The Jay Heritage Center will utilize a $500,000 state grant to restore the Jay Mansion – a national historic landmark once home to founding father John Jay.
The funding will finish the mansion’s entryway, build additional ADA compliant restrooms, expand the innovative sustainable geothermal heat and cooling pump systems, and install other amenities to accommodate the growing audience at the facility.
With increased visitation each year, the not-for-profit Jay Heritage Center has faced greater need for restoration of the 1838 Jay Mansion, a national historic landmark that serves as the welcome center to the 23-acre Boston Post Road estate – the place where Jay, one of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, returned to celebrate the end of the Revolutionary War after he helped negotiate the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
The grant money, announced at a July 7 press conference, was secured by state Sen. Shelley Mayer, whose district includes the city of Rye.
“The Jay Heritage Center does exceptional work preserving our local history, acknowledging the diversity of our American story, and celebrating American history first-hand right here in our community,” Mayer said in a statement. “It is an exceptional space, and I look forward to the day when everyone can experience and learn about the history of the Jay Mansion and the full story of our United States history.”
Photo courtesy Hannah Kirk
Part of the Boston Post Road Historic District, the Jay Heritage Center is a national historic landmark. It constitutes a portion of a 10,000-plus year-old Indigenous archaeological site and an African American Heritage Trail site.
“Jay Heritage is one of Rye’s most important and worthy not-for-profits and the Jay Mansion is one of the jewels of Rye,” said Mayor Josh Cohn.
According to Suzanne Clary, the president and interim executive director of the Jay Heritage Center (JHC), more than 35,000 visitors trek to the property each year.
“This transformational grant will expand JHC’s capacity to host even more award-winning, inclusive events for our community, our partners, school groups, and educators, and afford them greater access and comfort,” Clary said.
The estate is planning programming to commemorate America’s semiquincentennial in 2026 as well as the 200th anniversary of the end of slavery in New York state in 2027 – further heightening its usage and visitation.