Staatsburgh State Historic Site

06/19/2026

Today, June 19th, we observe Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day and Jubilee Day, Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866, and it is the longest running African American holiday.

In 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865), President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which declared that all of the enslaved men and women living in the Confederate States were now free. Despite the order, full freedom did not immediately follow. General Lee surrendered in April 1865, and the military started to disband, and it wasn't until June 19, 1865 that emancipation finally came to Galveston, Texas. Major General Granger and his soldiers arrived in Galveston to enforce the emancipation of the enslaved population and oversee Reconstruction.

General Granger brought General Order No.3, which read, "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free." The first Juneteenth holiday was celebrated one year later in Galveston on June 19, 1866 (June-teenth) and celebrations continue today. Juneteenth became an official federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

Image: Emancipation Day celebration, June 19, 1900 held in "East Woods" on East 24th Street in Austin. Credit: Austin History Center.

06/17/2026

Faces of the Revolution at Staatsburgh

The Staatsburgh that exists today features a Gilded Age mansion, but the estate’s origins have roots in the Revolutionary War era. Morgan Lewis, the great-grandfather of Ruth Mills, built the first residence on the land and was a Colonel and Quartermaster General in the Continental Army. As the nation celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this series of posts will share some of the Revolutionary War iconography that adorns the mansion.

We start with perhaps the most well-known man to play a role in the Revolution, General George Washington. Washington’s legacy was forever cemented when led the Continental Army to victory over the British forces and became the first President of the young nation. Ruth had family members who served directly with Washington and having his face adorn the walls of her ancestral home was an intentional choice meant to make an impression on her guests over 100 years after independence. This pair of hand-colored mezzotint prints of George and Martha Washington are on the East Wall of the Main Hall where guests first enter Staatsburgh. The back stated that both were “Painted by A. Scheffer,” which was likely Dutch – French Romantic artist Ary Scheffer (1795-1858). They were based on Gilbert Stuart’s portraits of George and Martha Washington, which are perhaps the primary images that remain in our nation’s collective memory.

06/14/2026

Anachronistic? Yes. But super fun!
Congratulations to the Friends of Mills at Staatsburgh for another excellent summer party to support the site!
www.MillsFriends.org Be groovy. Join the Friends

06/09/2026

A new mama turtle stopped by the mansion last weekend to lay her eggs. This is a yearly occurrence and we look forward to seeing some baby turtles in about 4 months! 🐢🥚

06/08/2026

in 1896 Ruth & Ogden Mills were in residence at Staatsburgh! Even though Staatsburgh was most frequently used during the Fall, the family was in residence during the early summer of 1896 because the major remodel and expansion of the home had just been completed.

They also stayed for a family wedding at "The Point," which was the estate directly to the south of Staatsburgh. Geraldine Morgan was the daughter of William Dare Morgan and Angelica Livingston Hoyt, who was Ruth's first cousin making Ruth and Geraldine first cousins, once removed. Geraldine's sister, Margaret Lewis Morgan Norrie, is the namesake of the NY State Park south of the mansion that continues to welcome visitors.

Image: Geraldine Morgan Thompson, Source: A Triangle of Land: A History of the Site, Founding, and Progress of Brookdale Community College

06/04/2026

Happy National Cheese Day!

Everyone loves cheese, but did you know that during the Gilded Age, the cheeses served at your table were an indicator of your wealth and social standing ? The Gilded Age saw a surge of American interest in European foods and cheese was a key part of that. For the American working class, the ancient European practice of cheesemaking was continued as a necessary way to preserve precious milk supplies. For the America elite, cheese incorporated in fine dining, was more than a table food- it was a symbol of refinement, luxury, sophistication, and culture . Elite wealthy families would use imported cheeses to signal wealth and their chefs would pair cheeses with fine imported wines and pastries to heighten the entertaining experience.

One factor in the quality, and importantly, the affordability of the cheeses produced was the type of dairy cows in Europe versus the United States. European dairy cows ate fresh mountainside grass which produced milk with a higher fat content and resulted in softer, creamier cheeses such as Camembert and Brie. American dairy herds were fed more of a dry grain diet, and produced milk with higher lactose and less fat content which yielded cheeses of a harder, denser consistency such as Cheddar and Colby. These bovine differences created an obvious class distinction- the wealthy enjoyed the soft delicate flavors of artisan cheeses while the working class could only afford the local , salted varieties of cheeses.

Cheeseboards became a hallmark of entertaining and featured a variety of imported soft and aged cheeses alongside crackers and fruit. Such cheeseboards laid the groundwork for the popularity of modern cheese plates which are often gourmet centerpieces in upscale restaurants and private dining events. Today, the cheese industry is one of the largest in the global food market- projected to grow to over a $200 billion dollar industry by 2031. The Industrial Revolution fostered the creation of technology during the Gilded Age which signaled the shift of the majority of cheesemaking from farmhouse craft to factory production.

Wishing you a cheesy day on this National Cheese Day!


Image: From Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management

06/03/2026

After the Phipps horse Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby, there has been more coverage about the Phipps stable and the family horse racing legacy. Check out this great article about the ongoing (female!) legacy of the Phipps Stable from Gladys Mills Phipps to Daisy Phipps Pulito. We look forward to this weekend's Belmont Stakes at Saratoga!

When Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps died in April 2016 it was a time of overwhelming grief and sorrow for the Phipps family. It also brought one of Thoroughbred racing's most famed stables to a crossroads.

05/30/2026

Tickets are on sale now for the Friends of Mills Groovy Summer Soiree! Join us for a fun time while supporting the mansion's restoration! Proceeds will support the main floor drapery project. There will be music, light bites, and all the fun of the Age of Aquarius. Wear your best 60s/70s outfit! ☮️

When: Saturday, June 13 - 5:30-8pm
Where: State Historic Site
Tickets: https://millsfriends.org/event/summer-soiree-and-auction/

05/29/2026

Visitors to Staatsburgh 120 years ago would have enjoyed a weekend of luxury without having to lift a finger! The Mills family employed a large staff who would carry luggage, clean rooms, cook food, serve meals, and many other tasks to ensure a smooth and carefree visit to the estate.

Learn all about the life of servants who worked for the Mills family and view some of the servant's areas in the mansion's basement level during the "Life in Service" special themed tour this weekend! Spaces remain for tours this weekend on Saturday, May 30 at 11am & Sunday, May 31 at 2pm.

Visit www.bookeo.com/staatsburghshs for reservations!

Image: Replica maid's bedroom at Staatsburgh SHS.

05/27/2026

Today is National Sunscreen Day, which serves as a vital reminder to protect yourself from the sun! ☀️

Early civilizations recognized the harmful effects of the sun on the skin. Ancient Egyptians used plant-based extracts such as jasmine and rice bran made into a paste to protect their skin from the sun’s harmful effects. In ancient Greece, olive oil, was spread on the skin to provide protection. Modern findings suggest olive oil can indeed provide SPF 8 protection, which is a bit less than what is usually used today.

During the Elizabethan era, social norms emphasized a pale “porcelain “ complexion which was attained either of two ways, cosmetically or dietarily. Queen Elizabeth I, wore white face paint to look as fashionably pale as possible,. The paint contained led, and it is believed that the constant exposure and pe*******on into her skin led to her death. Cosmetically, creamy white skin pastes and lotions were formulated with rice bran to create the desired fashionable pale complexion. Dietary methods of attaining pale skin included consuming arsenic wafers, which did externally lighten skin tone, but was also toxic to the body and internal organs though that was not known at the time.

During the Gilded Age, tanned skin was seen as unattractive and was a dead giveaway to a person's class status. Working class folks would often be outside working in the sun, while the social elite would have hired people to complete their manual labor. To avoid sun exposure, high society women like our own Ruth Livingston Mills wore hats with netting and silk scarfs. These sheer dark scarfs, sometimes known as vizards, covered their faces and necks. In addition to the face coverings, they also held silk parasols above their heads to block the sun when outdoors. Also, popular awning structures, called velariums , were often erected in public places as they provided shade during outdoor excursions.

Today there are many sunscreens with much stronger SPF that can provide greater protections, so go out and enjoy some fun in the SUN, but not too much!

Image: Ruth Livingston Mills (seated, lower right) wears a veil and scarf to protect her face from the sun.