Geneva, N.Y.: Beginning on July 18, the Geneva Historical Society will open the Carriage House Gift Shop at Rose Hill Mansion for limited hours on weekends. Although the mansion is not yet open for guided tours, the grounds are open and a new outdoor tour will run on Thursday mornings at 11 a.m. starting on July 23. Space is limited to eight people and reservations are required. The outdoor tours and gift shop will operate at a reduced capacity, while enacting new safety measures, including social distancing and enhanced sanitizing and cleaning protocols.
While we are grateful to return, our priority is the health and safety of our visitors, local community and staff. Over the past weeks, we’ve carefully developed reopening guidelines in accordance with state guidelines, directives from the CDC, and museum best practices. Our staff has also worked hard to gather necessary supplies, including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and cleaning products. These new procedures will ensure we’re meeting the highest level public health standards while maintaining the excellence of the visitor experience.
Cleaning will be enhanced throughout the Carriage House Gift Shop at Rose Hill, including increased frequency of disinfecting “high touch” areas. Hand sanitizer will also be readily available. In accordance with New York State guidelines, Historical Society staff and volunteers, as well as all visitors will be required to wear facing coverings; complimentary masks will be provided for visitors who need one.
The Rose Hill Mansion Gift Shop will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The shop carries historically-inspired and locally made items, as well as souvenirs, history books, jewelry, and home decorative items.
The new tour, Outside Rose Hill: An Exploration of Landscape and Architecture, will focus on the grounds and exterior architecture of the 1839 Greek Revival mansion and the surrounding structures. The one-hour tour will be offered at 11 a.m. on Thursdays, beginning on July 23. Visitors on this special tour will see the elements of America's most popular architectural style and learn why it was so fashionable in the early 1800s. The tour explores how the property owners have altered the landscape and constructed a variety of buildings to meet their changing needs.
Outside Rose Hill is by reservation only, and tour capacity is limited. Reservations can be made by calling 315-789-3848. Tour admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children 10 to 18. Children 9 and under are free. A family rate of $25 is available for two adults and one or more children aged 10 to 18 in the same household.
Rose Hill Mansion is located at 3373 Route 96A, about a mile south of Routes 5&20, near Geneva, New York. The house is currently closed for indoor tours. The grounds are open year round, free of charge.
Rose Hill is administered by the Geneva Historical Society at 543 South Main Street, Geneva, New York. For more information about visiting Rose Hill call 315-789-3848. Information, including the reopening plan, is also available at www.genevahistoricalsociety.com.
