|

|

About Us

The Historical Society of Rockland County

Our Story

The Historical Society of Rockland County was established in 1965 through the consolidation of two earlier societies: the Rockland County Society, formed in the early 20th century, and the Tappan Zee Historical Society, founded in 1954. In 1957, the Tappan Zee Historical Society published the inaugural issue of the HSRC's flagship local history quarterly, South of the Mountains.

 

For its first few years, the HSRC operated from an 18th-century sandstone house on Kings Highway in Orangeburg that had been offered rent-free by its owner, Irving Maidman, for the Tappan Zee Historical Society's use. (The house is now Il Fresco restaurant). In 1970, the HSRC acquired the historic Jacob Blauvelt House, farm outbuildings, and four acres of property at 20 Zukor Road in New City from the Gibbons family, descendants of the original Blauvelts who built the home and farmed the adjoining land.

 

From 1972 to 1975, the HSRC maintained museum hours both in Orangeburg and in New City as it restored the Jacob Blauvelt House, barn and carriage house, and blacksmith shop. As the Society's collections were reloated, the museum in Orangeburg closed and, in 1974, ground was broken for a  new, fireproof museum at the New City location.

 

The cornerstone for the HSRC History Center, constructed just east of the historic Blauvelt House, was laid in February 1975, and the new museum was dedicated in July 1977.



Our Mission

The Historical Society of Rockland County is a museum and educational organization dedicated to engaging diverse audiences in a dynamic dialogue about the rich historical heritage of the County. To fulfill its mission, the Society:

  • Collects, catalogues, preserves and exhibits artifacts and archival materials that reflect the diverse history of Rockland County and the Lower Hudson Valley.
  • Sponsors educational programs and publications based on sound scholarship to promote the appreciation of history and the cultural heritage of the people of Rockland.
  • Promotes through programs, services and example the preservation, restoration, continuing and adaptive use of the historic buildings and sites in the County.
  • Develops and maintains the financial, professional and human resources necessary to achieve the purposes and goals of the organization.

Facilities

The Historical Society of Rockland County's facilities provide 14,000 square feet of space; approximately half of that space is for public use; 34 percent, for collections storage; and 16 percent, for administration. The HSRC owns four structures on four acres, and the Town of Clarkstown makes an additional three acres available for parking, as well as to buffer the historic farm site and its adjacent suburban community.


History Center

The 7,200 square foot History Center contains two museum galleries, administrative offices, a library, and collections storage. The ADA-compliant main level contains the lobby and reception area, 2,170 square feet of exhibition space, a small Museum Shop, and public restrooms. The lower level contains collections storage spaces along with the Community Room, which is used for meetings and educational programs. Public restrooms and a separate ADA-accessible entrance are also available at the ground level.


Jacob Blauvelt House

The Jacob Blauvelt House is a two-story vernacular brick farmhouse built circa 1832, with an added wing that dates to the 1930s, comprising 2,500 square feet. The 1,200 square foot historic area on the first floor features six furnished period rooms; the twentieth-century wing provides modern kitchen facilities. The second floor contains a caretaker's apartment.


Historic Barn

The unheated post-and-beam Anglo-Dutch barn features a 1,500 square foot main section built circa 1865 whose floor space is used for exhibits of farm equipment and for demonstrations. The circa 1900 wing contains 2,000 square feet of floor space; a cinder-block tool shed houses maintenance equipment and a workshop. An attached, unheated, 800 square foot post-and-beam Carriage House, also built circa 1865, is used for general storage.

Share by: