Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site

The best-​value $ 20 I expect to spend this year, and it’s only Jan 9: admission for four to the Schuyler mansion and Crailo. Their 12^th-​night exhibit and celebration brought maybe thirty or so impeccably-​costumed reenactors, with everything from period music to accurate open-​hearth cookery to gaming to period celebratory events… and hot mulled wine with period cakes, to boot. [Or, at Crailo, sweet and savoury dutch pancakes — delicious!] The houses themselves are true hidden gems — despite driving past Crailo each day we had no idea that either existed, but they’re meticulously maintained and crammed with both artefacts and exhibitions, including a new set on local slavery that is hugely informative. Really deserving of being better known. We stumbled across their existence in the process of exploring links from Hamilton, the musical — Hamilton was married in the mansion, to one of Philip Schuyler’s daughters — and that was yet a further bonus. Delightful.

This is a little oasis in the the city. The staff is very friendly, welcoming. On the grounds there is a lawn with several park benches that I like to sit on and read, while I in Albany for a short time. There tours available, though I haven’t bee able to take part in one. There is also an exhibit in the Visitor Center that is free. There several graduate students that work there as well as a very nice lady who runs the tours and can share a lot about the Revolutionary War, and the exhibit.