Our Story
The Friends of Philipse Manor Hall (FPMH) was incorporated in 1996 for the support of Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site (PMH) in Yonkers, NY. Built in the 1600’s by Frederick Philipse I, PMH is one of the oldest sites in the United States. In 1868, it was used as city hall for the City of Yonkers, and since 1911 Philipse Manor Hall has been open as a museum of art and history.
In 2022, New York State invested more than $20 million in the building and exhibits, and PMH now tells the stories of the native Munsee people who inhabited the area, the Europeans who settled there, and the enslaved Africans who lived and worked on the Philipse estate. The updates align with the State OPRHP’s “Our Whole History” Initiative. Interactive exhibits, QR code technology, and an expanded staff of tour-givers support diverse learning experiences, and a new elevator provides improved access to exhibits on the second floor.
PMH is located in downtown Yonkers, an area that is undergoing enormous change, including a vast increase in residential and retail space, and an influx of new residents. FPMH has always endeavored to provide free and inexpensive activities for the diverse population in this community, with programming aimed at encouraging visitation and fostering public interest in and support for the manor hall. In addition, FPMH provides funds and volunteers for events organized by the Museum staff.
The FPMH has sponsored and successfully completed two major restoration projects (the 1750’s papier-mâché Rococo ceiling and the Sailors and Soldiers Monument), helped to fund a major exhibit (Immigration in Yonkers) with the aid of a Hudson River Valley National Heritage Grant, and hosted a wide array of events, including music and lecture series, after school art programs, holiday events and guided tours, book signings, flower festivals, and historic recreations and demonstrations.
Our Mission
The Friends of Philipse Manor Hall seeks to promote the people, narratives and events associated with the history of Philipse Manor Hall. With a view to attracting private and corporate financial support we intend to tell the Philipse Manor Hall story throughout the Westchester and New York City areas. Through our membership organization we aim to build involved and loyal patronage for the events and programming that’s offered at Philipse Manor Hall.
Our Vision
Our vision is to make Philipse Manor Hall a premier historic place of interest within the Lower Hudson Valley.
Illustrated print of Philipse Manor Hall, the estate commissioned by Dutch merchant and landholder Frederick Philipse (1626 – 1702), Yonkers, New York, late 1600s. Photo credit: Westchester County Historical Society
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Corporate Supporters & Institutional Partners
We are grateful for the generous support of the corporate sponsors and Institutional partners below.
