Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, the first publicly owned historic site in the nation, opened on July 4th, 1850. It’s going to be 162 years old. The Grand Celebration begins at 12:00 pm with a special treat – a show of magic by Melody “The Amazing Meldini” Newcombe; an encore performance magically happens at 1:15 pm as well! In between, be part of the Grand Birthday Parade at 1:00 pm. And don’t forget to take a free tour of the Hasbrouck House, used by General Washington as his Newburgh-based headquarters. Tours are given every half-hour from 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM. Admission is free on July 4th
Also, stay for the Grand Illumination – Washington’s Headquarters’ great lawn offers a perfect view of the City of Newburgh’s fireworks! Call 845-562-1195 for directions and further details.
Sunday, June 17th at 3pm
Newburgh Heritage Center (Old Courthouse)
123 Grand Street, Newburgh, NY 12550
Director of the Hudson River Bindery, Alice Vaughn, will talk about repair of old volumes, the art of hand-binding and how she makes protective slip cases to hold old books. She will also discuss and demonstrate how people with old volumes should be protecting them and caring for them.
The Hudson River Valley, its environs and the majestic Hudson Highlands provided a backdrop of scenery, color and charm that inspired 19th Century artists, and led to the creation of the Hudson River School of Art. Visitors to Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site are invited to experience similar inspiration when they visit General Washington’s Headquarters, in Newburgh, on June 2nd, for the Hudson River School Art Trail and National Trails Day. Tours are 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM, every half-hour. The last is 4:30 PM. The program is free with admission.
After a guided tour of the historic Hasbrouck House, used by General Washington during the last months of the Revolutionary War, maybe you’ll be spurred on to create a work of art of your own. Enjoy art-making activities inspired by your whole experience of visiting a house, so rich in historic significance. The historic importance that surrounds the house, the tour and the general area can be awe-inspiring and also creatively enriching. Maybe you’ll produce a masterpiece, too, or, at the very least a reminder of your inspired day. The program is free with admission.
For further details or directions, call 845-562-1195.
Before the parades, picnics and barbecues get under way, come to Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site on Saturday, May 26th or Sunday, May 27th and start your holiday weekend touring a renowned historic site accompanied by a distinguished character from the past. For those two days, Special Event First Person tours will be given at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Reservations are required for the presentations. Admission is $5.00, children 6 and under are free.
On Saturday, May 26th, Sgt. John Phillips, a member of the Commander-in-Chief’s Guards, will be making security rounds at Headquarters Newburgh. Join him as he walks through the rooms of the Hasbrouck House, rented for the Washingtons during the last months of the Revolutionary War. He’ll probably speak about his duties, but, with a little coaxing, he might also share just what goes on during the course of a day at this local farmhouse.
On Sunday, May 27th, Tryntje Hasbrouck, who rented her home to the Washingtons, shows up to collect the rent. She’ll make use of the opportunity to walk through the rooms, checking that everything is how it should be. If you join her on an inspection tour of her home, you’ll hear about her perceptions of the Washingtons and gain some insight into just how this famous couple live.
Regular tours are given every half-hour, beginning at 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. The last tour starts at 4:30 PM. Regular tours will not be given at 1:00 or 3:00 PM, during the Special Event First Person programming. Regular tour admission is $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and students and children 12 and under are free. Call 845-562-1195 for reservations, directions or further details.
Saturday, May 19th, 2-4pm at the Crawford House (189 Montgomery Street Newburgh) will be the exhibit opening of a photographic exhibit by Ton Knieser showing his visions of old and new Newburgh. The exhibit will be available for viewing till Labor Day, September 9th.
To be privy to more information from the historical society, check out their facebook fan page.
In the overgrowth of the Quassaick Creek Valley in New Windsor lies the memory of an 1850’s hamlet nicknamed Daguerreville. In an old factory there, America’s earliest type of photographic equipment was manufactured: the big cameras that captured and printed fragile images called daguerreotypes. The factory owners there as well as patentees and early families identified with the excitement of this inventive process and were proud to call the place they lived and worked Daguerreville.
Scholar Michelle Anne Delaney grew up in old New Windsor, went to Newburgh Free Academy and then pursued a museum career at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. As curator of the National Museum of American History’s photographic history collection, she was delighted to come upon aspects of her hometown’s past. Her particular research interest is the birth of color photography, something that has a connection to this area too in the person of a rural Baptist pastor who, with his scientific wife, loved to dabble in the chemistry of early photography.
Sunday, May 20th at 3 p.m., Ms. Delaney will present an illustrated lecture on the first photographers of the Hudson Valley and Catskill region showcasing rare images from the Smithsonian national collection. The event will take place at the Crawford House, 189 Montgomery Street. For further information, call 845-561-2585 or visit www.newburghhistoricalsociety.com.
