What Is King Manor Museum?
King Manor Museum is a historic house museum at 150-03 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432, in Rufus King Park. The address is in Jamaica, Queens—not Hollis. The museum interprets Rufus King’s political legacy, antislavery history, and early American life in Jamaica.
The house offers a place to connect those themes with the story of one family and its home. Rufus King was a political figure and antislavery advocate; the museum focuses on that legacy alongside the history of the surrounding community.
The House and Its History
In 1805, Rufus King and his wife bought an 18th-century farmhouse and 90 acres. They expanded the house, and the estate and working farm eventually grew to 122 acres. After Rufus King died in 1827, his eldest son, John Alsop King, continued operating the farm and made further improvements to the house.
The King family retained the home until 1896. It opened as a museum in 1900. Today, the City of New York owns King Manor, while the King Manor Association of Long Island, Inc. operates it.
Planning a Museum Visit
King Manor Museum’s listed visiting hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 12 p.m.–4 p.m.; it is closed Sunday through Wednesday. Admission is free, and there is no required fee, though you may make a donation. The museum recommends allowing about one hour to explore the historic house.
Guided tours are listed Thursday through Saturday at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Reservations are strongly encouraged but not required. For a group of 10 or more, call 718-206-0545 to check availability. The museum closes on all major holidays and advises checking its calendar for specific closures.
Access depends on which parts of the house you plan to visit. A wheelchair-accessible ramp at the rear leads directly to the Main Hall, and a small ramp provides access to the Servants’ Quarters.
The main front-porch entrance has four steps; many interior doorways have raised thresholds, and reaching the second floor requires climbing 18 steps. Two restrooms are on the first floor near the main entrance, and limited railing is available.
The museum says it does not currently have formal accommodations for visitors with visual or hearing impairments. Contact the museum with accessibility questions or accommodation requests. You may encounter creaking floors, drafts, and distinct smells associated with aging materials; some tour elements are designed to be touched or heard.
Before you go: Visiting hours, tour arrangements, closures, and parking availability can change. Check the official site before you go.
Getting There from Hollis
King Manor Museum is about a 29-minute walk from Hotel Pergola Jamaica JFK, or about a 9-minute drive. The museum is in Jamaica, Queens, so plan for the address there rather than Hollis.
Published transit directions say to take the E or J train to Jamaica Center/Parsons Archer, the F train to Parsons Boulevard, or the LIRR to Jamaica station. From there, walk toward 153rd Street and Jamaica Avenue. Limited free on-site parking is available; call ahead to reserve a spot.
Nearby Places to Pair with a Visit
Rufus King Park surrounds the museum, making the grounds a natural nearby stop before or after your time in the house. For another cultural venue in Jamaica, the Jamaica Performing Arts Center is nearby. You can also plan a separate outing to Captain Tilly Park in Queens.
The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning is another nearby cultural venue. These stops let you build a Jamaica outing around local history, arts, and parkland without confusing the museum’s location with Hollis.