Welcome to the Seward / Mapes Homestead
A National Treasure Worth Preserving in Florida, NY
The Seward/Mapes Homestead presents a rare opportunity in historic preservation to focus on the lives and accomplishments of two men deeply engaged in the American Civil War on different levels – one as Secretary of State in the Lincoln Administration and the other as a Union soldier in the illustrious 124th New York State volunteer regiment that fought in many horrific battles from Manassas Gap to Appomattox.
Seward Day 2020
Unfortunately, we had to cancel the celebration of the 220th Anniversary of the birth of our native son William Henry Seward. Like everyone, we hope the pandemic will be history by 2021. We aspire to be an educational asset to the Village of Florida and Orange County, New York. Take a look at the many educational programs we have had in the past:
About Us
In 2010, a two acre parcel of property in the center of the Village of Florida, Orange County, was entrusted to the Village by the Town of Warwick. The Village of Florida is a municipality within the Town of Warwick. The site had been largely neglected for nearly fifteen years, but was deemed to have significant historic value. It is what remains of the birthplace of William Henry Seward, former Governor and Senator of New York, Secretary of State in the Lincoln administration and driving force behind the purchase of Alaska in 1867. On the same land is another house, known as the Mapes House named after Horace Mapes, the man who had it built for his family in 1887. It is a Queen Anne style Victorian with many of its original features still intact, having served as a funeral parlor for a good part of the last century.