King Manor Museum — Local services in New York

I visited this historic site yesterday and learned about one of the most important men in our nation's history...and I had never heard of him!!! Rufus King was a man of principles and integrity. He spoke 6 languages and amassed a personal collection of more books than the Library of Congress at the time. And he was a staunch, very outspoken advocate against slavery, as were his two sons.

It was an honor to visit his home and see his personal desk, as well as some of his own books. Many interesting artifacts in the home. There is no charge to visit, but a reservation is preferred so they may assure a guide is available.

Fox and Michael were our guides. There were only two of us. Both gentlemen were a wealth of knowledge. Michael was able to answer any question I had. So impressive. I would encourage everyone to visit because I do think they need our support.

The house is supposed to be maintained by Parks and Rec, but they haven't done a very good job and there are many needed repairs. We were told that both the Painters' Union and the Carpenters' Union have stepped up to help out pro bono, but they have ongoing needs.

Any and all donations are so appreciated. My tour mate and I both made a donation and Michael seemed genuinely thrilled.

Please support this very important place that is a part of our...

I have lived in Queens for 3 decades and today was my first time visiting the museum. What a gem in the middle of a busy commercial hub! I did not make a reservation. I just rolled up while passing by after a business meeting. The wait to be admitted to the museum was short. There was one staffer onsite -- I believe her name was Veronica. She was personable, friendly, passionate about the history of the house and very knowledgeable about the tiniest details of the house and surrounding area. She helped bring the tour to life and was eager to answer all questions. The architecture and exhibits are phenomenal. Even the antique smell of the home was interesting. The design of the house was carefully crafted to preserve the social and class norms of its time - a world in which New York's elite families and it's working class servants navigated living spaces without encroaching on each other's space. The house is deceptively large and beautifully preserved. I highly recommend visiting it to learn more about the history of a wide range of people of all races, cultures and social classes who contributed to the Jamaica NY area. Thank you King Manor. You just won a fan...

A disappointing attempt at visiting. I was released early from jury service and decided to visit this museum before returning to work. I saw online that guided tours were offered on the hour and decided to try to join one at 1pm. When I arrived and rang the bell, a staff member answered it and let me know she was busy with other work— preparing labels for an upcoming exhibition—and I’d have to come back later. I understand the staff is small, but if this museum is not actually able to accommodate their stated tour times, they should require advance registration. It would’ve saved me the disappointment and both me and the staff...