Museum reviews: Boscobel House and Gardens, Garrison, NY
by Leigh Goessl
Boscobel is a beautiful piece of American history which is tucked snugly above the banks of the Hudson River. Built just after the turn of the 19th century, the home's original location was actually several miles south of where it sits today.
The historic home was moved for preservation in the 1950s from its original location in Montrose, NY to its current location in Garrison, NY after being slated by the government for demolition for a mere $35.
Today the home has been restored and beautifully brought back to life and serves as a fascinating museum. The home and gardens are seasonally available for tour and throughout the year special events are held on the grounds.
*Origins and History of Boscobel
The grand home was originally owned by States Morris Dyckman, who was a Loyalist during the American Revolutionary War era. He married the granddaughter of one of his Loyalist neighbors named Elizabeth Corne. The marriage produced two children.
The mansion was commissioned to be built and construction commenced in 1804 on Dyckman's 250 acre farm in Montrose. During the years after his marriage, Dyckman was recalled back to England several times and soon after his final return to New York, he unfortunately fell gravely ill due to an old injury and passed away in 1806. Elizabeth continued construction and the majestic home was completed in 1808.
The house was built in the same design of many English Federal architectural style homes that were popular during this period. The inside and outside of the structure were built ornately and definitely with elaborate and fashion in mind.
*The Restoration
After the government had slated the building to be demolished, a man named Benjamin West Frazier raised enough money to buy the home. He had the house dismantled and relocated to its current site in Garrison.
The home remained in storage in barns and other buildings until enough money could be raised to rebuild the house and the right location came onto the market where the home could be reassembled. This opportunity came in 1956 when a 26 acre piece of land became available for sale.
In 1961 the home and grounds were opened to the public. At this time the interior of the home was not designed in accordance with what was historically accurate, but over the years the museum has diligently been working hard to restore the home along the lines of how the home looked originally.
In the 1970s family records of States Dyckman were discovered and today a combination of replications, reproductions and original pieces have been reclaimed and brought "home". You can get a view of what you can expect to see off Boscobel's highlights section of their website.
*The Grounds
Boscobel sits above the Hudson River and has pristine views in all directions including views of Bear Mountain and the famous West Point. The gardens are one of Boscobel's highlights and feature a wonderful rose garden, herb garden, a pond, a fountain and a wooded trail among many other stunning attributes.
The views of the river are nothing less than spectacular, especially in the spring and early summer months when flowers are in full bloom. Simply calling the grounds breathtaking is an understatement.
*Visiting Boscobel
The mansion and grounds are open daily, excepting Tuesdays. Tours are available seasonally, from April through December, but is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. For more detail on the seasonal hours and tour times you can visit Boscobel's website for more detail.
The admission is a little pricey, but worth seeing at least once if you live or are visiting the area. The fee is $16 for adults, $12 for seniors and children ages 6-14 are $7. Children younger than 6 are free, but if you are bringing small children, be prepared to carry them through the tour, it is not a child friendly tour. Additionally, if you only want to tour the grounds, the entrance fee is reduced.
Other new features to Boscobel, which the author has not experienced yet, is the Exhibition Gallery which was introduced in 2008. The art gallery is located in the lower level of the main house and open to the public for display of a variety of art exhibits. Additionally on the first Tuesday of the month artists can come for free and work along the beautiful landscape.
As you tour the mansion you get a distinct feel of being transported back in time to the 19th century. The interior design and furnishings are spectacular and wonderfully restored. If you decide to tour the house, the guided tours are very informative and you'll get a very detailed experience about the Dyckman family and the history of the house as you view its magnificence.
Boscobel is secluded, but also conveniently located on Route 9D, not too far from the charming village of Cold Spring and also the Bear Mountain Bridge. If you are in the area, spending an afternoon, or even the day, at Boscobel is a memorable event.