Hours of Operation
The Rose Hill Mansion is a National Historic Landmark and is considered one of the
finest examples of Greek Revival Architecture in the United States. Built in 1839, the mansion
has 26 rooms, of which 21 are furnished in the then-popular Empire style, and are open to the
public. Great effort has been made to have as many furnishings as possible original to the house.
Other pieces are original to the period with most dating from about 1820 to 1850, the height of
the Empire Period. The Rose Hill facility includes the mansion, a carriage house (Reception Center),
several other outbuildings, and extensive grounds highlighted by a beautiful boxwood garden.
|
|
The restoration of the entire property began in
1965 and by 1968 the mansion was open to the public. In 1974, Rose Hill Mansion was recognized by
the "National Trust for Historic Preservation" for its meticulous attention to period detail
throughout the mansion and grounds. At the heart of this enormous undertaking was Waldo Hutchins,
Jr., grandson of one of owners of the mansion, and H. Merrill Roenke, Jr., a seasoned veteran
within the management of the Geneva Historical Society. Due to Mr. Hutchins’ philanthropic
interests and Mr. Roenke’s supervision and management skills, Rose Hill was transformed into a
world-class restoration in upstate New York. Today, thousands of people visit this Greek Revival
mansion and are captivated by its graceful elegance and charm. Tour guides well versed in the
mansion’s history and furnishings lead visitors through the rooms of the house. Visitors also
have the opportunity to tour the grounds and gardens. The house is open from the first of May
through the end of October.
|
|
During a tour through the mansion, visitors view 21 beautifully furnished and maintained
rooms. Examples of Rose Hill's beauty can be found in the formal dining room, and in the formal
parlor. In the dining room, the wallpaper is a reproduction of a French paper popular during the
Empire Period, as are the window treatments. The chandelier, created around 1815, is a marvelous
piece of Portuguese crystal. Nearly 5 feet in length, it was originally one of a pair; the mate
now hangs in "Lemon Hill", a restoration in Fairmont Park, Philadelphia.
|
|
Some notable architectural features in the mansion's front parlor enforce the appearance
of formality, including the "six over six over six" windows, the pilasters that frame the windows,
and the plaster moldings that are original to the house. As the most formal room of the mansion,
it was reserved almost exclusively for the more prominent guests who visited the home. The mahogany
drum table in the center of the room is but one of many fine pieces of furniture that one will see
throughout Rose Hill. Here in this room as well is a formal seven-piece rosewood parlor suite in
the Rococo style. It was made in 1845, and was original to the home of the Swan family, who resided
at Rose Hill Mansion from 1850 to 1890.
|
|
An interesting feature of all the front windows
of the mansion is that they open up from the floor, so one could walk through the openings onto the
front porch. Like the front parlor, the windows of the music room also face the front porch and are
made up of eighteen panes of glass. Each window of this type has 3 banks of interior shutters,
which are paneled and recessed into the wide sides of the window casing. Among other uses, the
shutters would ward off the heat of the day in the summer, block drafts in the winter, and prevent
furnishings from fading year round.
|
|
The second floor of the mansion has been as
well restored as the first and the Green Bedroom is one example of what a visitor will see. This
bedroom is a wonderfully detailed room in the Empire Style, furnished with a reproduction 1830s
ingrain carpet and a fine bed quilt of that period. The butler's desk in the background was made
circa 1825 and has curly maple inlay. The French clock atop the desk is made of alabaster and
represents the great workmanship of the era.
|
|
The mansion
is on Route 96A just south of Routes 5&20 near Geneva, New York.
For information regarding Rose Hill and activities at the mansion, please go to our
Exhibits and Events page or contact the Geneva
Historical Society at 315-789-5151 or the Rose Hill facility at 315-789-3848.
| Hours |
| Monday-Saturday (May 1 to October 31) | 10:00am to 4:00pm |
| Sunday |
1:00pm to 5:00pm |
| Admission |
| Adults |
$6.00 |
| Seniors & Students (age 10-18) |
$4.00 |
|
Children under 10 |
Free |
| Family Rate (two adults and
children aged 10-18) | $15.00 |
|
