Happy Birthday John Jay! According to Jay family tradition, this silk suit, made in the French taste, was worn by John Jay on the day in 1782 when Benjamin Franklin introduced him to the Foreign Minister of King Louis XVI of France. Jay and Franklin were in Paris for the negotiation of the treaty that would end the Revolutionary War. The suit is very faded in color: when new, it was a light pastel green.While it appears elaborate to contemporary eyes with its embroidery and sequins, it is very subdued in comparison with French court dress of the time.

Experience John Jay’s historic Bedford House as it takes on the glow of candlelight to celebrate the holiday season. These unique guided tours focus on holiday traditions and decorations of the 1820s. Tours are offered Thursday through Sunday, December 12 – 15 & 19 – 22 every half-hour from 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Admission: $15 for…

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: And I’m about to take you inside an unusual museum – unusual because most people will never see it. Normally, you need a top-secret security clearance to get up here. So we’ve just walked down. You’ve just pulled back the curtain. And what are we looking at? BILL EVANINA: The very…

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…