History
King Manor takes its name from Rufus King, a framer and signer of the Constitution, one of the first senators from New York State, the ambassador to Great Britain under four presidents, and an outspoken opponent of slavery. In 1819-1820, he delivered two of the most radical speeches heard in the Senate before the Civil war. His opposition to the admission of Missouri as a slave state marked the height of his long anti-slavery career. In 1805, Rufus King and his wife purchased 90 acres of land and this 18th century farmhouse. They immediately expanded the house; the landscaped estate and working farm grew to 150 acres. After King's death in 1827, his eldest son, John Alsop King, continued to operate the farm and made further improvements to the house. John followed in his father's footsteps into politics, serving as a Congressman and governor of the State of New York. The house remained in the family until 1896 and opened as a museum in 1900.
Specialties
King Manor Museum is the historic home of Founding Father Rufus King. The museum's programs focus on the roles of Rufus and John Alsop King in the early anti-slavery movement, and life and work at King Manor in the 19th century. We offer guided tours of the museum, interactive educational programming for schools, annual historic festivals, concerts, lectures, and more.