Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Sea Cliff Landmarks Association’s biannual house tour returns on June 14, showing five houses and one garage. Recently renovated houses built in the Victorian era and mid-century post-World War II period are the focus of this year’s tour.
Alternating years with the secret garden tour, the house tour gives attendees the opportunity to view the interior of different houses in the village. Leslie Guerci, president of the Landmarks Association, said that over time the house tour’s focus has shifted from the houses themselves to the owners’ design choices.
“When people go on a house tour,” she said, “they expect to see something that looks different or more polished than their own house.”
House tours have been held in Sea Cliff since the 1970s. The Salvation Army sponsored the first tour. Mutual Concerns has also sponsored house tours throughout the years. The Salvation Army held tours in multiple towns as a fundraiser.
Attendees purchase tickets online or at some stores in town which they exchange on the day of the tour for a map. Participants are free to explore the houses in any order at their own pace within the four-hour timeframe. Volunteer docents are stationed at each location to provide information on the houses and items within each room.
This year’s tour features three Victorian houses and two mid-century ranches. Guerci described the garage as “spectacular” and said it is a completely new element.
“We try to have a variety of houses,” she explained, “and we definitely always want at least one Victorian and a mixture of larger houses and smaller houses.”
One Victorian house on the tour was built in 1892, and the renovation focused largely on making the basement more usable and creating easier access to the backyard. Another house, described as a simply Victorian cottage, was built in 1891. Owners have renovated and added multiple rooms and use a detached garage as an occasional art gallery and gathering space.
The third Victorian house was built between 1894 and 1898. Owners have restored the home’s barn, renovated the yard and several rooms as well as added rooms. The house was also given a “Painted Lady” color scheme, used to describe Victorian homes featuring three or more colors.
One mid-century ranch style house features trays of items creating vignettes and color schemes coordinated with each season. The other includes a renovated second floor and former garage that is now a mudroom, laundry room, pantry, and a half bathroom.
“They’re all very different, and they’re all a tribute to the vision of the homeowners,” Guerci said. “It’s interesting to see how people’s personal preferences become reflected in the style of their house.”
After choosing a date for the event, the Landmarks Association visits the houses of interested residents to choose which will appear on the tour. Organizers meet with the homeowners to collect information on when they bought the house, how they found Sea Cliff, what they were looking for in a house and what their renovation plans were. The Landmarks Association has also been coordinating with the Village Museum and local businesses.
The Sea Cliff Arts Council’s Film Fest will be the same weekend, June 13 and 14.
“If you’ve always wanted to go to Sea Cliff and check it out, this is the weekend to do it,” Guerci said, “because there’s so much going on.”
