Here perched upon the prettiest bluffs with tree-covered banks and majestic views of the Hudson River is some of America’s most astounding collection of great estates. Little did we know we'd stumble upon them. Many of these built in the 19th century by the rich and powerful were simply just high-status getaways. We could have easily spent three weeks here after touring seven of these historical mansions.
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| Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park |
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| Entrance to Vanderbilt's Italian Garden |
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| Reflection pool |
Among the area’s pleasure palaces, none was more showy than the beaux arts Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park. Built in 1895 it was one of the Vanderbilts grand forty-four estates in the country, The families old world money came from their great shipping and railroad fortune.
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| Olana Estate |
Olana is the enchanting Moorish fantasy palace where the famous artist Frederic Church made his home and took his inspiration for landscape paintings. The interior is like walking through a Persian bazzar with all its wares. All the inside windows, walls, ceilings have elaborate beautiful Moorish stenciled designs.
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| Bell Tower at Olana Mansion |
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| Clermont Estate |
A quintessential representation of old world money is the Livingston family. Seven generations, whose prominence began with free land grants to the first Lord Livingston from the King of England in the 18th century, later built over seventy great estate homes. Clermont (completely rebuilt after the British burned it to the ground in 1777) remains a glimpse into nearly three generations of wealth, impeccable taste, and political prominence.
Not far from Clermont, near Rhinebeck is Wilderstein where the drive takes us close to he Hudson River into a 40-acre Calvert Vaux designed landscape.
Strolling along a path through the damp mist toward the house, we cross the romantic grounds with red bud brushes in full bloom. Wedding guests were arriving onto the expansive porch.
We are able to tour inside Wilderstein. The recently painted reddish brown historic house with Tiffany windows and a dramatic five-story circular tower was home to three generations of Suckleys. Margaret Suckley known as “Daisy” was the sixth cousin removed from FDR whom he shared a close friendship and companionship. She was the last family member to live at Wilderstein. The house with its dark carved oak wood contains the original family personal effects and heirlooms, portraits of ancestors, photographs, books, china, and antique furnishings.
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| Bagpipes resound for the newlyweds at Wilderstein |
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| Wilderstein Estate hosts a wedding during our visit |
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| Red bud in bloom at Wilderstein |
A visit to Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie was the home of artist, educator, and telegraph inventor Samuel F.B. Morse from 1847-1872.The 150-acre historic site includes formal gardens and hiking trails, carriage and ice houses, and a picnic grove over looking the Hudson River. A former NY stage actress and playwright gave us a private and rather dramatic tour through the mansion.
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| Locust Grove has a great veranda wrap around porch and lovely gardens |
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| More red bud flourishing |
Old and new money merge at Staatsburgh at a 23-room Greek Rivival house on 334 acres, inherited by Ruth Livingston Mills , who was married to investment capitalist Ogden Mills. They expanded it into a 65-room beaux arts extravaganza for entertaining guests in the fall. A private tour inside allows us to take photos without a flash for the first time of the interior’s imported 17th and 18th century imported furnishings, guilded ceilings, and Flemish tapestries.
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| A parlor room at the Livingston Staatsburgh Mansion |
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| Fresco gilded ceiling and Flemish tapestry |
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| Staatsburgh dining room looks out toward the Hudson River |
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| Art deco and gilded ceilings at Staatsburgh |
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| Ruth Livingston Mills bedroom... |
While all the grandeur is fun to look at, its outside on the expansive grounds of these estates, viewing the scenic gardens, distant landscapes of the Hudson River, and strolling the hiking trails is where one finds solace and the true beauty often lies.
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| Catching spectacular views of the Hudson River |
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| You might spot a bumble bee on a flower |
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| or perhaps just enjoy the sweet smell beneath a beautiful flowering dogwood tree |
Here perched upon the prettiest bluffs with tree-covered banks and majestic views of the Hudson River is some of America’s most astounding collection of great estates. Little did we know we'd stumble upon them. Many of these built in the 19th century by the rich and powerful were simply just high-status getaways. We could have easily spent three weeks here after touring seven of these historical mansions. 
