While the Vassar Alumnae House is the headquarters for the college’s Office of Alumnae/i Affairs and Development, its Alumnae Association, and a spot for Vassar community members to stay overnight, it’s also a space that anyone—alum or not—can rent out to host an event on the school’s beautiful, storied grounds.
Originally opened in 1924 thanks to the donation from two sisters who were Vassar alumnae, the space was created to be “a center for activities of the alumnae of the college and be a welcoming hearthstone to all,” according to Alumnae House Manager Martha Barry.
The space—an American Tudor-style building also known as “the House of a Thousand Treasures”—has lived up to that original goal and then some, offering folks a historic, warm home for their weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, showers, conferences, retreats, meetings, fundraisers, recitals, holiday parties, and receptions.
“It's like a tudor-style castle in the heart of the Hudson Valley,” Barry says. “The immediate expression guests upon entering Alumnae House is ‘Wow, this is amazing, we never knew this was here.’ Many couples who choose to use Alumnae House for their wedding receptions do so because they don’t feel they need to decorate or do any more. It is established and timeless. It's a hidden gem, steeped in history, and welcoming to all.”
According to Barry, they host events ranging from intimate gatherings to parties with up to 400 attendees. The dining room seats up to 100 guests (but they can accommodate more depending on the head-count and the type of event you’re throwing). She also says her staff can customize the space and move just about any furniture in the space—save for the beautiful, massive Steinway piano that stays put in the Living Room.
The house also has an approved list of four caterers that may sound familiar if you’re a Hudson Valley-native: Main Course, Twisted Soul, Artist's Palate, and Lund Expressions. All four caterers use locally-sourced foods, can accommodate dietary restrictions, and all menus can be customized based on what a client needs for their event.
To reserve space, contact Martha Barry, Alumnae House Manager, at (845) 437-7150 or via email at [email protected]
