The Armour-stiner Octagon House
The Armour-stiner Octagon House
The Armour-stiner Octagon House
4.9
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Armour-Stiner Octagon House is a magnificently restored private residence and historic house museum. Unforgettable guided tours are available by appointment March through December. Access to the grounds (this includes the driveway) is available for ticket holders only during the scheduled tour time. For tour schedule and tickets please visit the website. Tickets for October tours will be available for sale August 1. PLEASE NOTE: All Tours are physically demanding and not recommended for individuals with difficulty walking up and down stairs. Unless otherwise noted, most tours are not suggested for children under the age of 7 years old. This is a private home and active residence. Thank you
Duration: < 1 hour
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- WhinbrookGreater London, United Kingdom736 contributionsAmazing jewel box of a house. Exterior restoration is immaculate. Our guide was very engaging and enthusiastic about the property and was learned about the construction and restoration. The interior is less interesting perhaps to a European eye. It was full of heavy musty Victorian (American) furniture, very much in keeping but not compelling. In the UK they are still throwing this style of furniture away, can't give it house room. Having said that, the Egyptian room was perhaps the most interesting sight, quite fascinating with the added bonus of two original David Roberts lithograph prints. It was difficult to locate that property - its not too well sign posted and we drove past it twice.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 22, 2024
- RICART75Peru, Indiana2,451 contributionsThis was an amazing experience. If one is a fan of the Victorian aesthetic, as we are, this structure is a "must" to tour. Unique in its own creation; the restoration is a definite wonder. The attention to detail and accuracy, is something to be applauded and appreciated. Our friendly guide was knowledgeable, informative and humorous. She brought the history and reclamation of this masterpiece to life. Coming early, we had time to leisurely enjoy the wrap-around porch (sitting & enjoying the breeze). And, after the tour, we had time to stroll the grounds. We've toured many Victorian structures over the decades (living in a 1890s Queen Anne Victorian ourselves); but this was an especially gratifying involvement, with a true work of passion.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 20, 2024
- Harry H10 contributionsWe took the Myths & Mysteries of the Octagon House tour in early October. The architecture of this house is impressive, especially the porch that goes completely around the house. Beautiful trees, plants, flowers, and statues on the porch and the grounds. The tour guide was very friendly and informative. Lots of interesting things to look at inside the house. Definitely worth the time to visit. Would go again if we are ever in the area again.Thank you very much for taking the time to leave this review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and look forward to seeing you again!Written October 9, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten October 7, 2024
- Beverley D4 contributionsWhat an amazing experience! Our tour guide Sara was beyond excellent and was clearly extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the house and its history. The house is gorgeous and has been sympathetically restored to its former glory. The artefacts in the house are amazing and seem to have been sourced over a very long time. The gardens are beautiful. It’s is well worth a visit - you won’t be disappointed!Thank you very much for your thoughtful review!Written October 9, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2024Traveled with friendsWritten September 18, 2024
- Jane T2 contributionsThis is a beautiful, distinctive house with an interesting history. Our guide did a great job of descrbing how the house passed from owner to owner, and how the current owner painstakingly restored it and opened it to the public. The octagon theme is carried throughout the woodworking, light fixtures, carpets, and even pressed glass dinnerware. The sweet garden reflects this theme as well. The Egyption restoration room is quite something! All in all, well worth a visit.We are delighted you enjoyed your visit! Thank you for this wonderful review.Written October 9, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Traveled with friendsWritten August 31, 2024
- Linn7 contributionsThe Armour-Stiner Octagon House is a wonderful place to visit. I took a group of women there and they loved it. Our guide was terrific. It has been impeccably and lovingly preserved by the Lombardi family. We did this followed by lunch at The Red Hat on the Hudson and it made for a lovely summer outing.Visited August 2024Traveled with friendsWritten August 31, 2024
- Barbara RDenver, Colorado18 contributionsWe took the train up from NYC just to see the house. Amazing restoration/ preservation. the tour guide was awesome. So unique! Within a mile or so of Lyndhurst, Sunnyside and other historical sites. You can make a day of it. Irvington is a quaint village on the Hudson.Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 31, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.9
157 reviews
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liv2trav80
Seaford, NY42 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Magical snapshot of 1800s country house living in very special Octagon house. My husband, daughter and I visited during the Christmas season, so the house decorated with numerous Christmas trees, Holiday decorations. Our tour guide (believe Mia) was an excellent tour guide, who shared her knowledge freely, but also engaged our group during the tour. She brought the story of the house alive. House is beautifully maintained and restored. Unlike many historical houses you get to enter rooms with guide and really feel surrounded by the period pieces as you learn about purpose of room and how the residence was lovely restored. We visited at dusk and the setting sun on the property with glimpses of the Hudson River added to the magical experience of stepping back in time. Would definitely recommend this one hour visit. Stairs are steep and many items that young children may disturb, so would not recommend for individuals with issues with stairs or very young children. It does say this on website.
Written December 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judy B
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
We loved out tour of the house. While I wanted to take the classic tour, the timing did not work for us so we took the Myths and Mysteries tour. I wasn't expecting it to be great as I thought we would not learn much about the house. I could not have been more wrong, the tour guide and information she provided were exceptional. We learned the history of the home while tying in so much historical information of the time period. Examples: the belief in Phrenology, trying to communicate with the dead, and Halloween origins. Additionally they had an oddities and curiosities exhibit which was awesome and unexpected. The house is so unique my daughter who is an architect and I just loved it. We will definitely visit again, I highly recommend it.
Written October 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mel M
New York City, NY28 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Our "Classic" tour was a great view of the inside of the Octagon House and surrounding grounds. Our guide was informative and shared many details not only on what was in the home, but also on the history of items within, and how it all was preserved.
At one hour, the tour is the right length to get into details of the history but allowed us to move between many rooms as well as the outdoor veranda.
The house is easy to get to from New York City via Metro North and purchasing tickets online was simple. I would love to go back for one of the other tours!
At one hour, the tour is the right length to get into details of the history but allowed us to move between many rooms as well as the outdoor veranda.
The house is easy to get to from New York City via Metro North and purchasing tickets online was simple. I would love to go back for one of the other tours!
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Please do come back! We are so happy you enjoyed your tour. Please check our website as we are always adding experiences. Thank you for the review.
Written September 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LivinglifeinPA
Allentown, PA889 contributions
Jun 2022
We have visited this area several times in the past, but never knew about this house..... it's quite unique and very interesting to tour.
Our tour guide showed us both the beautiful greenhouse & gorgeous grounds of the home before we ventured inside it. The Armour-Stiner Octagon House is her favorite historical home in the area and her knowledge of/enthusiasm about it was quite obvious. We really enjoyed all the information she conveyed to us throughout our entire one-hour tour.
Such a fabulous house with those amazing triangular rooms! We were able to enter most of the rooms and, although we weren't able to go up into the dome, we were able to view it from the second floor hallway......unbelievable!
Tours are given on a very limited basis and advance ticketing for the tour is recommended. This is one tour that you don't want to miss!
Our tour guide showed us both the beautiful greenhouse & gorgeous grounds of the home before we ventured inside it. The Armour-Stiner Octagon House is her favorite historical home in the area and her knowledge of/enthusiasm about it was quite obvious. We really enjoyed all the information she conveyed to us throughout our entire one-hour tour.
Such a fabulous house with those amazing triangular rooms! We were able to enter most of the rooms and, although we weren't able to go up into the dome, we were able to view it from the second floor hallway......unbelievable!
Tours are given on a very limited basis and advance ticketing for the tour is recommended. This is one tour that you don't want to miss!
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you kindly for your thoughtful review! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour. Sincerely, The Lombardi Family
Written July 15, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
hrobinson1114
Nashville, TN5,765 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
This jewel is a feast for the eyes! A smorgasbord of treasures!
First: this a private residence owned by a preservationist and his family. They do periodically live there. Tours are usually done seasonally—Christmas, Halloween, special events. I came for the spirits and mysteries tour and to view a special “cabinet of curiosities” installation by Ryan Matthew Cohn, of Oddities fame (the show and the flea market).
Our tour was probably particularly crowded, as a group of 8 came, making all of us total 17. Two tour groups split us up to make it easier, and while one group was touring upstairs, the other was touring downstairs. Rick was our guide, and he had a voice made for dramatics and was fun and informative.
There are so many BIG and small details in this house. The Egyptian room is impressive. The ladies parlor has a beautiful cloud ceiling. Lamps, chairs, woodwork, rugs—all intricate and enrapturing. You could come back 100 times and find new things each time. The current owners have spent endless money and time restoring things as close to original as possible, including color matching original paint found underneath layers of newer paint.
The cabinet of curiosities exhibit was awesome. All sorts of macabre, morbid, and weird antiquities. Anatomical sculptures, skeletons (including a painstakingly prepared snake skeleton, done by Cohn himself). Taxidermy, ancient artifacts with a story. Wonderfully curated, but not sure any tour could allow enough time to really explore this room.
Tour lasted about an hour. I got there a little early so I could take photos around the property, which includes a beautiful greenhouse and gardens.
I paid just over 33 dollars. I came from the city, easily accessible by the metro and Amtrak. I took the metro from Grand Central Station and got off at Irvington, then walked about 7-8/10ths of a mile. You can get off a little earlier at Ardsley on Hudson, which is comparable length, but the locals and conductors told me the Irvington stop is better. Both are hilly, but Irvington less so, and Irvington takes you through their quaint downtown.
Great getaway from the city, and I’m pretty sure there is no place like it in the world.
First: this a private residence owned by a preservationist and his family. They do periodically live there. Tours are usually done seasonally—Christmas, Halloween, special events. I came for the spirits and mysteries tour and to view a special “cabinet of curiosities” installation by Ryan Matthew Cohn, of Oddities fame (the show and the flea market).
Our tour was probably particularly crowded, as a group of 8 came, making all of us total 17. Two tour groups split us up to make it easier, and while one group was touring upstairs, the other was touring downstairs. Rick was our guide, and he had a voice made for dramatics and was fun and informative.
There are so many BIG and small details in this house. The Egyptian room is impressive. The ladies parlor has a beautiful cloud ceiling. Lamps, chairs, woodwork, rugs—all intricate and enrapturing. You could come back 100 times and find new things each time. The current owners have spent endless money and time restoring things as close to original as possible, including color matching original paint found underneath layers of newer paint.
The cabinet of curiosities exhibit was awesome. All sorts of macabre, morbid, and weird antiquities. Anatomical sculptures, skeletons (including a painstakingly prepared snake skeleton, done by Cohn himself). Taxidermy, ancient artifacts with a story. Wonderfully curated, but not sure any tour could allow enough time to really explore this room.
Tour lasted about an hour. I got there a little early so I could take photos around the property, which includes a beautiful greenhouse and gardens.
I paid just over 33 dollars. I came from the city, easily accessible by the metro and Amtrak. I took the metro from Grand Central Station and got off at Irvington, then walked about 7-8/10ths of a mile. You can get off a little earlier at Ardsley on Hudson, which is comparable length, but the locals and conductors told me the Irvington stop is better. Both are hilly, but Irvington less so, and Irvington takes you through their quaint downtown.
Great getaway from the city, and I’m pretty sure there is no place like it in the world.
Written October 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow- GREAT review- thanks so much for taking the time to write this!
We really do appreciate our wonderful guests, and hope that you will come visit us again.
Sincerely,
The Octagon House
Written October 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carol F
21 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
I went on the 'Myths and Legends" tour. The house itself was stunning, especially with the seasonal fall decor. Our tour guide, Sarah (sp?)
was informative and witty. The history was fascinating. The decor was authentic to the time period of the home, with many original pieces.
A fabulous excursion!
was informative and witty. The history was fascinating. The decor was authentic to the time period of the home, with many original pieces.
A fabulous excursion!
Written October 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trouble60
Syracuse, NY7 contributions
Aug 2022
The Armour-Stiner Octagon House was absolutely beautiful inside and outside.
We had a wonderful guide who gave us more information about this gorgeous house that you would not find on the internet. When you first see this octagon house your mouth will drop from seeing this beautiful "temple" for the first time. Absolutely worth your time to go see this unique home!
We had a wonderful guide who gave us more information about this gorgeous house that you would not find on the internet. When you first see this octagon house your mouth will drop from seeing this beautiful "temple" for the first time. Absolutely worth your time to go see this unique home!
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your wonderful review- we couldn't agree more that our house is indeed, a "temple" and love that you identified it as such.
Please do come visit us again!
Sincerely,
The Octagon House
Written August 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lauren B
Westchester County, NY15 contributions
May 2022
This is NOT just another opulent historic home tour with tired period decor. (Much of the period decor has been recently aquired or newly custom made based on hisorical clues as to what was there before) .AND, it's an OCTAGON house! The uniqueness and challenges of living and decorating a home with odd shaped rooms is worth seeing, but especially inhabiting.
The octagon is fetshized inside, used religiously throughout along with other unique collections of objects used repeatedly (no spoiler here!) ...making for a fun "scavenger hunt" for these shapes and objects as you go from room to room.
This is a unique opportunity and experience!
The octagon is fetshized inside, used religiously throughout along with other unique collections of objects used repeatedly (no spoiler here!) ...making for a fun "scavenger hunt" for these shapes and objects as you go from room to room.
This is a unique opportunity and experience!
Written May 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much, Lauren! -The Lombardi Family
Written May 19, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
65Pony
New York94 contributions
Sep 2022
Tour Guide was beyond excellent, and the restoration of the house and grounds is exemplary of the highest level of restoration imaginable. There is virtually no detail left unaddressed. It's not the cheapest ticket, but it was worth every penny. Would have loved to see the ENTIRE home, but it is a private residence and there are some spaces that remain, justifiably, off limits.
Written September 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind and well-considered review.
Please come visit us again!
Sincerely,
the Octagon House
Written September 12, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sliv33
Scarsdale, NY22 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
Thanks to the Lombardis for renovating this lovely home and keeping it available for the public. So interesting to see how the octagonal space is utilized to creat intimate rooms along with the larger entertainment spaces. Exquisite details are in perfect condition highlighting each room making this a jewel of the lower Hudson valley.
Written November 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your wonderful review!
It sounds like you enjoyed your visit to the Armour-Stiner Octagon House, and we hope you will visit us again!
Sincerely,
The Octagon House
Written November 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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