The Historical Society of
Rockland County
ADVANCE TICKET SALES FOR THE 2026 HISTORIC HOMES & LANDMARKS TOUR ON SATURDAY CLOSE
TOMORROW (FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2) AT 4 PM. TO PURCHASE YOUR ADVANCE TICKETS,
CLICK HERE.
A Brief History of Rockland County
Rockland County is the smallest county in New York State outside the five boroughs of New York City. It is bounded by the Hudson River on the east, the State of New Jersey on the south, and the Ramapo Mountains to the north and west. Although the county consists of only 176 square miles, it is a land rich in history.
To a newcomer, Rockland County may appear to be border-to-border housing developments built over the past forty years, but its historical roots go back almost four hundred years—more than ten thousand years if you include Native American history. Records indicate that the first residents were the Indians of the Delaware or Lenape Nation, who were scattered throughout the county in small bands. ...
Revolution 250 Luncheon
Sunday, November 1, 2026, 1-4 pm
Join us at the historic O'Grady's Castle in Pearl River for an afternoon of celebration. This year's awards will be presented to Eileen O'Brien and Jose Cardona -
Lifetime Service; the Battaglia Family and Rockland Bakery, Nanuet -
Business Landmark;
Carl Wright -
Living Landmark.
2026 Exhibition
Rockland and the Revolution
A 250th Anniversary Exploration
To celebrate the semiquincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the 2026 exhibition takes a deep look at the American War for Independence through the eyes of notable Rockland County historians, past and present.
Streaming Now...
Crossroads of Rockland History
2026 Historic Homes & Landmarks Tour:
Piermont & Sparkill
Host Clare Sheridan welcomes Daniel Sherman of the Piermont Historical Society to discuss the upcoming Historic Homes & Landmarks Tour: Piermont Places & Sparkill Spaces. This self-guided tour will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Upcoming Events
2026 Historic Homes & Landmarks Tour
Piermont Places & Sparkill Spaces
Saturday, October 3,
10 am-4 pm
Rockland County Local History Event Calendar
27
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
1pm Piermont HS: Train Station Museum Open
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
2pm RevWar250 LHSRC: RevWar250 Lecture: "Haverstraw and the American Revolution"
Show all
28
29
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
30
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
1
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
2
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
3
10am HSRC: Historic House Tour - Piermont Places & Sparkill Spaces
10am Ft. Montgomery: Twin Forts Day
1pm HS-Nyacks: "War on Our Shores: The American Revolution in the Nyacks" Exhibition
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
Show all
4
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
Show all
5
6
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
7
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
6:30pm Tappan Library: Abigail Adams: A Living History Portrayal
8
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
9
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
10
8:45am HSRC: The Traitor and the Spy Bus Daytrip
10am Ft. Montgomery: “Keeping It Fresh!” Food Preservation in the 18th Century
1pm HS-Nyacks: "War on Our Shores: The American Revolution in the Nyacks" Exhibition
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
Show all
11
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
1pm Piermont HS: Train Station Museum Open
1pm HSRC: Lecture: "Riverside Moguls, Part 3: Five Sleeping Giants"
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
Show all
12
13
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
14
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
15
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
16
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
17
10am Ft. Montgomery: Colonial Flax Processing
1pm HS-Nyacks: "War on Our Shores: The American Revolution in the Nyacks" Exhibition
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
Show all
18
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
Show all
19
20
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
21
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
22
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
7pm Ft. Montgomery: "Bitter Farewell: The Esopus Indians and the American Revolution"
23
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
24
1pm HS-Nyacks: "War on Our Shores: The American Revolution in the Nyacks" Exhibition
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
25
12pm HSRC: "Rockland and the Revolution: A 250th Anniversary Exploration"
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
1pm Piermont HS: Train Station Museum Open
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
Show all
26
27
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
7pm Genealogical Society of RC: Monthly Meeting
28
29
30
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
31
1pm HS-Nyacks: "War on Our Shores: The American Revolution in the Nyacks" Exhibition
1pm Haverstraw Brick Museum: Mary Mowbray-Clarke Exhibition
Collections
The Historical Society of Rockland County's collection comprises approximately 3,650 objects that date from the early eighteenth century to the present.
Press Room
South of the Mountains
Dive into a world of captivating stories, insightful discussions, and endless entertainment.
Issues of South of the Mountains from 1957 to 2013 are available in fully searchable PDF form online via the New York Heritage portal.
Podcasts
Crossroads of
Rockland History
Host Clare Sheridan welcomes guests every month to explore, celebrate and learn about the rich history of Rockland County and New York's Lower Hudson Valley.
