sad, the home was a love token built by the millionaire general-manager of the Waldorf Astoria hotel, George Boldt. The object of this tender souvenir was to be his wife, Louise Kherer Boldt. Unfortunately she died in 1904 before the home was finished and Boldt walked away from it. The mansion, projected to have been one of the largest private residences in the U.S., sat empty and forlorn in the middle of the St. Lawrence River for almost 75 years before preservationists came to its rescue. Tours today reveal the extreme opulence and luxuriousness of what was to be a happy home for Mr. and Mrs. Boldt.

» Website

apryldenise via flickr

Hyde Hall (Cooperstown)

This home, at the head of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, has been called the "finest example of neoclassical country house design in the country." Built between 1817 and 1834 for the George Clarke family, the stone mansion consists of dozens of rooms including massive entertaining rooms which feature 20 foot ceilings. Tours are offered, and the view of the lake, referred to as the "Glimmerglass" by native-Cooperstown author James Fenimore Cooper, can be breathtaking.

» Website

Carol via flickr

Phelps Mansion (Binghamton)

This stunning 1870 mansion was built as the home of Binghamton Mayor Sherman Phelps. The architect of this three-floor Second Empire-style extravagance was Isaac G. Perry, who also worked on the New York State Capitol as the building's last lead architect (1883-1899). The mansion is packed with historic artwork, rare antiques, period furniture and unusual woodwork. Tours are very popular and many public events are scheduled here, hosted by the current owners, the Phelps Mansion Museum.

» Website

Lizzylane via flickr

Clermont (Germantown)

Seven generations of the famous Livingston family called this mansion home. The estate was built in 1740 on 13,000 acres of lush Hudson River Valley property. Tours of the home and gardens are available, and there is a gift shop and a public event area (many weddings are held at Clermont). A visitor's center tells the story of the famous Livingstons who lived here, including Robert, who swore George Washington into office and who helped draft the Declaration of Independence.

» Website

Joed Viera for nyup.com

McClurg Mansion (Westfield)

Now the home of the Chautauqua County Historical Society, this residence was built in 1818 for James McClurg, the son of a wealthy Pittsburgh industrialist. The mansion is packed with Victorian collectibles on all three floors and tours are popular. Be sure and check out the extensive collection of antique dolls in the children's nursery room. When it was built, locals called this "McClurg's Folly" for its unusually expansive layout and attention to extravagant design.

» Website

Heather Ainsworth for syracuse.com

Rose Hill Mansion (Geneva)

With its graceful columned façade, this grand home was built in 1839 and was once one of the great centers for society life and agricultural productivity in the beautiful Finger Lakes community. More than 20 rooms have been restored and are open (seasonally) to the public. Of interesting note is that one of the owners, Robert Swan, invented a method for farming using drain tiles as an irrigation method. Cornell University called this "the greatest agricultural innovation of its time (1850s). The views of Seneca Lake from the front porch are gorgeous.

» Website

Gary Walts for nyup.com

Rent this Upstate NY mansion for $3K a night

Read more: The 27-room Casa Blanca mansion in the Thousand Islandscould be yours for just $3,000 a night or $20,000 per week.