John Jay’s Bedford House is open for tours Wednesday through Sunday at 1, 2, 3, and 4pm.
The 1pm, 3pm, and 4pm tours are the standard house tour.
The 2pm tour is our daily thematic tour. Please check the calendar for details.
On Saturdays we offer a special 25-minute Highlights Tour at 10, 10:30, 11, and 11:30am.
The number of tickets available for each tour is strictly limited. We strongly recommend you purchase your tickets in advance.
The Carriage Barn Education & Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12:30pm to 4pm. On Saturdays, the Carriage Barn Education & Visitor Center opens at 10am.
The Discovery Centers are open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Thematic Tour—The War of 1812
- June 20, 20192:00 pm–3:00 pm
On June 18, 1812, President James Madison declared war with England, the first time the United States had ever declared war on another country. Take a docent-led tour of John Jay’s Bedford House that highlights the causes of war and the impact that it had on America.
The number of tickets available for each tour is strictly limited. We strongly recommend you purchase your tickets in advance. Please note that all members of your party are required to have a ticket for admittance, even if there is no fee associated with their ticket. Tickets are transferable, but not refundable.
- June 20, 20192:00 pm–3:00 pm
Play Days @ Jay
- June 21, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Time to play some games! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be playing the historical game battledore and shuttlecock, from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. An alternative activity will take place in the event of rain. - June 28, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Come make your own historical hat! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making tri-corner hats from 1:00pm to 1:30pm at the Red Barn. - July 5, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Happy Independence Day! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making a red/white/blue star craft from 1:00pm to 1:30pm at the Red Barn. - July 12, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Time to grow! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be planting our own bean stalks from 1:00pm to 1:30pm at the Red Barn. - July 19, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Don’t let the heat get you down! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making our own ice cream from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - July 26, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making our own bubble solution for bubble blowing from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - August 2, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Let’s visit the chickens! From 1:00pm to 1:30pm visit the chickens in our Brick Lot and learn a little bit about them. - August 9, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making sachets from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - August 16, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making clay fossil ornament from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - August 23, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Time to play some games! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be playing the historical game, Game of Graces from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. An alternative activity will take place in the event of rain. - August 30, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Let’s explore the gardens! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be playing garden bingo from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. - September 6, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making a chicken craft from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - September 13, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making sun catchers from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - September 20, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- It’s time for Autumn! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making a Fall leaves from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - September 27, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Let’s visit the chickens! From 1:00pm to 1:30pm visit the chickens in our Brick Lot and learn a little bit about them. - October 4, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making pine cone bird feeders from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - October 11, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Time to play some games! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be playing the historical game Hoop & Stick from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. - October 18, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be doing colonial dress up and coloring from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. - October 25, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making a pumpkin craft from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn.
Pack a picnic and spend the afternoon at the Homestead and explore our Discovery Centers. Education staff will lead a short hands on activity at 1:00pm.
- June 21, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Time to play some games! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be playing the historical game battledore and shuttlecock, from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. An alternative activity will take place in the event of rain. - June 28, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Come make your own historical hat! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making tri-corner hats from 1:00pm to 1:30pm at the Red Barn. - July 5, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Happy Independence Day! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making a red/white/blue star craft from 1:00pm to 1:30pm at the Red Barn. - July 12, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Time to grow! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be planting our own bean stalks from 1:00pm to 1:30pm at the Red Barn. - July 19, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Don’t let the heat get you down! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making our own ice cream from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - July 26, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making our own bubble solution for bubble blowing from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - August 2, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Let’s visit the chickens! From 1:00pm to 1:30pm visit the chickens in our Brick Lot and learn a little bit about them. - August 9, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making sachets from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - August 16, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making clay fossil ornament from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - August 23, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Time to play some games! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be playing the historical game, Game of Graces from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. An alternative activity will take place in the event of rain. - August 30, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Let’s explore the gardens! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be playing garden bingo from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. - September 6, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making a chicken craft from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - September 13, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making sun catchers from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - September 20, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- It’s time for Autumn! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making a Fall leaves from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - September 27, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Let’s visit the chickens! From 1:00pm to 1:30pm visit the chickens in our Brick Lot and learn a little bit about them. - October 4, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making pine cone bird feeders from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn. - October 11, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- Time to play some games! For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be playing the historical game Hoop & Stick from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. - October 18, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be doing colonial dress up and coloring from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. - October 25, 201912:00 pm–2:00 pm
- For today’s Play Days @ Jay activity we will be making a pumpkin craft from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in the Red Barn.
Thematic Tour—The War of 1812
- June 21, 20192:00 pm–3:00 pm
On June 18, 1812, President James Madison declared war with England, the first time the United States had ever declared war on another country. Take a docent-led tour of John Jay’s Bedford House that highlights the causes of war and the impact that it had on America.
The number of tickets available for each tour is strictly limited. We strongly recommend you purchase your tickets in advance. Please note that all members of your party are required to have a ticket for admittance, even if there is no fee associated with their ticket. Tickets are transferable, but not refundable.
- June 21, 20192:00 pm–3:00 pm
The “JJ” monogrammed dinner service was made in the early 1770s, likely for the occasion of John and Sarah Jay’s wedding in 1774. It is Chinese export armorial porcelain, popular at the time. The pattern appears to be standard, with the monogram added for customization. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a set with this same pattern in their collection that belonged to Samuel Chase. The horn-handle silverware was purchased by the Jays in the 1820s. The dyed green look is achieved through a combination of verdigris, vinegar, and manure. See other objects from everyday life in the 18th and 19th century during our curatorial talk on Sunday, June 16th at 2pm.
Tickets for our Standard House Tour and Thematic Tours are now available through our website. Due to tour popularity, and because the number of tickets available for each tour is strictly limited, we strongly recommend you purchase your tickets in advance. Please note that all members of your party are required to have a ticket…
Read MoreWe are excited to announce that beginning August 1st our 2pm tour will always be a thematic tour. On Wednesday through Saturday (Thursday through Saturday beginning October 15th) we will be exploring historical topics relevant to John Jay, his family, and Jay’s relationships with other Founders. On Sundays through October 15th the thematic tour will…
Read MorePassengers on board Metro-North and Amtrak trains from New York City to Albany can now learn more about John Jay Homestead on their smartphones using the new Hudson River Train Tour App, developed by the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, in partnership with the National Park Service. The app gives rail travelers several tools…
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