oneida community mansion house

John Humphrey Noyes was the founder of one of the most successful Utopian settlements. Women and men were educated and worked side by side. While their selective breeding experiments scandalized the surrounding communities, their business success and forward thinking in terms of gender equality can not be faulted. The tour can be fantastic -- some of it varies according to the guide that you have to be honest. But the house itself is filled with artifacts and displays that will transport you back to another era. Definitely not to be missed if you have any interest in American history. Not for young children...

This is a glorious place! Let me confess my bias: I think John Humphrey Noyes is one of the real heroes of 19th C. American history. Sort of a Victorian hippie-- definitely Victorian, but with an amazing attitude towards gender equity. We arrived too late in the day for one of the organized tours-- and these are not available every day, so plan ahead-- but for a nominal fee were able to wander around the accessible rooms. The mansion and its grounds are well-maintained, and the people doing the work deserve praise and support. Back in the 19th C., as the original community faded, it became the Oneida Silverware company, and we were saddened to learn that this recently closed its doors, at least in Oneida. But the mansion is definitely worth a visit, if you are anywhere in this area and care to see the legacy of this great man and his community.

The Mansion House is a fascinating historical site. The rooms are actually quite nice and up to date, but the reason to stay there is the opportunity that provides you to explore and learn about the Oneida Community. No place like it.

I've visited the Oneida Community Mansion House museum twice now, most recently in August 2014. It certainly has an interesting history that encompasses everything from a utopian society to innovative manufacturing and labor practices. Roaming the antique rooms you can imagine what it may have been like to live there during the community's heyday, and the exhibits are professionally done with clear explanations. They now offer a recorded "cell phone" tour also. The grounds are beautiful in the summer and are available for photo shoots for weddings, etc. for a small fee. My daughter had her senior pictures taken there the other day. There's a nice little gift shop featuring books on the history of Oneida Ltd. and prints by several local artists who've been inspired by the mansion house and it's gardens.

It's easier than you think to stay in a National Historic Landmark. It's not too expensive either.The landmark in question is the Oneida Community Mansion House, located between Syracuse and Utica. It's just down the street from Turning Stone Casino in Verona, if that helps.Back in 1848, John Noyes founded the Oneida Community. A few hundred people lived together in this mansion as Noyes hopes to point Christianity in a new direction. There was a lot of this stuff in upstate New York in the 1800s, including the Mormons and the Shakers. Obviously, the Mormons are the ones that survived.As for the Oneida Community, the people are famous for a couple of things. First, they believed in "complex marriage" among all believers. You'll have to ask the people there how they managed to avoid a population explosion during the 32 years or so they were all together.Noyes fled the mansion, and the country, in 1880 when there were reports that he was going to arrested on statutory rape charges. While the residents stayed in the mansion for the most part after that, they changed their ways a bit. They also went into the silverware business shortly after that, and Oneida Silverware became a popular dinner table accessory for more than a century.The rooms are big and old and beautiful, with high ceilings and noisy radiators. Each stay includes a free tour of the building, which has some areas that are set aside for museum-like purposes. The mansion also has some apartments.And make sure you go into the library. It's open to all, and books go around the walls of the room in cases - thousands and thousands of books. It's particularly nice in the daytime with the room's skylight windows. There's no better place to read a book or magazine.

The volunteers were very welcoming. They gave us an overview of the history along with pamphlets. We wee also given a schematic of he house to help us with navigating the rooms. They have prerecorded tapes which can be activated by the visitor as the room is entered. The gift shop is special with many local hand made things. We will go again.

They give tours of the mansion on select days and it is a bargain. Also,, you can learn a lot about the Oneida Community. The mansion is a beautiful building and the people who lived there were also an interesting bunch. They were inventive but had some strange customs the guide will tell you about.

This place is a must-visit for those who love history - either for a tour, an overnight, or both. We had a wedding in the area and decided to stay at the Mansion House instead of a chain hotel and are glad we did. Members of the Oneida Community built the house by hand and lived and worked there as one large family there, minus the confines of traditional marriage. The room was spacious, with 15-foot ceilings, and the bathroom was huge. The place is very peaceful - we had no awareness of other guests, even though cars were in the lot, and enjoyed speaking with one of the building's apartment residents and strolling the grounds and gardens in the morning. A basket of breakfast goodies (muffins, cereal bars, fruit, nuts, oatmeal) and in-room coffee is included. Best of all was the tour - our guide was extremely knowledgeable, and patient with our many questions. This is a fascinating chapter of history, local and national. We highly recommend you spend some time here.

If you are a history buff especially the Oneida Community history this is a must see. For most of us it is a great walk through a very "unspoken" CNY chapter. Little did you know about the wildness that existed and the free spirits that lived in Kenmore.

This place was built in 1848 to house a commune. It has a rich history and tours daily. It is convenient to the surrounding areas as well.The room we got was close to the party house section so we were unable to get any sleep until after 11pm which is fine for those who are going to be out later than that. You can hear every conversation outside the doors and throughout the hallway. The place wasn't really built for any real privacy. It is pretty rustic so if you are looking for a Marriott level experience, this isn't it even though the price may reflect that.I say check it out if history is your thing. Read about its history here: http://www.oneidacommunity.org/Otherwise, if you are looking for amenities of a hotel chain, quiet and value then look at one of the other hotels in that areas instead.

A visit and stay in this historic community is definitely worth it. This is the site of one of the great, and most succesful, social experiments in the US. Guest rooms are large and comfortable.

If you are in the Clinton, NY area for any reason and want the coolest historical place to stay, choose the Oneida Community Mansion House. The room was big, quiet and immaculate...staff was great, plus you get a tour of the Mansion included...don't miss it! You have to see and stay at Oneida to believe it.

very interesting informative guide willing to answer any questions. The restaurant there was very very good, with wonderful service.

Very interesting place to visit...learned alot about a community I had never heard of. Would have liked a guided tour but they are not available on Mondays and Tuesdays.

We've been talking about visiting here for years--finally made it yesterday. This was well worth the $5 admission. It was certainly an interesting community--and what they accomplished even after disbanding! Some really lovely rooms and intriguing history and the special braiding exhibit was amazing!