Anytime we visit Rochester, we have to visit the Eastman Museum. It's a great museum, featuring not only the permanent exhibit, the house, the outdoor garden but also the rotating exhibits. Everyone is also very nice and welcoming. I absolutely love photography so I love seeing the old pictures and the cameras that took them. It's so cool to see the evolution of the camera. They also have a few movie cameras too. They also had a whole wall displaying the colors used when Technicolor was first introduced. I also like seeing how much better pictures got over time too. When we visited recently, there was a wonderful exhibit that I absolutely loved. It combined my love of flowers, horticulture and photography. It was so cool that this man grew these beautiful tall flowers across a large portion of his property and photographed it all. He also created some other beautiful pieces. I especially loved three large panels. While touring the house, you see many fascinating items from Eastman's life. It's a beautiful home. You can just imagine the parties he must have hosted there. I would love to have attended a party that he had in his dining room. He had some beautiful things. the foyer where you go to the other rooms or upstairs. He had some interesting artifacts too like his pipe organ that had around 6k pipes. I bet it sounded amazing because there were also buttons that made it sound like a whole orchestra. The gardens there are absolutely beautiful when not under construction. They have so many wonderful varieties of flowers and other plants. I can't wait to go back and see it after the construction is done. There was also a beautiful picture of Macchu Picchu outside. If you love photography, you must visit. They have a nice gift shop too. read more

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This is a house that reflects the zeitgeist and sensibilities of it's first owner, as do Elvis's Graceland and Hearst's San Simeon. If you're one of the world's richest men, how do you design your home? It turns out, George Eastman, best known for earning camera patents and running a multi-million dollar international firm, had a wild and wacky side. Who else would install not just a cathedral-style Wurlitzer near the central stairwell, but hire an organist to play it every morning at 08:00 as an alarm clock? He once took an African safari and decorated his home liberally with the mementos: An elephant's head is in place of pride in the atrium. Eastman's mother lived to an advanced age, and had her own wing in the house. For me, this was some of the most interesting and personal parts of the house. Her bedroom window had the best view of the formal gardens below. The nurse's quarters were adjacent to hers. The state of the art wheelchair was on display, and looking into the medicine cabinet (behind glass) were the medicine bottles she used. Raise your hand if you're surprised morphine was there? Except for the china pattern, the piano, and the furniture, Mrs. Eastman is almost invisible. Perhaps that was her preference. In summer the gardens are open to the public. There's a gallery/ photography museum next to the house on the first floor; the price of admission is covered in the same visit fee. Seniors, students, children have discounted ticket prices. read more

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Stunning museum, home, and gardens! If you are visiting Rochester or are a local, the George Eastman Museum and Gardens should be on your list. Impressive collection, rotating exhibits, and events. Make a day out of it. Enjoy the museum, George Eastman's Home, curated gardens, and gift shop. The tour guides are friendly and have so much knowledge to share! They offer discounted admission rates for some individuals. You can also pick up a pass for discounted admission from local libraries. read more

George Eastman Museum - Garden view - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

It feels to me like if you haven't visited the Eastman Museum, you haven't fully experienced Rochester. Having visited many contemporary mansions in the Mid-Hudson Valley, I think the Eastman home is comparable if not better. The gardens were beautiful, and I took notes and made a landscaping project list for my own home for next year. The photography museum is icing on the cake. It does seem ironic, though, that while we're visiting a museum devoted to the history of photography, now most of us are taking our pictures on digital media. How times and technology have changed and grown! read more

George Eastman Museum - Just a very small piece of the beautiful gardens behind the mansion - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

My first visit here and I know I'll be back. The George Eastman museum is both his mansion and with very tasteful renovations and additions a beautiful art gallery. We were lucky to make it in time for the guided tour of the mansion. We learned about George Eastman, his family and very interesting facts about the huge mansion. Many of the furnishings were original to the house and the architecture was amazing. They have a lovely cafe inside so we sat down for just a drink since our lunch plans were already made. The Hibiscus ice tea was wonderful. We took our time and viewed the exhibit "Edward Steichen and the Garden". He was a reknowned photographer and horticulturist creating many new strains of his beloved Delphiniums. The detailed information posted by each item was fascinating. Everyone working there was pleasant and helpful. They also have events like movies and music, so check the schedule. read more

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I loved walking through his home and learning about the detail he put into it, such as accommodating his mother's wheelchair at the dinner table. The gardens were beautiful and colorful in the summer. People can have wedding ceremonies there. Besides his home, the photo collection and evolutions of cameras were very interesting to look at. read more

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It's a chance to go back in history. This is the perfect time to go. The garden is blooming. The art and photography exhibit right now is amazing. when I went yesterday, they had goats in the back trimming the weeds. Very relaxing. read more

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Beautiful museum inside of the Eastman mansion. loved learning the history of Kodak. (didn't know he was a huge racist tho) read more

George Eastman Museum - library - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

A smaller museum, it will only take you about 3 hours if that to view everything, but still a sight to see when in Rochester! There were four exhibits on display, all carefully curated. I particularly enjoyed the student gallery for the opportunity it provides to emerging artists. Eastman's home is opposite to the exhibits and is well preserved. I went a day there was an organ player and I could have spent the entire day listening to him play show tunes. Unfortunately the gardens were closed, but even prior to everything blooming they looked stunning. I can't wait to return when everything is in bloom read more

An American icon with an origin story that will fascinate. Both the museum and mansion are so well curated that one feels a special connection to both George Eastman and his inspiring legacy, Kodak read more

The grounds are well kept as well as the inside. The staff is welcoming and very knowledgeable. It is a good source to learn more about the history of Eastman and the Rochester community. The small fee is a fair value and helps to maintain and make available this landmark. You should definitely visit if you are in the area. read more

George Eastman Museum - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

The museum/home is beautiful. I went during their Dutch connection and the flowers were stunning. It's something that's not too expensive, takes a couple hours, and there's a guided tour you can do. read more

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This place is a must visit if you're in Rochester NY. The house is amazing. I have visited several times and always see something new. I was visiting family and we were going to the Memorial Gallery of art and decided to visit the Eastman museum before. The house/museum open at 10 AM and MAG opens at a11. It's a picture into the past of George Eastman founder of Kodak and philanthropist. The rooms are kept as they were in the 1930s. The library, main sitting room, bedroom, even the bathroom are amazing. We usually just go ourselves but I know there is a guided tour. read more

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Visited this past weekend to see all the festive holiday displays! It was very busy but we were still able to find parking within the lot. This year they have a fun scavenger hunt to complete when viewing the gingerbread houses. The kids really enjoyed this and it made for an interactive experience trying to match the displays to the clues. In addition to the gingerbread houses, wreathes, and tabletop trees were on display as well. All of the creations are available for auction online. We had a great time and look forward to our annual holiday visit every year. read more

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I was expecting a great visit with the hype of this world renowned photo museum. Underwhelmed. Have seen much better photo exhibits in NYC, Houston, London... One gallery is very small and features local high school students' work. The interesting gallery was early equipment and photos. The main and large gallery was "75 years of...". Many notable photographers were absent or not their signature pieces. Some photographers of little note. If you have an hour to kill and your expectations are not too high... read more

George Eastman Museum - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

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The Eastman House is filled with history...beautifully maintained both inside and out. The audio tour adds to the overall experience. Finished in period pieces you truly feel how Mr. Eastman lived. The grounds are beautiful and perfectly maintained. The grape arbors are currently undergoing renovation so not avail read more

The 2025 Film Festival may have been the best yet. John Falotico and I have been attending for many years. The choice of films; ability to get around the campus; and the opportunity to meet new interesting folks were only a few of the positives. The atmosphere and of course the choice of films were two more positives. We know the extraordinary work and concern for films are always there. John Falotico Barbara L Parks read more

Went on a Tuesday morning, not very crowded which was great. There is a parking lot with free parking. I took the guided tour which is by the volunteer docents. He was very informative and answered numerous questions. The tour is free and goes throughout the Eastman house and is about an hour long. I would recommend it. After the tour I went through the galleries which were nice too. There is an app you can download to hear from the photographer or about the pieces themselves. I will say it is not in order of walking through the room so you have to look for the right picture or type in the corresponding number. I enjoyed hearing from the photographer, since they provided more insight to their pieces. After I walked through some of the gardens which were beautifully maintained and offered great pictures. I was at the museum for about 3 hours and took my time, you could make it longer or shorter. I would recommend for anyone interested in photography or historical homes. read more

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This review is coming from an international tourist who's not usually super keen into historic sightseeing and don't know much about George Eastman other than he founded/invented the Kodak camera. I came here because it's listed as one of the top things to do in Rochester. I've visited several historic homes before, both free and paid, in places like Savannah and Toronto and usually enjoy those experiences. While this might be an unpopular opinion, I found this historic home experience to be one of the least worthwhile among the ones I've been to. At $22 USD for adult admission, I expected a bit more for the price. I think it's a missed opportunity to not showcase more on the tour or video documentary about George Eastman's upbringing, character and the history of Kodak's success/downfall and its influence on the photography industry. Given Kodak was such an economic driver in this city in the past, I wish they shared more about the impact. What made visiting a historic home interesting for me in the past was having a passionate tour guide with extensive knowledge who could elaborate further on any topic. Perhaps the group size also may have affected my comfort in asking questions, especially if the topics weren't even covered on tour. For this tour, I just felt it was more about the architecture, purposes of each room and the materialism than about the biography of George Eastman or history of Kodak. If you're into architecture, historic design, (seeing the display not on tour) photography equipment in the past I think this would be right up your alley. Perhaps a lot of his personal life is not really well documented or known to be shared (so I don't blame the tour guide). Some of the discussion was on the amount of wealth he accumulated and all the fancy things he has in the home like having the excessive wealth to spend a fortune to open up a space in his main hall where he hosts guests. While I can admire the beautiful acoustic space, the elephant mold and somewhat nice garden I wish there was more in the story telling. Certainly you can go ahead and read some of it on the displays but I'm more of a person that enjoys the tour guide sharing stories and relationships about the people living in the home and history of how they acquired their wealth (eg. more about the Kodak company). A video documentary about Kodak and the founder would probably rounded this experience for an out of country tourist instead of just muted / minimal dialogue past recordings of George Eastman. Perhaps I'm not the prime audience as many visiting are within state/American and do love their experience, it was just okay with me. There's also another area that showcases posters/propaganda from the past as a bonus add on. I can see this being a great space for wedding and prom photos. As I just stepped out and saw people taking photos around the building. read more

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Coming here for the second time was greater than amazing. I have been a photographer for over five decades now and just loved every moment in the museum and Mr. Eastman's home. I don't even know where to begin. I do not want to narrate this entire place but an overview of what you will see and learn. In the museum you will see amazing pictures that really show the art of photography. You will learn all the "firsts" that Mr. Eastman came up with you enhance this art and also make it affordable to everyone. Old prints, cameras and other items. Take you time and make sure you see everything. The trip through his home was equally amazing. It's your opportunity to learn about the man who did so much for the world. Items that can be credited to Mr. Eastman are Healthcare for his employees and the "United Way." This is, of course, your golden opportunity to learn all things "Kodak." The docents here are amazing and can really tell you facts that will amaze you. One of the highlights of the house are the pipe organs. The stories about them are extraordinary . Make sure you check out the lovely gardens and all the great stories. Take your time and stroll the area. You will absolutely walk our with a smile on your face. KUDOs to the team here at the George Eastman Museum. read more

George Eastman Museum - I just love this place - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

We added an extra night to our trip down the Erie Canal just to have time to tour the house and museum. It was a let down having read the reviews and the on line descriptions. The two videos when you walk in were interesting. The house has 5-6 rooms to see and that is all. They are well done and give some sense of the man and his daily life. But I learned more from other visitors in the garden than I did from the recorded tour. The house had much more land and tunnels under it. I wanted to know more but the tour was weak. Having been to a lot of prominent American business visionaries' homes this was the least informative. The museum says it has many million items in the collection, I was so excited. However, there was one room in LGBTQ in Rochester that is interesting if you are part of that community in Rochester but not what I was there to see. One wall of technicolor bottles was fun to see. Then one room with maybe 30 old cameras and fewer photos on the wall and that was it. I have been to antique stores with more old photography equipment and the owners had more to say about them. Where are the many millions of items? I am sure they have great stories about photos and history and the influence on culture and how photography changed the world but they showed non of it. Actually, they had 2 copies of the same Ansel Adams photo in a hall to show the difference in the old bulbs they used in the museum and the new LED lights, that was about as interesting an example they had. Even the store was a let down. Visit the Ford's home outside Detroit, Flagler's house in Palm Beach, the Corning Museum, Viscaya, mark Twain's house in Hartford, any Newport home, the Biltmore, they all give you a great cultural context and you leave with wonder and having learned a lot about the owners, their influence, their lives, but not at the Eastman. I can not recommend it. Just buy a book on it and save the admission. read more

We had a pleasant tour of the museum. The tour guide was thorough, personable, and knowledgeable. The museum is beautiful. It is full of history with original Eastman artifacts and memorabilia. The rooms are well kept and restored. I highly recommend you tour this museum and property. read more

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Such a beautiful museum and great exhibits right now. There is a gingerbread house display and wreaths too. Plenty of parking and great architecture. read more

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This place is beautiful. The staff are knowledgeable and very kind. We spent like 2 hours just walking around and exploring the exhibit. It was truly amazing to see so many historic items in good condition. I'm always happy to give my money to preserving history. Would definitely come back! read more

I was excited to visit the George Eastman Museum since I read that their collection includes over 400,000 photographs, including a collection of Ansel Adams' photography. Unfortunately, the Collection Gallery was a small room with roughly 30 photographs. One was an Ansel Adams. There were many old cameras in display cases if that interests you. There was also a Project Gallery with a handful of recent acquisitions and a few nude images (you should take this into account if you're bringing kids), and a special exhibit of 1960s movie posters. Overall, not worth the $20 admission since there were very few photographs on display. It seems like most positive reviews are about the old house, which I didn't tour. read more

George Eastman Museum - Collection photographs on display - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

Outstanding museum! Have not been in years I was glad we had guests in for the holiday so that we could take them to see it. Late November through December is the wonderful gingerbread house display, table top Christmas tree displays and decorated wreaths on display as well. Beautiful organ music played throughout our visit. They are observing Covid capacity numbers so you may have a bit of a wait to enter. Masks are required. It looks like a great new café has opened for food. A beautiful bright spot on a cold winter day-two temporary photography exhibits that were wonderful with a third that features items from their permanent collection Are all of you as well as a tour of the mansion. read more

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Love this place!!! Its a Rochester must. From the flowers in the spring to the gingerbread houses during Christmas it's always so beautiful. The little cafe is delicious, and their gelato is even better. Even when nothing is going on, the outdoor garden always makes for a wonderful photoshoot opportunity with friends. Also, inside their are lots of fun activities for kids! I have not personally been since COVID has hit as I am high-risk, however, I would imagine that they are handling things well, with a level the same level of professionalism as always. read more

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I hadn't been to the George Eastman Museum since I was under 10 years old, so all I remembered were the elephant head and the gingerbread houses. There is LOTS to see here! My husband and I went during the Dutch Connection exhibit and it was wonderful to see (and smell) all of the beautiful flower varieties on a cold winter day. We had a great lunch at the cafe, then walked through the rest of the museum including the Eastman photography history rooms, the Joshua Rashaad McFadden exhibit "I Believe I'll Run On", and the Aboriginal Australian artist James Tylor's "From an Untouched Landscape". McFadden's exhibit was especially emotional as it portrayed images of the Summer 2020 protests in Rochester and beyond. This is a well-maintained museum with a lot to see. I'm looking forward to going back in the spring or summer when the outdoor gardens are in bloom. read more

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This was a nice add-on during our day trip to Rochester from the vacation house we were renting south of here. The two galleries were both nicely done with some amazing photos. The house was interesting to walk through and the old pipe organ is amazing! The history of Kodak products was interesting to learn about as well. In our current era of digital photos it's interesting to think about needing to mail in an entire camera to get photos back and have it reloaded with film. The gardens were undergoing renovation, so not really anything to see during our visit, but based on the plans posted, it should be nice when it's done. read more

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My husband and I recently visited the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY. We participated in a docent-led tour that highlighted the history of George Eastman and his home. I was impressed with the docent's knowledge and the excellent condition of the home and its contents. After the tour, we had lunch in the café. The menu had many vegetarian and vegan offerings. There were also meat offerings. We split a corn mash sandwich and salad, both of which were delicious. I have uploaded a photo of the menu so that others can consider the offerings or be creatively inspired to make some of the offerings at home. I have also uploaded other photos taken at the George Eastman House including a photo of me with the event host, Tammara S. read more

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If you like art, architecture, photography, film, gardens and history, the George Eastman Museum has something for everyone. Museum has amble parking, bathrooms and excellent cafe for lunch. Highly recommend. read more

George Eastman Museum - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Deeply embarrassed that it has taken me this long to review this ROC institution! From wandering around the mansion to exploring whatever incredible exhibition the museum has programmed, there is truly something for everyone. While out of towners should certainly make this a part of their itinerary, I can't stress enough how important it is for locals to get out and support this spot! Dutch Connection?! Cartoons!? There is just so much to love. I know they also throw gorgeous weddings in their gardens and I cannot wait to see what happens once renovations are complete. I've heard rumors of stunning views from the mansion to the gardens and so much more. I also really enjoy the cafe area and their offerings, not to mention the knowledgeable docents making their way through the museum at all times. Just...go! read more

Excellent your stop in Rochester where the man who invented photography lived . Beautifully maintained and worth the trip to see the house, gardens and photography museum. read more

This is a really cool place especially since with George Eastman and Kodak Rochester would not be what it is today. The museum is set up nice and will probably take 2 hours to walk through the house and the camera exhibits. There are options to attend a camera history tour and the house tour and I would definitely recommend both! The gentlemen who gave the camera history tour was extremely knowledgeable and was very engaging with history facts and tributes to Kodak! The house tour was okay, i think it should have definitely been more than downstairs but upstairs as well and there should have been more tours with smaller groups. I didn't agree with some statements that the tour guide provided such as "Kodak went down the tubes" - what other companies have been around for 150years? Aside from that the tour explains the different purposes of each room and the various historic items within. One cool item was a chair given to GE by the Czar of Russia! Overall 25$ per person did not seem bad to walk through history so great value! read more

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This museum is a fairly essential experience if you're experiencing Rochester for the first time. Just don't expect to spend a lot of time there unless you're catching a movie or eating at Open Face. But what it offers, it does a great job with. On a recent visit, we saw four different photo and film exhibitions. Of course there's always the Dryden Theater, which always has a thematic series or, occasionally, showings for a film festival. The gallery has two spaces for photo exhibitions; one is small enough that maybe a dozen works or so are on display. The other is a more typical size of three or four sizable rooms. There is a small room containing a very small sampling of the permanent collection of cameras and photos from the archives. Finally there is a small viewing room for installation films on a loop. That's about it - though it must be noted the grounds are absolutely gorgeous as well. read more

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Wonderful place to visit. I would go in the summer if you also like gardens and flowers because the grounds are beautiful that time of year. Plenty of parking and bathrooms throughout the museum. read more

George Eastman Museum - Library - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Visiting the George Eastman House is always fun. The outside is always immaculately kept and the inside is full of interesting exhibits that regularly rotate. The house is typically decorated in season and even though the exhibits at the house don't change much, we seem to learn something new every time we visit. read more

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Worth a visit! A fascinating look into the founder of Kodak and the history of photography/film. Very well presented galleries and an easy to follow audio guide will lead you through the mansion. read more

George Eastman Museum - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

The curators have done a very nice job maintaining this building and history, and now by including even more in the renovations. We really enjoy having access to the Dryden theater, and the students who help us understand the history of each film. The new wall display outside of the museum is also incredible and I can't wait to see the next few displays. Inside, you'll find 6 unnecessary fireplaces (because the house has heat) and a wonderful private library. Lovers of photography will also find a wing full of camera and photography history and additional exhibits. read more

George Eastman Museum - Museums Near Me - Rochester, New York

Had a great visit to this remarkable landmark. Not my first visit, but the best visit. Two things stood out: 1) the art exhibits were very powerful. Examination of race and gender! 2) the new audio tour of the mansion was surprisingly worthwhile. I was hesitant to "dial" in the narrative for the tour but i am pleased that I did. Learned a lot and the length was perfect, I wasn't stuck standing in the bedroom longing for the narration to end. Finished the great visit with a coffee and cookie in the Cafe GREAT home made treats- and for the non-coffee crowd an amazing selection of teas. George would be pleased read more