Yonkers, NY - Historic Hudson River Towns (2024)

Hudson River Museum
Address: 511 Warburton Ave
Phone: (914) 963-4550
The Hudson River Museum of Westchester is one of the county's jewels, offering art, history, and science exhibitions and programs, tours of a Gilded Age home, a learning center about the Hudson River, concerts, and the county's only planetarium. The Museum is a cultural complex of galleries: a planetarium, featuring weekend star shows; Glenview, a restored Hudson River home on the National Register of National Historic Places; the whimsical creations of artist Red Grooms; Hudson Riverama, a permanent environmental teaching gallery about the Hudson River, showing its complex web of human, animal and plant life, and how we must care for it. The museum maintains a year-long roster of exhibitions, programs and a gift shop. Free parking, admission fee. Group tour discounts. Hours: Wed - Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm. Friday, 12 noon - 8 pm.

Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Address: 29 Warburton at Dock Street
Phone: (914) 965-4027
This Georgian Style mansion, designated a “Save America’s Treasure” by the White House, was originally the manor house of the Philipse Family from the 1680s to the 1780s and contains one of three surviving papier-mâché ceilings in the country. From the 1880s to 1908, the Hall served as Yonkers’ City Hall. “Slavery: The great and foul stain,” an extensive installation that traces the role of slavery in the United States from ancient to modern times, is currently on display. Special events, concerts and a lecture series are scheduled here, as are walking tours and after-school programs for children. Closed only on Federal holidays. Admission fee.

Sarah Lawrence College Center for the Urban River at Beczak
Address: 35 Alexander Street
Phone: (914) 377-1900
Located right on the banks of the Hudson River, Beczak provides hands-on educational experiences about the ecological, cultural and historic aspects of the Hudson River. Located within Westchester County's 2 acre Habirshaw Park, Beczak's outdoor classrooms include a sandy beach and a demonstration tidal marsh, giving visitors a rare opportunity to actually “touch” the Hudson. Indoors at Beczak's Hudson River Interpretive Center, visitors are invited to interact with various permanent and seasonal displays, including aquaria housing Hudson River species and a 300 gallon tank modified as an indoor marsh complete with tides. Park hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Center is available for group tours and rental; there is a Saturday evening lecture series based around Hudson-Fulton Quadricentennial topics. The Center and Park are accessible for people with disabilities.

Science Barge by Groundwork Hudson Valley
Address: 99 Dock Street
Phone: (914) 375-2151
This totally “off the grid” attraction was brought to the Yonkers waterfront by the cooperative efforts of the City of Yonkers, Groundwork Hudson Valley (with offices in downtown Yonkers), Con Edison and a number of local legislators and grant funding. Formerly housed on the Brooklyn waterfront, the barge offers a glimpse into the future of green energy and hydroponic and aquatic farming. Seasonal tours will be offered by Groundwork Yonkers.

Legoland Discovery Center Westchester
Address: 39 Fitzgerald Street
Phone: (866) 243-0770
A great addition to the Historic Hudson River Towns area, opened recently at Ridge Hill in our member community of Yonkers! An indoor attraction featuring more than 3 million LEGO bricks and geared towards children ages 3-10 and their families, Legoland is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors in its’ first year of operations.

Untermyer Gardens
Address: 945 North Broadway
Phone: (914) 613-4502
Untermyer Gardens was built by Samuel Untermyer in 1917 and was called "America's Most Spectacular Garden" in the 1920's. The Walled Garden is the finest Persian Garden in the Western Hemisphere. The Temple of Love, with its five waterfalls and six cataracts, is breathtaking. The Vista is the most monumental feature of the garden, framed by two ancient Roman columns 2000 years old. Enjoy magnificent architecture, staggering views and sophisticated horticulture.

Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway
Address: 810 Yonkers Avenue
Phone: (914) 968-4200

Tibbetts Brook Park
Address: 355 Midland Avenue
Phone: (914) 231-2865
Swimming, picnicking, hiking and fishing are among the warmer-weather activities people can enjoy here. And the park doesn't sleep during the colder weather. Sledding, skiing and ice skating are among the winter activities to be enjoyed. Westchester County park passes are required for admission.

Sprain Ridge Park
Address: Jackson Avenue
Phone: (914) 478-2300
This 270-acre park in the county's southern end boasts three swimming pools and two picnic areas. There are also many ponds and ravines here and three hiking trails with views overlooking the Sprain Ridge reservoir. A county park pass is required for admission.

Lenoir Preserve
Address: 19 Dudley Street
Phone: (914) 968-5831
A 40-acre nature preserve features a rolling lawn and unobstructed views of the Hudson River and majestic Palisades. A nature center staffed with a full-time naturalist and programs offered each weekend make this a great place to bring the family. Group tours are available by reservation. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Untermyer Park
Address: North Broadway (just south of St. John’s Hospital)
Phone: (914) 377-6450
This expansive beaux-arts garden offers unsurpassed vistas of the Palisades and the Hudson River. A Grecian “temple,” fountains, columns, canals, spectacular plantings and historic trees provide a majestic setting for a walk or simple relaxation. Saturday night summer concerts under the stars produced by the Untermyer Performing Arts Council (UPAC) have been a staple for 30 years. Bring chairs or blankets. A popular location for wedding photographs, permits can be obtained from the Yonkers Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. The park is open year round from dawn to dusk. Free admission.

Old Croton Trailway State Historic Park
Phone: (914) 693-4117
The trailway runs through parts of Yonkers, skirting the Lenoir Preserve and the western edge of Untermyer Park, where carved stone lions mark the ruins of the old estate. Owned and managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the trailway offers a scenic walk from northern Westchester County into New York City, or vice versa, following the path of the aqueduct that was once used to bring fresh water from the Croton Reservoir to the city. The trail traverses most of Westchester’s river towns and, while mostly a walking path, does have some sections suitable for horseback riding, including part of the stretch through Yonkers. No motorized vehicles are permitted anywhere along the trailway. Many points of access make it easy to walk sections of the trail. Train stations and bus stops are within walking distance, or a quick taxi ride, from almost any place along the path. The trail begins on the south side of the Croton Dam, farthest away from the spillway. Along the way walkers will see old ventilator shafts as well as a weir chamber, used to spill off waste water during floods. Various parts of the trail offer spectacular Hudson River views. The Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct have published an award-winning map detailing the route of the trail and attractions along the way available, for $5.75 by calling 914-693-4117.

Dunwoodie Golf Course
Address: 1 Wasylenko Lane
Phone: (914) 231-3490
This 18-hole course is open to the public from April through the second Sunday in December, offering a clubhouse with lockers, restaurants and halfway house, golf shop, golf professional and golf-cart rental. A driving range also is available on site and parking is free. County pass holders receive reduced fees. Cross-country skiing and sledding facilities are available here in season. (914) 476-5151. Sprain Lake Golf Course, Grassy Sprain Road. Sprain Lake offers the same amenities, costs and features as the above-mentioned Dunwoodie, with the exception of a driving range. Sledding and cross-country skiing also are offered here during the winter months.

Sprain Lake Golf Course
Address: 290 Grassy Sprain Road
Phone: (914) 231-3481