Rose Hill Mansion facts for kids
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Rose Hill
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3373 NY 96A, Fayette, New York |
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| Area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| Built | 1839 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001269 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 6, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | June 24, 1986 |
Rose Hill Mansion is a beautiful old house in Fayette, New York. It is now a historic house museum, which means you can visit it to learn about the past. The mansion was built in 1837 and sits on a hill overlooking Seneca Lake.
Rose Hill Mansion is famous for its amazing Greek Revival style. This type of architecture was popular in the 1800s and looks like ancient Greek temples. In 1986, it was named a National Historic Landmark because it is so important. Today, Historic Geneva (which used to be the Geneva Historical Society) takes care of the mansion. You can take tours there from May to October.
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What Does Rose Hill Mansion Look Like?
Rose Hill Mansion is located in Fayette, New York. It is on the east side of Route 96A, with great views of Seneca Lake. The house sits on 23 acres of land. This land used to be part of a much larger farm long ago.
The mansion is a big, two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. Its most striking part is the front, which looks like a Greek temple. It has six tall Ionic columns that hold up a triangular roof section called a pediment. On each side of the main house, there are smaller, one-story sections. These also have rows of Ionic columns. The side sections are set back a bit from the front. But they extend further back, making the whole building look like a "U" shape.
Inside the Mansion
Inside Rose Hill Mansion, you will find beautiful wooden designs. These designs are also in the Greek Revival style. There is a fancy spiral staircase in the main hallway. An elaborate archway separates the two main living rooms, called parlors. The plasterwork on the walls and ceilings is just as detailed as the woodwork. Many of these designs were inspired by the published works of a famous architect named Minard Lafever.
History of Rose Hill Mansion
The land where Rose Hill Mansion stands was first used as a farm in 1802. A man named Robert Rose moved there from Virginia.
In 1839, a businessman from New York City named William Kerley Strong bought the property. He then had the grand mansion built. We don't know for sure who designed the house. However, its style shows that the builders were influenced by the ideas of architects like Minard Lafever and Andrew Jackson Downing. Both of these architects were big fans of the Greek Revival style.
Later Owners and Restoration
In 1850, another New York City businessman, Benjamin Swan, bought the property. He gave it as a wedding gift to his son, Robert Swan. The Swan family ran the property as a very successful farm. After Robert Swan passed away in 1890, the property started to decline.
In 1965, Waldo Hutchins, who was Robert Swan's grandson, gave the mansion to the Geneva Historical Society. The house was in poor condition at that time. It went through a big restoration project to fix it up. Waldo and his son also provided money to help take care of the mansion in the future.
Today, Rose Hill Mansion is open for guided tours from May to October. It also hosts special events throughout the year.
See also
