Lecture: Riverside Moguls: Wealth and Power in the Hudson Valley’s Gilded Age

Hudson Valley author, historian, musician, and preservationist Alex Prizgintas as he shares the stories of “riverside moguls” from the Hudson Valley and the transformation of their estates through time. 

Leave the driving to us as we spend a day at New York’s oldest and most historic restaurant: Fraunces Tavern, once a watering hole for our nation’s Founders. 

Preservation Celebration

32nd Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Awards

May 18, 2025

Keynote Speaker: Tim Adriance, Historian and Historic Preservation Specialist ~ 3:30-4 pm, Tour the Blauvelt House, barn, and exhibitions ~ 4 pm, Awards Ceremony, with reception immediately following ~ Prepaid reservations required

Ellis Island opened on January 1, 1892, as the nation’s first federal immigration entry point. During the next thirty-two years it was by far the busiest U.S. inspection station, processing 12.5 million people, each hoping for a chance at a new life. Fred Voss provides an overview of the workings of Ellis Island in part 1 of his popular lecture series.

The order of business includes reports of the committees and Elections of Trustees. We welcome new Trustees for 2025-28 -- 

Jesse Malowitz of Suffern, Josephine Lore of Nanuet, Maria Mingone of Valley Cottage, and Philip C. Roventini, CPA/PFS, of New City -- and thank Stephen Beckerle, Thom Kleiner, Jennifer Lorenzo, the late Doris-Renee Weiner, and Lea Wolinetz for their Board service.

Rockland County is small in size but big on lively lore. Hudson Valley Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk spends a Sunday afternoon at the HSRC telling adventuresome stories about pirate treasure, bold patriots, ghost imps, and Indian guides. Find out what happened to the last sachem of the Nyacks. Find out why the Hudson River flows in two directions. Salute the ghost imps of Donderberg. Learn about local heroes, and a witch!

THIS LECTURE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO JUNE 29, 2025.  Join Hudson Valley author, historian, musician, and preservationist Alex Prizgintas as he shares the stories of “riverside moguls” from the Hudson Valley and the transformation of their estates through time. Part one of this program, titled “Rise of Steel Rails,” focuses on five figures from the growth of American railroads.

Francesca Costa, Palisades Interstate Park Public Historian; HSRC Programming Director Jennifer Rothschild; and John Ratcliff, grandson of the sculptors Mary Lawrence and François Tonetti tell the story of “The Waterfall” and how it has become a popular hiking trail within the park.

Spend an enchanting evening at the historic 1832 Jacob Blauvelt farmhouse, illuminated with candlelight and lanterns, fragrant with traditional sweets, and decorated with festive greenery. Experience Dutch American holiday traditions of the 1830s with nineteenth century music and song and seasonal refreshments.

Visit the Historical Society of Rockland County for an unforgettable experience of wonder and fun! We open our 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House to welcome children of all ages to celebrate Saint Nicholas as we've done since 1961.

Walk along the old railway trail from one end of South Nyack to the other with former South Nyack Trustee Andrew Goodwillie. 

We'll discuss the fascinating history of the village, including the arrival and impact of the trains beginning in 1870.

In advance of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, noted local author Jim Wright talked about two exceptional Revolutionary-era men and their respective legacies in northwestern New Jersey

This hike through history along part of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, led by Gordon Wren and Tony Benedict, visited the ruins of ORAK, the Jackie Jones fire tower; the crash site of Northwest Airlines Flight 6231, and more.

From before the U.S. Civil War to the nation’s Revolutionary War Bicentennial anniversary in 1976 and beyond, women have shared their pride, friendship, and community by adding names to quilts.

Join us for the 11th Annual Fall Festival at the Traphagen and Onderdonck-Tallman-Budke houses in West Nyack, which we are pleased to be co-sponsoring again with Heritage of West Nyack and the Town of Clarkstown.

As farming practices changed in the 1800s and early Dutch culture became more and more “American,” so did the way barns were built. We traveled back in time by visiting historic barns in Rockland County that tell stories about our agrarian past.

Experience the 1969 Woodstock Festival through artifacts, film, music and even a hippie bus! We’ll start our day with a guided tour led by specially trained docents, some of whom attended the iconic festival themselves.

In this illustrated lecture, Mark Wright will give us a look at the development of the teaching and use of script writing, starting in the 1600s, with an emphasis on the teaching of handwriting in the 19th century in the United States and United Kingdom.

In this special Sunday afternoon program, Peggy Norris, guest curator of the HSRC's 2024 exhibition "'When This You See, Remember Me': Inscribed Quilts from Rockland County," leads visitors through the galleries, giving descriptions of the quilts on display, dating from 1852 to 1976, and answering visitors' questions.