This historic structure contains an extensive collection of books, letters, photographs, paintings, and furniture, with the interior designed by Joseph Burr Tiffany. The extensive grounds on the 40-acre (16-hectare) estate were designed by Calvert Vaux in the American romantic style. Guided tours of the mansion include the exterior, the first and second floors, and a video. The grounds and trails are open throughout the year.
The mansion can only be accessed through a guided tour.
Access to the grounds and trails is free.
The mansion is not wheelchair accessible, as there are multiple steps throughout.
A gift shop is open when tours are available.
The Wilderstein Historic Site is located on Morton Road in Rhinebeck. By train, take Amtrak from New York Penn Station or Albany to Rhinecliff-Kingston, then a taxi 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) to the estate. By car, take Route 9 to Mill Road and then Morton Road. There’s parking on-site when tours are available. Otherwise, park off Morton Road.
Tours of the home are only available between May and October, on Thursdays through Sundays, in the early afternoon. The grounds and trails of the estate are open daily from morning to late afternoon. Plan around 1 hour for the guided tour, and another hour to walk around the trails on the estate.
The last Suckley to reside at the mansion was Margaret “Daisy” Suckley, who lived at Wilderstein until her death in 1991. She was a distant cousin and confidante of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and gave him his famous Scottish terrier, Fala (which she wrote a children’s book about). Margaret also left behind an extensive collection of letters between her and FDR.