A walk into Philipse Manor Hall isn't only a step into an architectural landmark in the heart of Yonkers - it's also a door into cultures that have laid the foundation of our country.

"Our whole history story now focuses on three primary cultures that were here in this region and in this area," says Michael Lord, the historic site director at Philipse Manor Hall.

That includes the early Munsee Lenape, the European story, and that of the enslaved African community.

You'll walk along gallery exhibits with special artifacts and displays that tell stories of their own. There are a lot of hands-on elements that can help visitors step into the shoes of generations of people who once called this place home. "We're trying to tell this new story in an equitable and inclusive fashion. How these three cultures both adapted to each other and conflicted with each other," explains Lord.

And that conflict is vital to highlight, and "talking portraits" will tell you all about it. One says, "When I was 6 years old, I was taken from my mother's arms and given as a birthday gift..."

Browse the cookbooks of the 1600s, or touch native wampum, and even African cowrie shells that were often used as currency at the time. "History is all about perspective…what we're trying to do here is show history through a different lens, ask questions about who else was here," says Lord. "We actually have small QR codes embedded in a lot of the galleries where you can just point your phone at them and you can actually get more information."  

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