Join us this Giving Tuesday and make your impact today!

Giving Tuesday is a global celebration of generosity — a day that inspires people everywhere to give back with their time, their voices, and their support. Held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, it’s a moment to uplift the causes that matter most.

Philipse Manor Hall is one of the oldest buildings in New York State — and one of the most immersive. For more than 300 years, its walls have witnessed the stories, cultures, and communities that shaped the Hudson Valley. Today, Philipse Manor Hall invites visitors not just to look at history, but to experience it.

Here, history isn’t something that lives behind glass. It’s something you touch, explore, hear, and discover — together.

Why We Need Your Help

At Friends of Philipse Manor Hall, we care deeply about preserving the Philipse Manor’s rich history and supporting its educational mission — and we hope you do, too!

Your generosity fuels the programs, performances, and community events that make Philipse Manor Hall a vibrant center for culture and learning. Every contribution — large or small — helps keep history alive and thriving in our community. With your help, we can:

Expand educational programming for school groups and families
Host more free community days that welcome visitors of all ages
Preserve and recreate historical game materials and teaching tools
Support historical research and interpretation that deepen understanding
Grow public engagement initiatives, exhibitions, and seasonal celebrations

Suggested Donation Levels:

Your donation of $25 will support free monthly Historical Games sessions for families.
Your donation of $35 will cover admission and hands-on activities for 10 students and a chaperone.
Your donation of $50 will pay for a staff-led in-class or virtual program.
Your donation of $100 will cover admission and an interactive History Scavenger Hunt throughout the Manor and grounds for a family of five.
Your donation of $250 will provide crafts materials and festive supplies for our St. Nicholas Day celebration.
Your donation of $500 will support research to uncover more historical games from the past.
A one-time donation of $1,000 or 10 monthly donations of $100 will underwrite new hands-on experiences, expanded storytelling, and inclusive programming for thousands of visitors annually.

Please donate today to help us reach our fundraising goal and unlock even more impact. GiveButter is matching 1% of all GivingTuesday donations — which means every dollar you give goes even further.

Thank you for helping keep history alive, accessible, and joyful for all!

2026 Family-friendly Programs Lineup at Philipse Manor Hall

One of our most beloved free programs is the Historical Games Series, offered every first Saturday of the month. The Historical Games Series is part of the New York State “Unplug and Play” and “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiatives to help children and teens connect offline. Kids and adults alike can learn and play historic games from around the world:

Cribbage — A 17th-century English card game played with a wooden board and pegs, once wildly popular in pubs and on U.S. naval ships.
Liar’s Dice — Originating in 15th-century Peru and spreading across Europe by the 1600s, this fast-paced bluffing game brings laughter to every table.
Mancala — Dating back to 3rd-century Egypt, this timeless game has been played across Africa and the world for centuries.

In the summer, outdoor sessions invite families to enjoy rolling hoops, leapfrog, card games, and 18th-century pastimes — rediscovering how people once played, connected, and built community.

In December, we celebrate St. Nicholas Day with a Dutch-inspired holiday tradition that brings history to life. Sinterklaas himself delivers candy canes to children of all ages, while visitors enjoy festive décor, live music, storytelling, local vendors, holiday crafts, and gingerbread cookie decorating.

These hands-on moments make history real, joyful, and unforgettable.

Every donation — large or small — helps bring the past to life for thousands of visitors each year.

💛 Help us keep history hands-on. Help us keep it alive.
Donate today and be part of preserving 300 years of stories for future generations.

#GivingTuesday 2025: Keep History Hands-On at Philipse Manor Hall

By Friends of Philipse Manor Hall, Inc.

#GivingTuesday 2025: Keep History Hands-On at Philipse Manor Hall

Help us keep interactive programs, historical games, and family learning experiences free for everyone.