Historic Sites & Museums

Our history museums have unique stories to tell, from the daily life on a 1732 Dutch Colonial homestead, to the history of WWI and barnstorming era airplanes. Go straight to the scene by taking an historic tour at a Little Red School House, a 1914 railroad station, or the FDR Presidential Library. You can even see Dutchess County through the eyes of the original Dutch settlers with a self-guided audio tour from Dutch Heritage World Tours.

Bannerman Castle

Discover the ruins of this Scottish-style castle on the Hudson River was built in the early 1900s by Frank Bannerman to store military surplus items. Take a magnificent boat ride from the Beacon dock ...

Bard College: The Montgomery Place Campus

This 380-acre estate is a National Historic Landmark set amid rolling lawns, woodlands, and gardens, against the backdrop of the Catskill Mountains and overlooking the Hudson River. Designed by renown...

Beacon Historical Society

Learn more about local history through extensive historical collections, events, and galleries held by the Beacon Historical Society. The 5,000+ items in their collections all relate back to Beacon an...

Beacon Walking Tour

A walking tour through Beacon, NY that explores the fascinating history that has made the city a place that draws thousands of visitors, and many new residents with its lovely streets, museums, restau...

Clermont State Historic Site

Visit the country estate of seven generations of the prominent Livingston family. Originally built by Robert Livingston around 1740, Clermont mansion was burned to the ground in October 1777 by Britis...

Clinton House State Historic Site

The Dutchess County Historical Society located in the Clinton House Historic Site built in c.1765, conserves the past to educate for the future by procuring, promoting, and preserving the history of D...

Creek Meeting House Exhibit Center

Visit the former Quaker Meeting House located in the northern portion of the hamlet of Clinton Corners. The stone structure built in 1777, holds the story of the town and its seven hamlets through ove...

Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center

Appreciate the performing, cultural and visual arts at two beautiful historic landmark Victorian-age Italianate buildings located at 9 & 12 Vassar Street in downtown Poughkeepsie. Built in the late 18...

Edgewater

Classical American Homes Preservation Trust invites you to tour Edgewater, the majestic 19th century mansion on the banks of the Hudson River. Built in 1824 for Rawlins Lowndes Brown and his wife Marg...

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

Tour the only National Historic Site dedicated to a first lady of the United States, "Val-Kill" was the home of Eleanor Roosevelt from 1945-1962. Here, Franklin and Eleanor entertained friends, state...

Elmendorph Inn

Stop by the oldest building in Red Hook! Built in1760s the Inn and tavern now has restored with ‘windows’ in the walls exposing early construction and decor. You can reserve the inn for your meeti...

First Reformed Dutch Church

Discover the rich history of the First Reformed Dutch Church in Fishkill with a congregation dating to 1716. Its original 1731 building was the meeting place for the New York Provincial Congress and w...