Exploring the Armour-Stiner Octagon House: “Taj Mahal of the Hudson Valley"

45 West Clinton Avenue,Irvington NY 10533

25 March, 2023

Description

While the Hudson River Valley is home to some of the country's most impressive residences, none of them are quite as unique as the Armour-Stiner House in Irvington, NY. Who was behind the 19th-century home's fully domed octagonal-shaped design based on an ancient classical roman temple? From the story of how a passionate architect and his son saved the home from falling into complete disrepair, to exploring rare period rooms with magnificent ornamentation and furnishings, it's time to uncover the secrets behind one of the most visually unique homes in the world. Join New York Adventure Club as we embark on an exclusive off-season guided tour through the privately owned Armour-Stiner Octagon House. Once referred to as the “Taj Mahal of the Hudson Valley" by the New York Times, this magical, eight-sided home retains many of its original decorations and furniture dating back to the late 19th century. Led by one of the house's highly trained docents, our unique experience through the only known, fully domed octagonal residence in the world will include: A brief overview of how the Octagon House came to be, and why tea-importer Joseph Stiner transformed a once simple four-sided home into a the whimsical eight-sided summer retreat modeled after Donato Bramante’s Tempietto in RomeThe story behind how preservation architect Joseph Pell Lombardi purchased the property in 1978 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and restored the home and grounds to their former grandeur with the help of his sonA guided tour through three floors of the home, which include the Lady's Kitchen, an enchanting Dining Room, and the magnificent Egyptian Revival Room — the only remaining one of its kind in AmericaA chance to explore the grounds and its hidden gems such as the lush formal garden and greenhouseSee you there! *The Armour-Stiner House does not have an elevator **Please wear comfortable shoes as the tour includes walking up and down several flights of stairs ***The Armour-Stiner Octagon House is the Lombardi family's private home. Only ticketed guests can visit the property during the allocated event time. ****Transportation to the Armour-Stiner House is not included — see below for more details *****On-site parking is free, but limited — see below for more details ******Flash photography is not permitted inside the house Transportation *Please double check train departure times the day before as schedules can shift due to track work. By Public Transit: Take the Hudson Line Metro-North Train from Grand Central Terminal and disembark at Irvington Station. We recommend reserving an Uber or Lyft several minutes before arriving at the station to reduce waiting time. If you'd like to walk, the house is roughly one mile from Irvington Station — click here for a Google Maps view of the walking route (Approx. 15-20 minute walk). Metro-North tickets can now be purchased via your smartphone — click here for more details. Trains from Irvington depart for GCT roughly every 30 minutes. By Car: On-site parking is free, but limited. Please park on-site in the circle in front of the Octagon House and along the driveway. Please do not park on the street (West Clinton Avenue).   Disclaimer By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service. Categories: In-Person, Houses