All Over Albany

Two events talking about the Schuyler sisters

The Schuyler Mansion.

Two events coming up about the daughters of Philip Schuyler, their time growing up at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, life beyond the mansion, and their modern Hamilton-related fame.

July 14: Schuyler Sisters Book Slam
The Schuyler Mansion in Albany is hosting a Schuyler sisters "book slam" event featuring authors/researchers talking about their work:

Author Danielle Funiciello will begin the slam, presenting her recent research on eldest daughter Angelica Schuyler Church, who is the subject of her PhD dissertation. Funiciello is a former staff member at Schuyler Mansion, and has done extensive research on Angelica in the last year.

Second author, Susan Holloway Scott, will discuss the research that led to her historical fiction novel, I, Eliza Hamilton, which follows Elizabeth from the time she met Hamilton until his death in 1804. Scott will discuss her research, which included multiple visits to Schuyler Mansion, and will read an excerpt from her novel.

Lastly, Margaret Schuyler Van Rensselaer will be highlighted by Laura Elliott, author of the young adult historical fiction novel Hamilton and Peggy!, which chronicles Peggy's coming -of- age in the shadow of her two elder sisters. Elliot will discuss the research she conducted for the novel and will also read an excerpt from her novel.

The house will be open from 3-4 pm that Saturday for self-guided tours, and the talks begin at 4 pm. Admission is a suggested $3 donation.

(there's more)

Farm Day in the City at Schuyler Mansion

The Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in Albany is hosting another Farm Day in the City this Saturday, June 9 from 11 am-4 pm. Blurbage:

Experience a farm market atmosphere in the city of Albany! Learn about the types of animals Philip Schuyler would have had on his farm and agricultural practices of the 18th century. There will be livestock on the grounds, while demonstrations, farm products and gardening techniques will be shared with visitors throughout the afternoon. Pony rides for children (noon to 3:00 p.m.).

Admission to the outdoors event is free. The house will also be open self-guided tours, which are $3 and free for ages 12 and under. (The rain date for the event is Sunday.)

Though the mansion site currently occupies a footprint of about 1 acre in the South End, the estate once covered as many as 80 acres and had an orchard, formal garden, and working farm. The family also had a number of enslaved people there -- even as late as 1804 -- as the Schuyler Mansion's history blog has been documenting.

The historic site also offers regular guided tours during the summer, at 11 am and 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday. There are also two topic-specific tours: "When Alexander Hamilton Called Albany Home" offered on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30 pm; and "The Women of Schuyler Mansion" on Sundays at 2:30 pm. Reservations are required for these "focus" tours (518-434-0834), and admission for them is $7 adults / $6 seniors and students / free for ages 12 and under.

Angelica, Eliza, Peggy, Cornelia, Catherine

A portrait of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, painted in 1786 by Ralph Earl. / via Wikipedia

The Schuyler Mansion in Albany has a talk on May 15 about the daughters of Philip and Catherine Schuyler. Blurbage:

The "Schuyler Sisters" have been causing quite a stir in the Broadway musical Hamilton: An American Musical, but did you know that there were really five Schuyler sisters? Jess Serflippi, Schuyler Mansion Site Interpreter, will present an in depth look at the history of the Schuyler women, their daily lives, and the impact they had in shaping their family's history.

The talk is part of the Friends of Schuyler Mansion annual meeting. It's Tuesday, May 15 at 5:30 pm. It's free and open to the public.

Open for the season
The 2018 season at the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in Albany's South End opens Tuesday, May 16, which means the return of regularly scheduled public tours. The tours do tend to fill up, so keep an eye on the site's Facebook page for details about signing up ahead of time.

Earlier: "You maintain your empire in spite of all my efforts..."

The Women of Schuyler Mansion

The Schuyler Mansion has closed for general admission for the winter season, but it will still be open in the coming months for special tours. And the focus tour up for November is "Women of Schulyer Mansion":

The "Schuyler Sisters" have been causing quite a stir in the Broadway musical Hamilton: An American Musical, but did you know that there were really five sisters? Learn what it was like growing up as a Schuyler, as this focus tour presents an in-depth look at the history of the Schuyler women, their daily lives, and the impact they had in shaping their famiy's history. Be prepared to participate, as volunteers will be asked to read quotes by and about these historic women.

The tours are Thursdays and Saturdays at 2 pm (except for holidays and school groups). Reservations are required ((518-434-0834). Admission is $5 / $4 students and seniors / free for kids 12 and under (cash at the door).

Thanksgiving weekend
The Schuyler Mansion will also be open for regular tours Saturday, November 25. The tours are on the hour from 11 am to 3 pm. They're first come, first tour. Same admission prices as above (and cash only).

image via Schuyler Mansion Facebook

A bunch of Hamilton-themed events at the Schuyler Mansion

You'd think that an organization called The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society could look back at the last year or so, give itself a round of applause, and kickback for a while. Achievement unlocked.

But no, it just goes ahead and plans a bunch of Hamilton-related events at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany this weekend:

Among the events:

+ A talk titled "Alexander Hamilton: The Man vs. the Musical"

+ The unveiling of a new painting of George Washington, Philip Schuyler, and Alexander Hamilton by Len Tantillo

+ A Hamilton-themed open house at the Schuyler Mansion

+ "Eliza at the Schuyler Mansion"

+ "Hamilton: His Life and Times in Story and Song" by the Hudson River Ramblers

+ "Reading of Alexander and Eliza's Love Letters" at the Schuyler Mansion

+ And a Hamilton-themed walking tour of Albany

The link above has times and registration info. The events are $5 each.

Alexander Hamilton's Father-in-Law's American History Fun-Land

Most April Fool's jokes miss the mark, but this one from the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site -- announcing that the mansion and grounds in Albany's South End is being sold because of budget cuts to the humanities -- has a certain acerbic, self-aware sting. A clip:

As the old saying goes, however, where one door closes, a window opens. While we will no longer function as a State Historic Site, the history of the site will live on as the Alexander Hamilton's Father-in-Law's American History Fun-Land, under the ownership of American History Enterprises. This new 18th century-themed attraction will begin construction on the 2-acre lot currently occupied by the historic site in Spring of 2018, and intends to bring the excitement and patriotism of the American Revolution to a broad audience in the Albany area through historically themed carnival attractions.

"Sites like Schuyler Mansion are an essential part of the American historical landscape," says A.H.E. director Samuel Peters, "We are excited to help preserve this part of our past for future generations. We're just going to improve the presentation- make it more accessible. Pop-history and historical tourism really are the wave of the future, and that's what we plan on bringing to the Capital region with this interactive opportunity."

Plans for the site include family-friendly theme park and petting zoo designed to recreate the experience of visiting the 90+ acres of farmland that once surrounded the Schuylers' elegant Georgian home, in a condensed form. Activities will include an opportunity to visit the recreated home of a tenant farmer, watch an ox-team at work, and an axe-throwing range where you can try your hand at throwing tomahawks such as the one that nearly hit Peggy Schuyler during the 1781 British attack on the house. "I'm particularly looking forward to the Mansion Mills log flume ride myself," says Peters.

The historic site is very much not being sold. And it's currently open for tours by appointment through mid-May, when it will switch over to its summer schedule.

By the way: The Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site's blog has been turning some really interesting posts lately, including the most recent about "elbows, ankles, and décolletage."

image via Schuyler Mansion Historic Site Facebook

Wallpaper and power

Some of the new wall covering. The Schuyler Mansion Twitter stream and blog have more photos.

The Schuyler Mansion recently completed the reproduction and reinstallation 18th century wallpaper -- "Ruins of Rome" -- and the historic site's blog shares the details about how exactly that all happened. The process involved digital image tech and, we suspect, a lot of patience.

But this part struck as particularly interesting. Writes Danielle Funiciello:

Rather than the sparse interior which has greeted visitors for 100 years, walking into the mansion is like now like stepping back in time. Philip Schuyler vision for his home was calculated. Each element was designed not only to impress guests once they arrived at the home, but to encourage wealthy and important guests to come in the first place; thereby creating networking opportunities for the Schuyler family. The size and grandeur of the home was successful - drawing visitors like the Washingtons, the Marquis de Lafayette, the Marquis de Chastellux, Benedict Arnold, and even Benjamin Franklin, who had a letter of introduction written so that he could stay at Schuyler's when travelling through Albany. The "Ruins of Rome" helps historians and museum visitors alike understand the first impression that accomplished this.

Hamilton
The Schuler Mansion is again offering its popular "When Hamilton Called Albany Home" tour in March. It's currently taking reservations for March 2 and March 4. And when March starts, it'll be begin taking reservations for other dates during the month.

And if you go, be sure to scope out all the wallpaper.

Earlier on AOA:
+ "You maintain your empire in spite of all my efforts..."
+ A timeline of Theodosia Burr Alston

photo via Schuyler Mansion Twitter