More Hudson River Valley FDR National Historic Site Vanderbilt Mansion Eleanor Roosevelt Nat'l Historic Site Kykuit Olana Lyndhurst Mills Mansion Montgomery Place

The Hudson Valley has always attracted the extremely wealthy. The Manhattan moneyed class migrated upriver in the 19th century to build great estates along the Hudson's east bank on what has since been referred to as "Millionaires' Row." Many of the estates are open to the public today, and attract active travelers to their artfully designed outdoor spaces, hiking trails, forests, gardens, and river views. These properties are under the ownership of private preservation foundations, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the State of New York, or the National Park Service. Biking is a great way to get from one estate to the next since many are within just a few miles of each other.

Look around carefully for other great estates as you tour Hudson Valley. Some are still in private ownership, and others were auctioned and converted by new owners into hospitals, schools, or religious institutions.

Many original owners used the enormous country homes only in summer or autumn, spending the winter in New York City. The valley is still home to well-to-do and influential people. But the Hudson lost its cachet early in the 20th century as a summering ground for the super-rich; it was supplanted by places such as Newport, R.I.

Although not the biggest or most luxurious, the most famous residence is Franklin D. Roosevelt's home at Hyde Park. Between FDR's "Springwood" and the neighboring Vanderbilt Mansion is a 3.3-mile hiking trail. Each estate also has paved paths. On the grounds of Roosevelt's home is Eleanor Roosevelt's private retreat, Val-Kill.

One of the grandest properties is Mills Mansion, which is situated in Mills-Norrie State Park. Marvel at its 65 rooms, and then hike, ride horses, play golf, and camp at the park. All of our favorites possess worthy treasures and interesting history. Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate, has antique cars and 20th-century art. Olana, with its Moorish architecture, is an expression of Fredric Church's artistic sensibilities and tastes. Montgomery Place predates most of the other estates; it was established nearly 200 years ago by the widow of a Revolutionary War hero.

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