Kilmer Mansion

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Binghamton, New York, Historic Mansion and Landmark. Hosting Guided Tours, Public Events, and Community Happenings!

The Kilmer Mansion on Riverside Drive is an event venue for weddings, parties, recitals, and meetings. There are a variety of lovely indoor and outdoor spaces. Inside you will find a grand parlor, music room, dining room, and more. A library and large social hall are also available. Outside are beautiful gardens and a large 20x40 foot covered pad. Grand architecture is on display in each of the rooms available for your occasion accommodating 25 to 200 people. A large commercial-style kitchen is available for catered parties.

10/12/2026

Monday Mansion Tour: The Front Vestibule!

First impressions matter. And, at Kilmer Mansion, they begin with extraordinary craftsmanship.

Step inside the Mansion’s main entrance vestibule, where original details tell a story of elegance and artistry. Rich mahogany woodwork frames a beautifully carved, builtin bench, complete with custom-made cushions by Marcia Craner. Look UP to admire the intricate wood detailing, and DOWN to appreciate the decorative mosaic floor tiles beneath your feet.

The original windows, with their intricate glasswork, and the grand wooden entrance door are equally remarkable. Together, these details offer a glimpse into the craftsmanship that went into creating this home more than a century ago.

These are more than beautiful architectural features. They are tangible pieces of the Mansion’s history, reminding us why preserving the original character of historic places matters.

See the craftsmanship for yourself!

Next Guided Tour | Sunday, 11/29 at 12pm. Link in bio or click below

https://friendsofkilmermansion-bloom.kindful.com/e/kilmer-mansion-guided-tour-112926-12pm

10/05/2026

Monday Mansion Tour: The South Turret

During the 2025 Designer Show House, a talented team led by Roger Hansen of Owego, NY, transformed this room into a warm, inviting retreat while allowing the historic character of the space to remain front and center.

Look closely and you’ll find some of the Mansion’s original details still telling their story; original plaster, woodwork, windows, and hardwood flooring, along with an unexpected glimpse of the materials hidden behind the walls, including exposed horsehair insulation.

The hardwood floors are original to the Mansion and were carefully refurbished by P.A. Acquisto, giving them new life while preserving their connection to the past.

And those windows? They offer a beautiful view of the Kilmer Mansion gardens, a view that has connected this room to the outdoors for generations.

Would you like to see The South Turret in person? Join us for a guided tour! Saturday, 10/10 at 12pm. Sign up with the link in bio or click below.

https://kilmermansion.org/experience/upcoming-events/

09/28/2026

Monday Mansion Tour: The Morning Room

Today we’re stepping into the Morning Room, a charming space within Mrs. Kilmer’s private quarters. The room connects directly to her bathroom, which then connects to her bedroom; creating a series of interconnected spaces within the family’s private living area.

During the 2025 Designer Show House, the room was reimagined with vintage inspired furnishings, textiles, and accessories by Sherrie Stebbins & The Mad Hatter. But, beneath the decor are some of the mansion’s original details, including the wood flooring and beautiful architectural moldings that have remained part of the room for more than a century.

🤎Another detail we love? The paint color. The color selected for the room closely resembled those revealed through a historic paint scrape analysis, giving the designers a palette inspired by the room’s own past.

It’s a beautiful example of how thoughtful design can highlight, not hide, the history of a historic home.

👉Next Guided Tour: Saturday, 10/10 at 12pm. During NY State’s Path Through History weekend! Visit Binghamton Register online or walkin & pay $12 cash at the door.

Online Registration: Link in bio or click below
https://kilmermansion.org/experience/upcoming-events/

09/21/2026

Monday Mansion Tour | The Pieces That Came Home

Sometimes, history finds its way home.

Today, we’re stepping into the Mansion’s past with two original Kilmer family pieces that have recently returned to Kilmer Mansion from Phelps Mansion Museum .

The armchair and loveseat are both late-19th-century French pieces purchased by Julia Sharpe Kilmer for the Mansion. The two pieces entered the Phelps collection in 2009, where they remained for years. Though their upholstery has deteriorated significantly over time, the craftsmanship and connection to the Kilmer family remain.

And now, after more than a decade away, they’re back at Kilmer Mansion. 🤎

It’s especially meaningful to see them here again, surrounded by the architecture and details of the home for which Julia originally purchased them.

Two pieces of furniture. One family history. And another little piece of Kilmer Mansion’s story back where it belongs.

See the pieces in person! Next guided tour: Saturday, October 10th at 12pm. Sign up with the link in bio or click below.

https://friendsofkilmermansion-bloom.kindful.com/e/kilmer-mansion-guided-tour-101026-12pm

09/15/2026

Tell us in the comments!

We hope you are enjoying The Monday Mansion Tours! What would you like to see next?

09/07/2026

Monday Mansion Tour | Part 3: The Private Parlor

We’ve explored the North Turret and the fireplace - now let’s take a closer look at two pieces of Kilmer family history that remain in the Private Parlor.

These two cabinets are original Kilmer family pieces, and they’re a wonderful reminder that the Mansion wasn’t simply a beautiful home. It was a place where the family’s lives, interests, and accomplishments were on display.

When Will Sharpe Kilmer (son of Jonas) became the occupant of the Mansion, the Private Parlor was, at one point, used to showcase his horse racing trophies and honors. 🏆

While we can’t say exactly what was displayed inside these cabinets, it’s easy to imagine them filled with some of those prized racing mementos.

Today, the cabinets give us another little glimpse into the people who lived here, and the stories that continued to unfold inside these rooms long after the Mansion was built.

👉See these pieces for yourself!
👉Next Guided Tour: 9/19 at 12:30pm
Register with link in bio/below or walk-in and pay $12 cash at the door.

https://friendsofkilmermansion-bloom.kindful.com/e/kilmer-mansion-guided-tour-91926-11am

08/31/2026

Monday Mansion Tour
The Private Parlor Fireplace, Part 2:

Last week, we stepped into the Kilmer Family’s Private Parlor, the intimate second floor room tucked between Mr. Kilmer’s Master Suite and Mrs. Kilmer’s Suite.

Today, we’re turning our attention to their fireplace - one of four fireplaces in the Mansion.

From the intricately detailed mantel and carved architectural ornament to the marble surround and mosaic tilework at the hearth, this fireplace is a beautiful example of the level of craftsmanship found throughout the Mansion.

Look closely at the mantel, and you’ll find layers of decorative details woven into the design - from classical columns and floral motifs to the delicate ornamentation surrounding the fireplace.

The Private Parlor has so many details worth slowing down for… and we’re not done yet. Stay tuned for Part 3.

08/28/2026

After 100+ years, these incredible original Kilmer Family pieces are back home.💛

Thank you Phelps Mansion Museum for taking care of and cherishing these beauties.

Want to learn more about these pieces? Follow our Monday Mansion Tours to learn more!

Or see them for yourselves!
Next Guided Tour | Saturday 8/29 1pm and 2pm
Register online (link in bio or click below) or walk-in and pay $12 cash at the door.

https://kilmermansion.org/experience/upcoming-events/

08/24/2026

Monday Mansion Tour | The Private Parlor: Part 1

Today we’re stepping into one of the most intriguing spaces on the second floor of Kilmer Mansion: the Kilmer Family’s Private Parlor.

Tucked between Mr. Kilmer’s Master Suite and Mrs. Kilmer’s Suite, the Private Parlor has a door leading directly into each suite. It was a more intimate space within the family’s private quarters, separate from the formal entertaining spaces found on the first floor.

There are so many details to discover in this room that we’re going to explore it in parts.

For Part 1, we’re heading into the North Turret.

Look closely and you’ll find some of the mansion’s original 1898 craftsmanship still beautifully intact:

👉The original parquet flooring
👉The rounded windows that follow the curve of the turret
👉Intricate original moldings and architectural details
👉And perhaps most special of all… the custom made curved benches

Those benches are among the few remaining pieces of original furniture in Kilmer Mansion. Designed specifically to fit the rounded walls of the turret, they are a wonderful example of how the architecture and furnishings of a Gilded Age home were often created to work together.

Imagine sitting here more than 125 years ago, surrounded by the curved windows, original woodwork, and views of the Binghamton.

There’s much more to discover in the Private Parlor. Stay tuned for Part 2. 👀

Next Guided Tour | Saturday 8/29 at 1pm and 2pm. Sign up with the link in bio or click below. Walk-ins welcome, $12 cash at the door.

https://kilmermansion.org/experience/upcoming-events/

08/17/2026

Monday Mansion Tour: The Second-Floor Bathroom 🚿

Today’s Monday Mansion Tour takes us into the second-floor bathroom, located just off Mrs. Kilmer’s Suite.

Unlike many of the rooms at Kilmer Mansion, there doesn’t appear to be much in this bathroom that dates all the way back to 1898. One feature that may be original, however, is the small, rounded window, an architectural detail that has quietly remained in place for more than a century.

Other elements tell a different story. The decorative tilework and light fixture are believed to be from a later period, when the suite was occupied by one of Willis Sharpe Kilmer’s wives. They offer a glimpse into how the mansion continued to be updated and adapted over the years.

And there’s one more detail, hidden: the bathtub is still here, it’s simply concealed beneath its current covering. Sometimes historic preservation means preserving what you can while adapting it for modern use.

The bathroom may not be one of the mansion’s grandest spaces, but it’s a great reminder that historic houses aren’t frozen in time. They evolve with the people who live in them, while still holding onto pieces of their past.

Staging decor provided by Mimi Corby Sprague during Junior League of Binghamton Designer Show House.

👉 Next Guided Tour: Sat 8/29 at 1pm and 2pm
Reserve your spot with the link in our bio (or click below) or walk-in and pay $12 cash at the door.

https://kilmermansion.org/experience/upcoming-events/

📸 Upstate NY Photographer

Address

9 Riverside Drive
Binghamton, NY
13905

Website

http://kilmermansion.org/

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