What can be said of Boscobel other than you will be stunned by the site, awed by the collections and entranced by the gardens. Built as the country home of States Morris Dyckman in 1804, the home is now recognized as one of the most important Federal Style residences in the country. Saved from destruction and moved to its current site overlooking the Constitution Marsh in the 20th century, the house museum has now become the most important and renowned collection of Federal Style interiors and furnishings in the world.

Perched high atop a bluff overlooking the mighty Hudson River, and commanding one of the most spectacular views of the river in the entire Valley, Boscobel is surrounded by formal gardens, great lawns, allies of trees and orchards of apples. You actually experience Boscobel as a visit to a living estate, an important visitor invited for a brief time into another era. Experienced and knowledgeable guides walk you slowly through the house, pointing out small things, explaining the style of the times and proudly urging you into a discovery and exploration of an earlier and more formal time. If you are a lover of the Federal Period of America, you will be bowled over by what you are seeing and the extraordinary furnishings and artifacts you are being invited to view. The magnificent collection has been arranged as a tranquil domestic setting, a family, albeit a very wealthy family of the time, has just left for a short while allowing you a quick peek into their home before they return and invite you to stay for refreshments.

Take your time, ask questions and learn about everything Boscobel has to offer. Stand in the rooms and look around at every object filling the space. There are special little objects hiding on shelves and atop cupboards. Peeking from next to the drapery are chairs, chests and other domestic furnishings. The house seems complete, it is alive with the detail of life, the small as well as the majestic. As you wander the parlors and bedrooms you'll be seeing quite literally some of the most important pieces of cabinetry and furniture from this period still in existence. Great artists like Duncan Phyfe, Michael Allison and Charles Honore Lannuier are represented in the furniture collections. The walls are hung with paintings by such famous artists as Benjamin West and John Watson and outstanding examples of period silver, china and crystal grace the house. Boscobel provides the visitor with a rare opportunity to see the furnishings and decorative arts of the Federal Period displayed and used properly and within the correct settings.

After your tour of the house, take your time to walk the grounds and gardens of Boscobel. Tarry out on the great lawn overlooking the Hudson and marvel at the view, one of the most spectacular in the entire Hudson Valley. Wander through the Rose Garden and absorb the heady aroma of the hundreds of carefully cultivated rose bushes. Wander into the herb garden and savor the scents as the waft up and then sit beneath the grape arbor and relax as the industrious insects buzz about collecting nectar and pollen.

Your visit to Boscobel will definitely be one of the great highlights of your experience in the Hudson Valley. The architecture of the house itself, the depth and magnificence of the collections, the friendly and inviting staff, the beauty of the gardens and the site itself all combine into a visit of uniqueness and memory. You will love Boscobel, and Boscobel is waiting for you to arrive.