vaile mansion

Unbelievable decorations through every inch of this home. The history was quite interesting. The tour guides were all very knowledgeable and definitely interested in the subject matter. This is just up the street from our home, and I am so glad to finally have toured. I am sure it would be interesting in the non-Christmas season as well, but seeing all the Victorian decor really helped get me in the spirit of the season! My 5 year old daughter even enjoyed. Lots of things to look at. Older kids who are at all interested in history would probably really enjoy. Tour is not too long to test their patience. There was a nice small gift shop too.

A great destination to get into the spirit of the season. Our travelers really enjoyed this visit! We enjoy bringing groups here

This was beautiful and interesting! The people who work there are friendly, sweet and helpful. I would recommend this to anyone especially at Christmas time. It's like the owners stepped out for a moment so you can tour. The stories about each room and each piece of furniture are fascinating. It was like stepping back in time.

This is one of the most beautiful - and unique - home tours I've ever taken. There are plenty of stairs so be prepared but every step is worth it if you are able. The stories behind the family who originally built it, the interim owners leading to the current state of the home - all fascinating. Several unique features of this home make it a must see while in Independence - don't want to spoil it for you. It has been lovingly restored down to the smallest detail and the tour guides' love of the home is reflected in the quality of the tour. I believe in May is when the Strawberry Festival is held, an especially good time to tour the home. Christmas is the best time when it is beautifully decorated.

Got my own guide to tell me about the place so I asked a lot more questions. Very interesting original owner. Luxorious but no warmth felt about lifestyle.

Beautifully restored - Historical society and the volunteers are doing a great job. Some of the rooms are still in progress, but well worth the visit if you like these old mansions.

Very interesting place to visit and lovely home to see. One of the best times to visit is at Christmas when this historic home becomes extra beautiful!

One of the best times to visit the Vaile Mansion is during the Strawberry Festival in early June. A live band, antique vendors and classic cars cover the grounds. Usually dozens of garage sales in the area neighborhoods as well.

Over the years I have visited this historical home a few times. The best visit is during the Chrstmas season, and many of the decorated rooms are spectacular. Lots of Christmas trees and qualified guides are highlights. Another nice time to visit is early June during the annual strawberry. festival on the grounds. But, the architecture of this house is interesting to see at anytime.

If you are in the Kansas City area during the Christmas season, take some time to visit the Vaile Mansion. The Christmas display was wonderful and inexpensive.

Kind of in a yucky part of town. Make sure the doors are locked. Interesting but come when other sites around town are open as well, not worth the drive for that alone. Sorry

I love this house. My uncle and cousins werre hired to restore the house to period. I think they did a grea job. Take a tour, you will love it.

The brochure does not do this mansion justice ...it is much more impressive to see it in person. More grand. The guided tour does include stairs (I'm unclear if there is ADA accessibility to the upper floors?). A very interesting story about the Vaile family, and although the opulence of their home demonstrates how much they had, their story is also sad. For they were never able to achieve acceptance by high society in Independence, MO. I won't spoil it by telling you why, but when you go on the tour, see if you can empathize for their situation and what they 'didn't ' have in life. There's a wonderful gift shop upstairs, too. I was able to buy a booklet about the Vaile's for $4.00 a very affordable souvenir. We live two states away, but if we lived closer, we would love to see this mansion decorated for the Christmas holidays. (Note: they close the mansion for 1 month late Oct-late Nov in order to decorate.) The grounds are lovely, with fountain, and raised planting beds, and lovely rose-lined walkway from the city street in front. We took many photos. The docents were knowledgeable, and friendly. We love to visit historical homes/mansions when we travel, and this is one we loved more than most. We spent about 2 1/2 hours touring, taking photos, enjoying the mansion and grounds.

When you first see the structure from the outside it will blow you away. Inside they have made it so very close to back when it first opened. There are only two artifacts from the original residence when the Vaile family passed on the items were sold at public auction. There are five marble fireplaces, the ceilings were re done to bring up what was original, we saw the faces on the wood in the smoking room. The grounds were beautiful, it was originally 20 acres, our tour guide was very helpful, this house was constructed before the civil war so of course no elevator, one flight was not really bad, we were so impressed.

I was really awe stuck the entire time I was in this home. It is beautifully decorated with pieces from the time period. Our tour guide was really knowledgeable about the home and the different pieces displayed. She spent a lot of time with us in the smoking room pointing out all the different faces in the wood grain.