Rose Hill Opening Soon
By Mel Oles, Visitor Services and Program Manager at Rose Hill Mansion and Johnston House
On May 2, Rose Hill will be opening for the 2023 season. We are happy to announce a new event, In Time, returning programs, and a new exhibit, Slavery in New York State. Visitors will still be able to explore the grounds and experience the beautifully maintained interiors as they tour the mansion.
Born into slavery in 1812 at Rose Hill, Henry Douglas worked as a cart man, and farm overseer in Waterloo. His mother (Phillis Kenney) and sisters (Emily and Margaret) worked as domestic servants in Geneva.
The East Tenant Cottage contains exhibits and public restrooms. The current exhibits are One House, Many People and Slavery in the North. Behind the beautiful façade, hundreds of people have labored to run Rose Hill from the time it was the center of a 1200-acre farm to its recent history as a historic house museum. The nature of the work and the people who do it has changed over 200 years. Slavery was legal in New York from 1626 through the 1840s. From 1792 to 1826, enslaved people lived and worked on the Rose Hill property. Slavery in the North explores the history of slavery in New York State and at Rose Hill. The long-term exhibit One House, Many People chronicles enslaved, paid and volunteer workers. Both exhibits can be seen free of charge during open hours through October 31.
On June 10, we will welcome Live History to Rose Hill Mansion for an interactive theatrical experience entitled In Time. Due to a mysterious nexus in time, four members of the Swan household have been ripped from the late 1800s to the present day. Each with their own goal, yet all share a common problem. They only have an hour to return to their own time, otherwise they risk being erased from history. To get back to their time, they need the help of Rose Hill visitors. The question remains will they be, In Time?
Groups will enter the mansion every 30 minutes beginning at 11:00 a.m. The last group will leave at 5:00 p.m. This program has escape room, quest, and theater elements. Visitors will work with their group and actors to explore Rose Hill while trying to solve clues and complete their tasks. The experience takes about an hour. This will be a fun event for the whole family or a group of friends.
View of Rose Hill Mansion from the gate by the road.
Our specialty tours are returning as well this season. The tours are Behind-the-Scenes, Bedroom Tales, and Outside Rose Hill: An Exploration of Landscape and Architecture. Different from the regular guided mansion tour, these are great tour options if you have visitors from out of town or you have already taken the regular guided tour. These tours require a reservation, and more information can be found at the Historic Geneva website.
And save the dates for our free summer concerts:
- June 18—Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters
- July 16—The Three of Us
- August 20—Doolin O’Dey
For more information about visiting Rose Hill, please visit the Historic Geneva website. We are so happy to welcome you back at Rose Hill and excited about the new season.