The Jay Estate in Rye was home to one of our nation's greatest peacemakers, John Jay...

...and today, it is YOUR park

Our nonprofit, the Jay Heritage Center (JHC) is dedicated to transforming the 23-acre Jay Estate into a vibrant educational campus, hosting innovative and inclusive programs about American History, Historic Preservation, Social Justice, and Environmental Stewardship.

More about who we are and what we do

NY State 250th American Revolution Commission Update

JHC Represents Rye in Albany

It was an honor to be invited to Albany by Senator Shelley B. Mayer this past Wednesday to attend a very special press conference about New York State’s recognition of America’s Independence in 2026. Senator Mayer and Assembly Member Carrie Woerner urged Governor Kathy Hochul to include $18 million in the final New York State FY 2025-2026 budget for the 250th Commemoration Commission.

Mayer explained “The proposed $18 million will create educational and economic opportunities statewide to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and to highlight the significant role New York State played.”

Read more and watch the video here.

Thursdays and Sundays 9:30 - 11:30am

Volunteer at our Park!

Volunteers rock! Sign your school group or corporate group or even just yourself on Volunteer Match today! This is our 14th year educating people about the ecological damage caused by nonnative plants in cooperation with the Lower Hudson Partnership for Invasive Species Management (LHPRISM). Don’t miss learning more at our next volunteer day on Sunday, March 16 from 9:30am – 11:30am.

HELP US HOST BUILD OUR CAPACITY!

From lectures on American History to outdoor art exhibits and modern dance to family-friendly concerts on the lawn and garden workshops, your annual gift makes SO much possible! Donations also help fund our staff and operating expenses so we can make your experience at our park the best it can be!

DONATE HERE

Become a Member or Donate Today!

Help us empower and educate kids and families!

Learn more about Joining and Giving to support our 23-acre Park and Learning Center!

Land Acknowledgement

It is with gratitude and humility that we acknowledge that we are learning, speaking and gathering on the land of the Wiechquaesgeck (WE-QUEES-GECK), a subdivision of the Munsee people. The Munsee can be identified as speakers of Munsee, a dialect of the Lenape language. Today, the Munsee language is considered critically endangered, only spoken by a handful of elders on the Moraviantown Reserve in Ontario, Canada, each speaker over the age of 70. Lenape, or Leni Lenape was a name prescribed to them by colonists, rather than a label of initial self identification.

The Wiechquaesgeck were the historic owners of Rye, Harrison, and large parts of Westchester County, as they lived between the Hudson and Long Island Sound. Modern nations like the Stockbridge-Munsee, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and the Delaware Nation trace their ancestry to the Munsee tribes, and continue to keep their history alive. We pay honor and respect to their ancestors past and present as we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable space for all. In the coming years, we plan to reintroduce species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Wiechquaesgeck into our gardens as a way to promote greater respect and understanding of their culture.

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