Columbia is best explored through historic sites that reveal different chapters: Dutch colonial architecture, the Federal era and industrial history. There is also open-air art and trails through open nature. Visitors who enjoy discovering connections between buildings, collections and their surroundings will find several distinct perspectives on this destination.
Art, Architecture and Landscape
Olana State Historic Site encompasses a 250-acre landscape, open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset at no charge. Tours are offered Tuesday through Sunday. This means daily access to the landscape and tours offered on certain days of the week are available as different ways to visit. Art Omi offers a different focus: the organization presents contemporary art and architecture across 120 acres of fields and woodland. More than 60 works of art and architecture are on view in the Sculpture & Architecture Park, which visitors can explore on their own.
Nature from Different Perspectives
Lake Taghkanic State Park is located on Lake Taghkanic, amid the rolling hills and lush forests of Columbia County. Greenport offers a different perspective on the landscape: from there, visitors can enjoy views of the Hudson River and the Catskills; forests and open meadows with grassland birds are also features of the area’s landscape. The one-mile-long Access for All Trail is also useful for getting around Greenport. It is suitable for strollers, wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.
History in Houses and Exhibitions
In the Village of Kinderhook, the CCHS Museum & Library is housed in an early 20th-century Masonic temple. The institution includes several exhibition galleries and the Barbara P. Rielly Memorial Library. The CCHS archive contains documents dating from the 17th to the 20th century. The Early Heritage Narrative Walk offers a different way to learn about history. This permanent outdoor exhibition in Kinderhook uses nine information panels to present the diverse history of Columbia County.
Historic houses also reflect different themes. Clermont State Historic Site was the country estate of the Livingston family and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. James Vanderpoel House is one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in Columbia County and a house museum with furniture, decorative arts objects and paintings from the Federal period. Luykas Van Alen House is considered one of the best and rarest surviving examples of a historically intact Dutch colonial-style house in the Hudson Valley. Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse offers further insight as a seasonal museum featuring historic school desks and other objects related to education in one-room schoolhouses in Columbia County.
Industrial history takes center stage at Copake Iron Works Historic Site. It is one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century industrial ironmaking in the northeastern United States and includes a visitor museum. At the site, the Pomeroy Family Railroad carries passengers seasonally in two converted ore cars.
Trails and Further Discoveries
The 1.7-mile Dutch Farming Heritage Trail connects Luykas Van Alen House with Martin Van Buren’s Lindenwald. The visitor season at Martin Van Buren National Historic Site runs from late May through late October. The Scenic Sips Craft Beverage Tour offers a different way to explore Columbia County: it is a self-guided tour of craft beverage producers.
For rail travel, Hudson Station is a useful point of reference: it is served by four different Amtrak trains. Check the current timetable when planning your specific trip.
Discover more destinations: Hudson, Copake, Chatham, Ghent, East Chatham, Hollowville, New Lebanon, Sullivan.
For the regional travel overview: New York.
