Marvel’s Latest Hit TV Show Has Major Ties to These Hudson Valley Counties

Whether you've been watching the show or not (even though you definitely should), you've probably heard about the latest animated series from Marvel and Disney, X-Men '97. X-Men '97 is the first X-Men-centric project produced under Disney's ownership since they bought the rights from Fox in an acquisition that started in December of 2017.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marvel Studios (@marvelstudios)

It is a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997), continuing from where that series ends. It depicts the X-Men facing dangerous new challenges following the loss of their leader, Professor X. X-Men '97 is produced by Marvel Studios Animation, with Beau DeMayo serving as head writer for the first two seasons, and Jake Castorena as supervising director.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marvel Studios (@marvelstudios)

With the show rising in popularity, it is a good time to remind you that the X-Men have major ties to the Hudson Valley! Though the X-Men are fictional, their story involves some very real places.

Professor Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is in Westchester, New York

This fact is probably one of the most known Hudson Valley connections. The founder of the X-Men, Charles Xavier, was born into a wealthy family in Westchester, New York. The family occupied the sprawling Xavier Mansion. The "X Mansion" was Xavier's childhood home, and he would later turn it into his school and sanctuary for mutants, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marvel Studios (@marvelstudios)

Sometime between the late 1700s and early 1900s, a large Neoclassical mansion was constructed on the land near Breakstone Lake just outside of Salem Center, New York. The estate was inherited by Brian Xavier and he lived there with his wife, Sharon and their son, Charles, until Brian's untimely, accidental death. Charles Xavier was born and raised in the mansion. After Brian's death, Sharon married his once colleague, Dr. Kurt Marko. Marko and his son, Cain lived at the mansion thereafter. Sharon died not long after the marriage, and the ownership of the estate passed on to Charles. Charles is the tenth generation Xavier to own the mansion.

Get our free mobile app

The actual address for the X-Mansion is 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, Westchester County, New York. Funny enough, if you search that address on Google Earth, it actually says it is for Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Perhaps the X-Men aren't so fictional...

Charles Xavier's First Student Grew Up in Dutchess County, New York

This connection to the Hudson Valley is lesser known. Jean Grey is the youngest daughter of Elaine Grey and Professor John Grey, and was Professor Charles Xavier's first student. She and her older sister, Sara, were raised in a farmhouse near Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, where her father taught History. In the movie Dark Phoenix, Jean Grey is shown visiting her father in Red Hook, New York.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marvel Studios (@marvelstudios)

Jean and Charles met when Jean's powers were first unlocked at the age of 11 years old, following a traumatic incident involving the death of her childhood best friend. Xavier assisted her in unlocking her potential as a telekinetic abilities instead, teaching her how to levitate and manipulate objects through psionic force. Jean has been one of the main members of the X-Men throughout most iterations of the team, especially in X-Men: The Animated Series.