Mills Mansion: the Staatsburgh State Historic Site

Though seemingly unknown outside of its proximity to the CIA (the Culinary Institute of America, not the secret D.C. headquarters), the tiny hamlet of Staatsburgh shouldn’t be skipped. While neighboring Rhinebeck may have played host to Chelsea Clinton’s nuptials, Staatsburgh is a nature escape that offers beauty, history, and glorious Hudson River views. A whopping 1,000 folks live in town, but few take advantage of the nearby Dinsmore golf course, Norrie State Park, or intimidating Mills Mansion. With tours, concerts, events, and riverside hiking, Mills Mansion is a gem that’s likely to become a weekend favorite. No matter what the season, this gorgeous estate’s free hiking trails, fishing spots, and nearby camping will keep you coming back for more.

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It’s not hard to imagine arriving at the Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh, NY in a horse-drawn carriage, or socializing on the rolling green grounds in your best bustles and bows, a view of the Hudson River your backdrop. The 1896, 79-room mansion is one of many great estates built along the river during the Gilded Age, and an opulent example of new wealth joining old. Similar in fortune (but not in fame) to the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, the land-rich Ruth Livingston and money-rich Ogden Mills combined forces and transformed Ruth’s family home into a country estate of overwhelming proportions; prepare to feel dwarfed under the majestically airy 18-foot ceilings and awed by the dining room’s green Italian marble walls. Yes, walls. Don’t let the squeaky floorboards drown out the equally astounding wealth of information shared by your tour guide. You’ll leave feeling part of the elite, and very well-educated.

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