Columbia County's Historic Sites
Clermont State Historic Site
Off Route 9G, Clermont
518-537-4240
http://www.friendsofclermont.org
Livingston family estate. Tours offered April 1 - October 31, Tuesday - Sunday and Monday holidays 11am-5pm (last tour begins at 4pm) ; November - December, Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm (last tour begins at 3pm). The grounds and historic gardens are open all year offering picnicking, hiking, cross country skiing, and fabulous views of the Hudson River. Vehicle Fee in effect April 1 - October 31 (which is refunded with the purchase of a house tour ticket).
Columbia County Museum and Library*
5 Albany Ave, Kinderhook Village
518-758-9265
http://www.cchsny.org
Changing exhibits, research library
Monday, Thursday, Friday 10am-4pm; Saturday 10am - 4pm; Sunday 12 - 4pm.
FASNY Museum of Firefighting
117 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson
518-822-1875 or 877-347-3687
or http://www.fasnyfiremuseum.com
The FASNY Museum of Firefighting is the home of the premiere collection of American firefighting artifacts in the world. More than 50,000 square feet of fire engines, equipment and gear depict the history of firefighting over the last 300 years. Children’s activities include creative play in select fire engines and interactive activities that are both educational and fun. Whether you’re a family, a firefighter or a student of history, you will be amazed at the depth and variety of the museum’s vast collection. Open daily 10am-5:00pm. Closed on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Free admission and wheelchair accessible.
Hudson Athens Lighthouse
The northern-most lighthouse on the Hudson River the Hudson-Athens lighthouse rises from the river like a tiny gem. Visitors may view the lighthouse from the Hudson Waterfront Park, Front Street,
Hudson. For more information call 518-828-5294 or visit http://www.hudsonathenslighthouse.org. Tours offered the second Saturday from July – October. Call 518-822-1014 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for tour reservations.
For more information on the Hudson River Lighthouses http://www.hudsonlights.com
Hudson Walking Tour - Portrait of a Fascinating City
MaryAnn Zimmerman, Hudson Valley Journeys
917-880-6732 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
http://www.poshnosh.com
The city’s vast architectural history and its relation to the history of the residents; $10/family
James Vanderpoel House*
The James Vanderpoel House is closed to the public. It will re-open in the near future as the Center for Columbia County History. Please contact the Columbia County Historical Society at 518/758-9265 for more information on the exciting plans for this site.
Kinderhook Reformed Church Historic Tour
21 Broad Street
518-758-6401 http://krefc.tripod.com
Come through the doors of this historic 1869 church building, a church that was organized by Dutch settlers in 1712. Sit in the pew that commemorates President Martin Van Buren’s membership and view the first Bible translated into Arabic by Cornelius Van Alen Van Dyck. Consider stopping by before or after your visit to the Kinderhook Farmer’s Market.
Tours begin at 10 pm and run until noon every Saturday from July 4-October 10.
Livingston History Barn
County Route 19, Livingston
518-851-7637
http://www.livingstontown.com/history.html
Small Museum with artifacts from the beginning of the settlement of the Town of Livingston. Research Room for genealogical work is available.
Open all year - Wednesday 4:30pm - 6:30pm and Saturday 9am-1pm.
Luykas Van Alen House*
Rt 9H, Kinderhook
518-758-9265
http://www.cchsny.org
1737 Dutch farmhouse with mid-18th century furnishings; site used in Martin Scorsese’s
“The Age of Innocence”; property includes c. 1850 Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse,
Memorial Day - Labor Day weekend Friday & Saturday 10am-4pm and Sudnay 12-4pm; 518 758-9265
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site
1013 Old Post Road (off Route 9H), Kinderhook
518-758-9689 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://www.nps.gov/mava
The home and farm of the eighth president of the United States. The mansion is also where Van Buren managed two presidential campaigns and entertained politicians and celebrities during the turbulent 1840’s and 1850’s
May 18 - October 31, 2009 daily 9am-4pm; abbreviated hours on November weekends; grounds open 7am - sunset all year.
2009 Fee Free weekends June 20-21, July 18-19, and August 15-16 http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm
Saturday Afternoon Tours (1pm, 2pm, 3pm) June 20 - August 22 feature Friends of Lindenwald members dressed in historically accurate costumes to discuss President Van Buren and his time at Lindenwald.
To learn more about our American presidents visit the National Park Service website
AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/presidents/index.html
Millay Poetry Trail at Steepletop
A 1/2 mile narrow country wood road for walking only is marked with a dozen favorite nature poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay. The trail ends at the final resting ground of the poet and her family.
Open all year - please use caution during inclement weather.
East Hill Road - 2 miles in from Route 22, south of Route 203, Austerlitz or 3/4 of a mile from the north end of East Hill Road - follow the historic site sign arrows on Rt 22.
http://www.millaysociety.org
Olana State Historic Site
5720 Route 9G, Hudson
518-828-0135
http://www.olana.org or http://www.nysparks.com
Home and estate of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church; the 250 acre grounds are open year around 8am until sunset. Hiking, picnicking, birding, snow-shoeing and cross country skiing are seasonally available along with scheduled programs, events, tours and family programs. Recreational activities on the pond include fishing (with valid NYS fishing license and permit), kayaks and non-motored boats. Permits for these activities are available from the Site Manager’s office. Tours of the house are April - October Tuesday - Sunday and Monday holidays 10am-5pm (last tour at 4pm); November - March Friday - Sunday 11am - 4pm (last tour at 3pm). Vehicle Fee weekends April 1 - October 31(refunded with the purchase of a tour ticket).
Parker O’Malley Air Museum
435 County Route 20 (off Route 9H & Route 66)
518-392-7200
http://www.parkeromalley.org
The museum displays 1920’s - 1940’s artifacts, including exhibits on local aviators, flying vintage aircraft, war memorabilia, wind tunnel, flight simulator - by appointment only, models, Youth Big Band performances. First Monday of the month 10am-4pm
Robert Jenkins House
113 Warren St, Hudson
518-828-9764
1811 Federal style home housing the City of Hudson’s whaling lore, military artifacts and the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the D.A.R.; July 11 - October 10 - Saturdays 1-5pm.
Samuel Tilden Gravesite
Cemetery of the Evergreens, Cemetery Rd, off Rt 22, New Lebanon.
Winner of the 1876 election by 250,000 votes but lost the election by one electoral point.
Shaker Museum & Library at the Mount Lebanon Shaker Village
20 Darrow Rd, New Lebanon - Tours available in Season
Shaker Museum Rd, off County Route 13, Old Chatham - Administrative Office
518-794-9100
http://www.shakermuseumandlibrary.org
Seasonal outdoor tours of buildings at the Mount Lebanon Shaker Village - please call for tour information, scheduled programming, “The Great Stone Barn: Built, Burned & Beyond” exhibit Saturdays and Sundays, June 13-28 and September 5 - 27 10am-5pm; Research library located at Old Chatham site
518-794-9100
* Owned and operated by the Columbia County Historical Society