Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum

Believe it or not, the Bronx was once considered the country, and you get that sense almost immediately when entering the grounds of the Bartow-Pell Mansion. The Pell family bought the land from the Native Americans in 1654. Eventually the Bartow family purchased a small chunk of that parcel after the Revolutionary War and finished building this three-storey Greek Revival home in 1842. In 1888, the last relative left the house and the family sold it to the NYC Parks Department. Today you can soak in that country feeling by exploring the formal garden, admiring the Long Island Sound views and wandering through the small family cemetery. Tours of the home are also available for a small fee, and the ongoing renovation of the grounds is scheduled to be completed in 2014.