How long is the tour?

The guided tour lasts approximately one hour.

Is the house wheelchair accessible?

No. Tours are not recommended for those who have difficulty with three flights of stairs or cannot stand for extended periods.

Can I take photos inside?

Yes—non-flash photography is allowed, but selfie sticks, tripods, and commercial shoots require prior approval; contact info@armourstiner.com for commercial inquiries.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 48 hours before the tour start time.

Can I bring food or pets?

No. Food, drink, and animals are not allowed inside the house or on the grounds during the tour.

Victorian Christmas at The Octagon House Tour in Irvington: Armour-Stiner Holiday House Tour | Events | History Tour

Q: Where do I check in?

Check in at the meeting point: The Armour-Stiner Octagon House 45 West Clinton Avenue Irvington, NY 10533 and give the name on your reservation.

Step across the gate at the Armour-Stiner Octagon House, 45 West Clinton Avenue in Irvington, and you enter a rare slice of Victorian life that still breathes. The Armour-Stiner Octagon House, built in the 1870s and maintained as a private residence, opens its doors for a seasonal Victorian Christmas at The Octagon House Tour, a focused, one-hour guided experience that mixes architectural curiosity with holiday craftwork and family stories. On the tour you'll move through an octagonal plan that forces every room into conversation with light and ornament. The colorful exterior gives way to interiors mounted with multiple Christmas trees layered in lights and handmade ornaments, table settings arranged in period fashion, and rooms full of restored finishes. Guides explain key stages of the house's restoration and point out original and salvaged features that survive because careful stewardship kept them whole. You'll meet Jess Lombardi, a member of the family who still lives here and whose art draws on Victorian traditions; her perspective ties the season's decor to living cultural practice rather than museum display. Practical details matter with a private home: the tour runs roughly one hour, accommodates up to 22 people, and is led in English. Tours are not recommended for those who have trouble with three flights of stairs or cannot stand for extended periods, and the house is not wheelchair accessible. Non-flash photography is allowed, but the staff requests no selfie sticks, tripods, or commercial shoots without prior permission. There are limited restrooms on site; plan accordingly. Check in by name - no printed ticket necessary - and respect the areas that remain private to the family. What makes this outing special is the union of architecture and living history. Octagonal homes are uncommon; here the form, interior decoration, and seasonal art converge to create a household that is both lived-in and preserved. Because the tour visits a private residence, access to the veranda and grounds is restricted to ticketed times, which keeps the experience intimate and focused. If you appreciate historic architecture, hands-on craft traditions, and a quieter holiday program that prioritizes material culture over spectacle, this tour is a direct line to the past. It's a chance to see restoration work up close, to hear family stories, and to feel how a single house holds decades of practice without becoming a static exhibit. Booking is straightforward: Meeting point: The Armour-Stiner Octagon House 45 West Clinton Avenue Irvington, NY 10533. Tours include an English-language guide and allow free cancellation up to 48 hours before start. Tickets are limited to keep groups small; follow house rules - no food or drink indoors, no animals, and stay with your guide. Wear comfortable shoes; the house rewards close looking and bring layers for comfort.

About Untapped New York

Untapped New York is a specialist tour operator based in Jersey City, New Jersey, offering immersive, history-focused experiences across the New York metropolitan area. The company curates guided walking tours, hard hat access trips, private tours, and urban exploration itineraries that reveal hidden architecture, abandoned spaces, and lesser-known cultural stories. Signature experiences include private tours of remnants of Old Penn Station with photographic documentation from noted photographers and railroad historians; Secrets of Grand Central led by award-winning guides; and multiple Ellis Island Hospital hard hat tours that explore century-old contagious disease wards, autopsy rooms, and JR’s "Unframed" exhibition. Other offerings include underground subway explorations, Gilded Age mansions walks along Fifth Avenue, and thematic cultural routes such as NYC’s Irish History Tour.

Tours are presented as focused, small-group experiences—private and public—designed for visitors and locals who want deep historical context and rare access. Untapped New York highlights tangible artifacts and architectural remnants, combining storytelling with visual materials to enrich each tour. The company works with specialist guides, photographers, and historians to document locations factually and compellingly. Booking options include private tours and scheduled public departures for select trips. Whether exploring abandoned hospital wards, hidden stations, or the opulent façades of Millionaire’s Row, Untapped New York emphasizes archival research, expert-led narration, and unique on-site photographs to convey the layered history of New York’s built environment. Scheduled experiences feature Remnants of Penn Station, Secrets of Grand Central, Ellis Island Hospital Hard Hat Tours, NYC’s Underground Subway Tour, Fifth Avenue Gilded Age mansion walks.