The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House

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Irvington, NY
The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House

A National Historic Landmark The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House is one of the most visually unique homes in the world. In the 1930s it was occupied by Aleko E.

It is the only known residence constructed in the eight-sided, domed colonnaded shape of a classic Roman Temple. The Octagon House was originally built in the 1860s following the publication of The Octagon House, a Home for All by Orson Squire Fowler, a phrenologist, sexologist and amateur architect. Fowler advocated octagonal instead of four-sided houses on the supposition that the shape enclosed

more space, created rooms which received twice as much sunlight and had greater accessibility to each other. In 1872, the house was purchased by Joseph Stiner, a prominent New York City tea merchant. His alterations created the present lyrical structure. The exterior embellishments are extraordinarily festive with floral detailing in the cast iron cresting and railings and elaborately carved wood scrollwork and capitals – all painted in shades of rose, blue, violet and red. The interiors are equally decorative with painted and stenciled ceilings, trim with gold, silver and bronze leaf and unique 8-sided motifs in the plasterwork, woodwork and etched glass. Subsequent owners of the house have been imaginative people. Lilius, a Finnish writer and explorer who had lived with a female pirate who plundered ships off the coast of China. Carl Carmer, the celebrated author, poet and historian, resided in the house from 1946 to the time of his death in 1976. The house plays a role in a number of his published tales, including stories of a resident ghost. Shortly after the death of Carl Carmer, the house was acquired by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Unstable and in need of restoration, it was the first house to be resold to a private citizen. Joseph Pell Lombardi, the owner, is a Preservation Architect who has conserved the house, interiors, grounds and outbuildings.

06/12/2026

Flashback to 1947 when 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓻𝓶𝓸𝓾𝓻-𝓢𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓻 𝓞𝓬𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓸𝓷 𝓗𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮 Octagon House was the backdrop of a multiple page spread in Life Magazine 🎪✨

In the years after World War II, author Carl Carmer helped save the Armour–Stiner Octagon House with something unexpected: a party.

Shortly after purchasing the house, Carmer and his wife hosted an extravagant Victorian fête complete with antique carriages, croquet on the lawn, candlelit dining, and guests in period dress. The celebration was featured in LIFE Magazine, bringing the remarkable Octagon House before millions of readers at a time when many historic buildings were being demolished.

The guest list included some of America’s leading writers, artists, journalists, and illustrators. More importantly, the event reminded people that historic places are worth preserving—not simply as museums, but as living spaces filled with creativity, laughter, and community.

Today, the Armour–Stiner Octagon House stands as a National Historic Landmark, and the spirit of that famous gathering lives on.

On August 30, 2026, we continue the tradition with our 1876 Centennial Garden Party—a celebration of history, pageantry, and the enduring magic of this extraordinary house.

$Long live the Big Leaf Magnolia Tree at 🌿!A sight to behold.. the leaves grow to be +\- 30”, blooms are about 20” wide ...$

06/06/2026

Long live the Big Leaf Magnolia Tree at 🌿!
A sight to behold.. the leaves grow to be +\- 30”, blooms are about 20” wide and last 24 hours— we have to be quick about photos! The frangrance is mostly sweet and fills the air. Each June we stare at this blooming specimen tree with amazement

From Wikipedia: “Magnolia macrophylla (Bigleaf Magnolia) is a rare, deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. It is celebrated for possessing the largest simple leaves and single flowers of any native North American tree, providing a striking, tropical aesthetic to ornamental landscapes and natural wooded environments”

It’s a rare site in New York, and possible this tree (and other big leaf magnolia trees along the avenue) might have been planted in the 1950s by Betty Carmer Black, former owner of The Armour-Stiner Octagon House, and native of New Orleans.

05/29/2026

Clouds behind the cupola this eve ✨🦄

05/28/2026

🩷View today from inside the Foxglove Garden open for tours this weekend!

Friday May 29
11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00
Saturday May 30
10:00, 11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00
Sunday May 31
10:00, 11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00
Monday June 1
11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00

05/21/2026

Waiting on the weather forecast to make your weeknd plans? Don’t. ☁️✅

The Octagon House is open rain or shine this Memorial Day — tours are on, full stop. See you there!

05/13/2026

Immortal George.. This c. 1860s George Washington phrenology inkwell 🧠🫟✍🏼can be viewed inside the second floor study of and connects directly to the ideas that inspired Octagon House itself.

In the 19th century, phrenology claimed that human character could be understood through the shape of the skull. Though now 💯 discredited, these theories deeply influenced Victorian ideas about life— and architecture.

Orson Squire Fowler, the phrenologist who popularized octagonal houses in America, believed that the design of a home could shape human behavior and well-being just as environment shape. He also love to theorize about George Washington’s skull.

Ironically, Fowler’s octagon house in Fishkill was demolished due to his “special recipe” of concrete which became toxic. For more information see our new Octagon Journal Substack, link in bio!

05/12/2026

Step back into the spirit of 1876 at the spectacular Armour–Stiner Octagon House. 🇺🇸✨

Join us on Sunday, August 30, 2026 for the 1876 Centennial Garden Party 🇺🇸✨🌿 A once-in-a-lifetime summer soirée celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial at one of the nation’s most extraordinary historic homes.

Enjoy live music, Victorian lawn games & croquet, historic interpreters, storytelling by Jonathan Kruk, a silhouette artist, sleight-of-hand magician, 1876-inspired light fare by Horsefeathers of Tarrytown, beer & wine, and self-guided access through two interior floors of the house.

Stroll the veranda, wander the Foxglove Garden, and experience an unforgettable Victorian summer afternoon just 45 minutes north of New York City.

Period attire is welcome, but not required.

Sunday, August 30, 2026
4:00–7:00 PM
Tickets from $150
Advance tickets required, see website armourstiner.com

12/16/2025

𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓼 𝓮𝔁𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓭!❄️🧊⛸️ Octagon House in Irvington NY IS now offering tours through January 4th!

Family in town over the holidays? Give them the gift of an unforgettable visit to this unique eight-sided home! Tickets can be purchased on the website armourstiner.com ~ Note this is a private home, access to the grounds is by tour ticket only.

Upcoming tour schedule!

𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖-𝟐𝟐 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬
𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟑 - 𝟐𝟕 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝
𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖-𝟑𝟎 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬
𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏 - 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝
✨🥳𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫!
𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐-𝟒 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬
𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟓- 𝐅𝐞𝐛 𝟐𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 closed for the season!
𝐑𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟖

❄️

#2026

12/14/2025

Snow day, but tours still happening! A wonderful time for a photo op at

Address

45 West Clinton Avenue
Irvington, NY
10533

Telephone

+19148175763

Website

http://armourstiner.com/

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