The brick industry shaped Haverstraw—and it remains at the heart of a distinctive way of looking at the region’s history. At the same time, Rockland County offers a variety of ways to plan a visit, with parks, historical collections, and diverse landscapes: as a tour of cultural history, an outing in nature, or a mix of both.
Brickmaking History and Historical Collections
The Haverstraw Brick Museum is dedicated to preserving the cultural and historical past of the Village of Haverstraw and the brick industry that shaped it. Its exhibitions feature local artists, historians, and architects, with subjects ranging from the history of brickmaking to the Hudson River Valley art scene. Permanent displays include handmade dioramas about the brick industry. They make this craft a tangible starting point for learning more about the local past.
Another way to explore history is through the Historical Society of Rockland County in New City, New York. It is based on a four-acre site that includes a history museum and the Jacob Blauvelt House, built in 1832. Its collection also offers a broad view across time: it comprises about 3,650 objects dating from the early 18th century to the present. Here, a single historic house and an extensive collection sit side by side—two different perspectives on the past.
At Haverstraw African American Memorial Park, a kiosk with depictions of local history and the African diaspora adds to this cultural picture. Together with the exhibitions on the brick industry and the Historical Society’s holdings, these places tell stories about different subjects and approaches to history, without limiting it to a single era.
Parks, Views, and Nature Watching
Rockland County’s park system includes 30 parks covering a total of 3,179 acres. Each landscape has its own character. South Mountain offers a scenic viewpoint. In Tallman Mountain State Park, the wooded eastern side of the Palisades uplands overlooks the Hudson River and Piermont Marsh. If you want to compare viewpoints, these offer both a general scenic vista and a panorama focused specifically on the river and marshland.
The landscape can also be experienced differently by the water: Nyack Beach State Park covers 76 acres at the foot of Hook Mountain in Upper Nyack. It connects to the Nyack Haverstraw Trail, a five-mile route along the Hudson River. The park and trail offer two specific points to consider when planning an outing, without implying a walking time based on the trail’s length.
With careful observation on the parks’ nature trails, you may spot red-tailed hawks, pileated woodpeckers, great horned owls, white-tailed deer, red foxes, and wild turkeys. Wildlife sightings are possible, not guaranteed; the diversity of species nevertheless gives you something extra to look for along the trails. Those interested in animals can pay particular attention to birds and mammals along the way.
Local Produce and Different Ways to Travel
Rockland’s culinary scene includes American, Latin American, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines. Farms, farm stands, and farmers’ markets also offer fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and other products. Many farms offer seasonal apple and pumpkin picking. The options vary by interest and season: a visit to a market for local produce, an exploration of the diverse cuisine, or a seasonal outing to a farm.
Visitors can reach Rockland County by car, train, or ferry—for a day trip or a longer stay. If you plan to arrive by ferry, check the schedule for your travel day. Several options for renting road bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrid bikes help you get around once you arrive; the rentals are available for adults and children of all ages, as well as for different fitness and experience levels.
Discover more destinations: Suffern, Spring Valley, Nanuet, Pearl River, Stony Point, Haverstraw, Orangeburg, Palisades, Airmont, West Nyack.
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