"The Philipsburg Manor is a former Colonial era estate and well renowned historic destination located in the village of Sleepy Hollow, New York.

The Philipsburg Manor is named after Dutch born landholder, merchant and slave owner, Frederick Philipse, first Lord of the Manor and patriarch of the Philipse Family, a prominent 18th century family that owned numerous slaves and vast quantities of land stretching from lower Westchester County, New York to Putnam County, New York.

During the 17th & 18th century, the Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow primarily functioned as a mill and trading complex, and the main occupants were farmers and slaves.

Carefully preserved historical documents shed light on the lives of the slaves who lived and worked at Philipsburg Manor, particularly the slave, Caesar who worked in the gristmill and the slaves, Dina, Massey and Sue, whom each worked at the Philipsburg Manor House and produced butter for commercial purposes. These documents reveal the harsh realities and brutal conditions of slavery at the estate, and that the labor of enslaved people played a pivotal role in the enrichment, wealth and success of the Philipse family, none of which was shared with the slaves.

In 1951, the Philipsburg Manor would be acquired by John D. Rockefeller Jr, a highly successful financier and philanthropist, specifically through his organization, Historic Hudson Valley.

Today, the Philipsburg Manor is still owned and operated by the Historic Hudson Valley and is open to guests for both self-guided and guided tours. Visitors have a chance to see and explore the site’s grist mill, the mill pond, an 18th Century barn, a slave garden as well as the Philipsburg Manor House, which primarily served as a production facility and was tenanted by slaves and farmers. Due to its rich heritage and its recognition as one of the few remaining Colonial era structures, the Philipsburg Manor House is listed on the National Register Of Historic Places and is recognized as a US National Historic Landmark.

In July of 2017, my wife and I had the pleasure of taking part in a guided tour of the Philipsburg Manor and our tour guide did a great job on detailing the development and rich history of the site and its occupants. We also enjoyed viewing and interacting with the costumed interpreters that discussed the chores and daily routines of those that worked at Philipsburg Manor in the 18th Century. We very much thank the Historic Hudson Valley for providing an amazing guided tour experience.

In October of 2025, I brought and treated my wife and myself to another visit to the Philipsburg Manor to attend the “Twilight Village At Sleepy Hollow” a Halloween themed event that takes place from October to early November at the destination. Like our guided tour in 2017, my wife and I also very much enjoyed our experience at the Twilight Village

During our visit, we had fun viewing and interacting with live storytellers and musical performers. We were in awe of the red, green and purple LED lights that were fixed on trees and houses on the estate, and the playing of ominous music and sounds, all of which produced an eerie and exciting atmosphere.

One of our favorite part of the Twilight Village was the pop-up market, where guests have access to purchase unique hand made crafts and goods as well as delicious meals offered by food trucks. Our other favorite part was viewing the brief live show at the “Haunted Hollow” which pays tribute to Washington Irving’s “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” by featuring the appearance of Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel and the dramatic entrance of the captivating “ Headless Horseman.” After the show, guests have the opportunity to view and take a selfie alongside the “Headless Horseman, a wonderful treat that I personally took part in.

My wife and I very much loved all of our visits to the Philipsburg Manor and highly recommended for everyone to stop by and explore this historic destination, whether it be for a guided tour or to attend the “Twilight Village At Sleepy Hollow” event."

Greg Harris

"Very cool place to visit, with lots of history and interesting buildings. Unfortunately, we went on a rainy day, and they were planning to close around 3 PM because of the weather. Many areas around the buildings were flooded, and some presentations were cut short or cancelled, which was disappointing. I felt a discounted ticket might have been appropriate given the conditions.
Despite the weather, it was still a neat place to explore, and we were able to get some great photos. Definitely worth a visit if the weather is better!"

Summer EB

"Wow what an amazing experience. Loved that people were dressed in period costumes but spoke as their normal selves. I had no idea slavery extended up north at one point and this tour was so eye opening. It’s also just very picturesque and lovely to walk around despite the sad history. The demonstrations were great and the first building watching the mill ACTUALLY operate and being able to buy the flour was INCREDIBLE. Will definitely return."

Kat Terkowski