Pelham Bay Park
Bronx, NY 10464
(718) 885-1461 -- School Tours ext. 102
http://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org
The 9 acres upon which this mansion sits is part of what was once an empire of 9,000 acres owned by Connecticut physician, Thomas Pell. In 1654 he purchased the property from the Siwanoy Indians. In 1666 he received the King's Charter to create the Manor of Pelham. In 1675 Pell's nephew and heir built a manor house which was home to four generations of Pells until its destruction during the American Revolution.
Ann Pell, daughter of the fourth Lord of the Manor, married her cousin of Huguenot descent, John Bartow, who acquired the property after the Revolution. The property changed hands a couple of times, ultimately to be owned by Robert Bartow, a grandson of John. New York City bought the mansion in 1888, and of more than a dozen architecturally important homes overlooking Long Island Sound, Bartow-Pell is the sole survivor.
The newly restored three-story Carriage House contains a carriage stable, hay loft, and tack room for a multi-purpose interpretive facility for the museum.
The neo-classic stone mansion is a masterpiece of architecture with its richly creative interior Greek Revival details and its elegant freestanding elliptical staircase. The 19th century Empire decor is an example of the finest quality found in New York homes at that time.
Furniture, decorative arts, and paintings of that period have been on loan to the house from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum of the City of New York, as well as private collections. The mansion also contains its own distinguished collection.
For anyone interested in architecture, history, or interior design, the Mansion has a lot to offer. Group Tours are available for adults, and the Museum offers a Program for 4th grade school children which is done in two parts: 1) Museum docents give an interactive presentation in the classroom and 2) the class visits the Mansion for a slide show and guided tour.
Hours: Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, 12 - 4pm. Carriage House is closed from November thru March. Closed on major holidays.
Admission: Adults $5.00, Seniors and Students $3.00. Children under 6 FREE. Group Guided Tours: Adults $8.00 per person.
School Program is FREE for NYC School Groups. $30.00 for other School Groups.
Group Reservations: At least 3 weeks in advance.
Lunch: Nearby restaurants, or picnic in Pelham Bay Park.
Handicapped: Not accessible.
Directions: Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) North to New England Thruway
(still I-95) North. Take exit for Pelham Pkwy. East/north on Pelham Pkwy. At traffic circle continue straight to Shore Rd. Watch for Split Rock Golf Course on left. Museum entrance is on right just past golf course.
Time: 20 minutes east of the George Washington Bridge.
Nearby: Bronx Historical Society , North Wind Undersea Institute , Bronx Zoo , New York Botanical Garden .