Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden

01/08/2024

We are so excited to share our new Instagram series: a sneak peek into the library at MVHMG!

We have so many books that are available by appointment, and we’d like to share a little more about what we have and their connection to the museum. A lot of our posts will focus on interior design, but also New York history, Fine Art, Palisades, Fashion history, and more.

Our first post is about the Empire Period (circa. 1800-1840), the furniture style that was popular when the hotel was in operation. Duncan Phyfe and John Meeks are the most famous designers of this era.

You can see the key design aspects of the period, in both the photograph and our sofa, including the mahogany the claw foot legs, and the curves on either end.

01/05/2024

Join us and whet your appetite for a taste of history! We are delighted to launch a series of special programs highlighting a different theme for each quarter of 2024.

On Friday, January 19th, we will offer a lunchtime version of our new program, “Wining and Dining in 1820s and 1830s New York City.” In 45 minutes and for less than our standard admission fee, guests will learn about food and drink at the historic Mount Vernon Hotel, receive a sampling of historic recipes, and be back to work, school, etc., in under an hour. (Friday, January 19, 12 to 12:45, $10)
Link to reserve your spot (required) and purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wining-and-dining-in-1820s-and-1830s-new-york-city-a-culinary-history-tour-tickets-791122888857?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/02/2024

Happy New Year!

As 2023 comes to a close, we want to thank everyone who supported the MVHM&G this year as we got back on our feet: the Colonial Dames of America, the visitors who came for tours and programs, our volunteers who led tours, helped in the office, and weeded and watered, and our contractors who helped keep our building and property looking spiffy and running smoothly.

We are so grateful and can’t wait to share our plans for 2024 when we’ll celebrate the 225th anniversary of the building’s construction, the 100th anniversary of the CDA’s purchase of the building, and the 85th anniversary of the Museum’s opening.

We wish you a happy, healthy new year and hope to see you soon!

#2024

12/30/2023

MVHM LOOKS FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU IN
~~~2024 🎉💥🥂

12/23/2023

HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY HOLIDAY 🎅🏻🎄

12/21/2023

Happy Winter Solstice! MVHM&G is wishing everyone a happy holiday season!

12/18/2023

No activities planned over winter break?

You’re in luck!

MVHM&G will be offering a special Wednesday tour on December 27th at 11am.

Don’t miss out on this chance to experience a piece of 19th century NYC!

Link to register is on our website and in our bio.

12/15/2023

In search of a fellowship opportunity this summer?

Graduate and undergraduate students who study U.S History, Museum Studies, Decorative Arts, Education, and other related fields, take note!

2024 will mark the 40th year that the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden will offer two Hearst Fellowships to scholars who will spend nine weeks researching and completing an independent project related to the Museum’s interpretation of New York life in the 1820s and 1830s. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of this prestigious fellowship program made possible by the generosity of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

The application opens on December 15th, 2023!

12/13/2023

Today is National Cocoa Day!

In the 19th century hot chocolate was considered quite the treat: because of its long and tedious preparation time the average person would not drink it on a daily basis.

Some households would have a specialized chocolate pot, made of brass, tin, or copper, which was equipped with a “chocolate mill” or stirring rod to stir chocolate and keep the drink smooth before it was served.

MVHM&G displays a replica hot chocolate pot in the Upper Hall, which could have been enjoyed by visitors to the hotel.

Fun fact!
George and Martha Washington were big fans of chocolate. Martha Washington often drank a beverage made from the shells of cacao beans for breakfast. “

12/04/2023

It’s National Dice Day!

Back in the 1820s and 1830s at the Mount Vernon Hotel, Backgammon was a popular game played in the gentleman’s parlor.

Still popular today, backgammon is played with dice that determine how markers, or checkers, are moved around the board.

Many thanks to MVHM&G Hearst Fellow Archer Castle for his research on games!

Image Description:
1) Backgammon board with red and white counters.
2) Backgammon dice.

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from MVHM&G! We're grateful to everyone who has supported us in 2023!

11/21/2023

It's National Gingerbread Day!

We're sharing a good, old-fashioned gingerbread recipe from "The Virginia Housewife (1831), a cookbook by Mary Randolph, along with a modern translation of the recipe.

Fun fact! Most early American cookies were referred to as “cakes”

11/21/2023

We are back!

Our shop has been repainted (stay tuned for future updates). We will be resuming tours for the rest of November.

Tours are offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. You can schedule a tour on our website MVHM.org or through EventBrite. Links in bio!

11/10/2023

Many thanks to our speaker David Furlow and to our guests who joined us last night for his talk, “A Rascal and a Horned Devil”: Meet Anthony the Turk of Salee, New Amsterdam’s Most Fearsome Forgotten Founder."

We had a great turnout for David's enlightening look at this little-known historical figure who caused quite a stir in the 1600s and whose descendants are among some of today's well-known boldface names!

11/06/2023

Please join us!

We're thrilled to host a lecture on the story of Anthony Janszoon van Salee, known as Anthony the Turk, and possibly the first settler of Muslim lineage in the United States. Noted author/speaker David Furlow will take the audience on a deep dive into a fascinating, rarely acknowledged piece of New York’s earliest history.   

In 1630, at the age of 22, Anthony Janszoon van Salee and his second wife Margarita (Grietse) sailed to New York where, by 1638, he had acquired a sizable farm in Manhattan. Despite his wealth and accomplishments, the van Salees were the subjects of considerable litigation in Dutch Reformed New York and ultimately were expelled from New Netherlands until the Dutch West India Company intervened.

Join us for an exploration of this little-known aspect of Colonial history.

Date: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 

Time: 6:30pm 

Reservations: By donation; registration required via Eventbrite

Location: Colonial Dames of America Headquarters, 417 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065 (between 1st and York Aves) 

10/31/2023

The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden is wishing you all a safe and Happy Halloween!

Image Description: Jack O’ Lantern Pumpkin on window sill in tavern.

10/27/2023

MVHM&G’s Open House New York Weekend was a success! We’re grateful for our wonderful volunteer tour guides and the OHNY volunteers who helped the day run smoothly.

Thank you to everyone who came and spent their weekend with MVHM&G!

10/10/2023

We’re opening our doors for the 21st annual Open House New York Weekend. Visit us on Saturday October 21st!

Want tickets?

OHNY’s lottery for is now open!

Participants will have 48 hours to submit their entires. All entries must be submitted by Thursday, October 12 at 9am.

Use the link here to enter the lottery today!
https://ohny.org/weekend/plan-your-weekend/

10/09/2023

In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, we wanted to acknowledge that the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden is located on the traditional territory of the Munsee Lenape.

James Stuart, the only person to commemorate his stay at the Mount Vernon Hotel in a published travelogue, Three Years in North America (1828-1831), recalled the Lenape coming to fish in the river inlet off 61st Street.

The painting above shows the small inlet Stuart referred to his book, and was painted in 1850 by an unknown artist, gifted to the MVHM&G by a neighbor in the East 61st St area a few years ago.

10/07/2023

Haven’t had the chance to visit MVHM&G yet?

You’re in luck!

We’re thrilled to announce that MVHM&G has partnered with Open House New York for OHNY Weekend 2023.

On Saturday, October 21st you can visit MVHM&G for free! Due to our limited capacity/space, MVHM&G does require tickets, which are distributed via OHNY’s lottery.

Stay tuned for details on how to get tickets!

10/06/2023

Introducing MVHM&G’s latest addition… our new sign!

Now better than ever, our new sign includes a QR code for curious passersby to scan with their phones and it takes them directly to our website, where they can learn more about MVHM&G and schedule a tour.

Talk about convenient!

Many thanks to the anonymous donor who generously supported the funding of these signs; the gift was made in honor of CDA's President General Rebecca Madsen and Past President General Brantley Knowles!

09/30/2023

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In the 1820s cats were referred to as “mousers”.

Although cats were helpful creatures, especially at a country day hotel, keeping pests at bay, MVHM&G is a cat-free environment in case today’s visitors have allergies.

When we found a stray kitten in our back garden, hiding amongst the Hosta leaves, we knew we needed to help her find a forever home.

Huge thanks to new friends Katherine Kornblau and Sofia Susskind who trapped her and fostered her after taking her to the wonderful team at the ASPCA who so kindly lent us the trap to catch her, attended to her medical needs, and spayed her.

Ivy now has a happy home with Lili, Charlie, and good dog Ellie!

09/28/2023

Last Wednesday, MVHM&G held its second Educator Open House!

A huge thanks to all the educators that attended and engaged with our staff, learning more about MVHM&G and our education programs.

We hope to welcome their classes to the museum soon!

Missed out?
Not to worry!

Our next Educator Open Houses will be on October 25th and November 15th. More details to come!

Image Description:
1. Sign on gate that says “Welcome NYC Educators”.
2. Photo of our Tavern with snacks and drinks on a table with chairs.
3. Table with white tablecloth with pamphlets, clipboard, and information sheet.

09/23/2023

Happy First Day of Fall!

Celebrate the transition from Summer to Fall by booking a tour at MVHMG and seeing our garden transform. 

Tours are offered on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. You can schedule a tour on our website MVHM.org or through EventBrite. Links in bio!

09/18/2023

It's National Dance Day!

Here at the MVHMG dances would have been held in the upper hall as a way for men and women to mingle.

Some of the most popular dances in the 1820s and 1830s were the waltz, the quadrille, the cotillion, and country dances.

Image Description: Colored illustration of two couples dancing together.
Text says "La Waltz. Le Bon Genre No. 1'.

09/11/2023

As summer comes to an end, back to school season is upon us!

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The Mount Vernon Hotel was founded by Joseph Coleman Hart; by the time he was in his twenties, Hart had already been a teacher, a lawyer, and a writer. He believed maps were a good teaching tool for children and created several original maps for that purpose.

His book, Miriam Coffin, was one of the first American whaling novels, inspired Herman Melville, and is even mentioned in Melville's Moby Dick.

MVHM&G currently displays one of his original maps of New York in the Upper Hall below his portrait.

09/02/2023

08/28/2023

MVHMG has recently been gifted the Temperance-era cup and saucer (thank you to our donor!).

The Temperance Movement was a political and social movement beginning in 1784, which established the prohibition of alcohol.

The cup and saucer are English Creamware from the 1830s-onwards. This object was created for a Temperance society as stated on the banners at the bottom of both objects.

“Firm as an Oak” is inscribed on the banner floating above the shield. Below the banner is a tree, likely a depiction of the Tree of Temperance, a symbol which condemns the evils of alcohol. In the banners woven below the shield the words, “Be thou faithful until death” are written, perhaps to encourage society members to stay true to their beliefs, and not succumb to the temptation of alcohol.

You can see this cup and saucer in person by scheduling a tour at MVHM&G today using the link in our bio!

Image Description: White cup and saucer with Temperance symbols printed onto both items.

08/17/2023

We’re back!

Missed us? Join us for a tour of the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden.

Tours are available Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays and can be scheduled on our website MVHM.org, or through Eventbrite here [link].

Image Description: MVHMG’s East wall.