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National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, New York facts for kids

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Map of New York highlighting Columbia County
Location of Columbia County in New York

Columbia County in New York is home to many amazing places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This special list includes buildings, areas, and objects that are important to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its historical value and efforts are made to protect it.

Some of these places are even more special and are called National Historic Landmarks. This means they are considered to be super important to the history of the entire United States! This article will tell you about some of these fascinating historic spots in Columbia County.

Contents

Historic Places in Columbia County

Dr. Oliver Bronson House and Estate

The Dr. Oliver Bronson House and Estate in Hudson is a very special place. It was the first house ever built in a unique style called "Hudson River Bracketed." This style uses decorative brackets under the eaves of the roof. The house was built in 1838 and later changed in 1849. It's a great example of how architecture changed over time.

Clermont Manor

Clermont Manor, located in Germantown, is a huge estate that belonged to the powerful Livingston family. This family was very important in the history of New York and the United States. The manor house and its grounds show what life was like for wealthy families in the past. It's now a state park, so you can visit and explore its history!

Clermont-manor
Clermont Manor, a National Historic Landmark.

Mount Lebanon Shaker Society

In New Lebanon, you'll find the Mount Lebanon Shaker Society. This is the oldest surviving Shaker community that has been around without stopping in the United States. The Shakers were a religious group known for their simple lifestyle, amazing craftsmanship, and unique architecture. Visiting this site is like stepping back in time to see how they lived and worked.

Mount Lebanon Shaker Society 12July2008
The historic Mount Lebanon Shaker Society.

Olana

Olana is a stunning home located near Church Hill. It was the home of Frederic Edwin Church, a famous artist from the Hudson River School. His house is built in a unique Moorish Revival style, which means it looks like buildings from the Middle East. The house is filled with art and treasures, and it has amazing views of the Hudson River. It's a true masterpiece of art and architecture.

Olana2006 3 edit1
Olana, the home of artist Frederic Edwin Church.

Steepletop

Steepletop, located northeast of Austerlitz, was the home and farm of the famous poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. She lived here from 1923 until she passed away in 1950. Today, it's known as the Millay Colony for the Arts, a place where artists can come to work and create. It's a peaceful spot that inspired one of America's great poets.

Steepletop main house, Austerlitz, NY
Steepletop, the home of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Luycas Van Alen House

The Luycas Van Alen House in Kinderhook is a very old and well-preserved brick farmhouse. It was built in 1737 and shows us what Dutch colonial homes looked like back then. It's a great example of early American architecture in the region.

Van Alen House, Kinderhook, NY
The historic Luycas Van Alen House.

Martin Van Buren National Historic Site

Also in Kinderhook is the home of Martin Van Buren, who was the 8th President of the United States. His home is also known as Lindenwald. You can visit this site to learn about his life and how he became president. It's a chance to connect with American political history.

Lindenwald2006
Lindenwald, the home of President Martin Van Buren.

Other Notable Historic Places

Ancram Hamlet Historic District

The Ancram Hamlet Historic District in Ancram is the heart of a country town. It grew up around New York State's first ironworks, which were places where iron was made. This district shows how towns developed around important industries.

Buildings on NY 82 in Ancram Hamlet Historic District
Buildings in the Ancram Hamlet Historic District.

Barringer–Overbaugh–Lasher House

The Barringer–Overbaugh–Lasher House in Germantown was built around 1800. It's special because its main part is one of the few remaining examples of "New World Dutch timber construction." This was a unique way of building houses used by early settlers.

Barrington-Overbaugh-Lasher House, Germantown, NY
The Barringer–Overbaugh–Lasher House.

Bartlett House

The Bartlett House in Ghent was once a railroad hotel. It served travelers on the New York and Harlem Railroad and the Hudson and Boston Railroad. Imagine people staying here after a long train journey!

1989.06 1.Bartlett House.Ghent.NY
The historic Bartlett House.

Thomas Brodhead House

The Thomas Brodhead House in Clermont is a well-preserved brick house built in 1795. It's a great example of the Federal style of architecture, which was popular in the early days of the United States.

Thomas Brodhead House, Clermont, NY
The Thomas Brodhead House.

Burroughs–Foland Farm

The main house at the Burroughs–Foland Farm in Livingston was built in 1903. It's a rare example of the Mission Revival architecture style in rural New York. This style often features smooth stucco walls and red tile roofs, inspired by Spanish missions.

Burroughs-Foland Farm, main house, Livingston, NY
The main house at Burroughs–Foland Farm.

Church of St. John the Evangelist

The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Stockport is a beautiful old church. It was built in 1845 and is a wonderful example of Gothic Revival architecture, with its pointed arches and tall windows.

Church of St. John the Evangelist Stockport NY Jan 11
The Church of St. John the Evangelist.

Clarkson Chapel

The Clarkson Chapel in Clermont is an 1860 Carpenter Gothic chapel. It was built by the Livingston family, who owned Clermont Manor. Carpenter Gothic is a style that uses wood to create the look of stone Gothic churches.

Clarkson Chapel, Clermont, NY
Clarkson Chapel, built in 1860.

Claverack Free Library

The Claverack Free Library in Claverack is a 1932 Colonial Revival library. This style looks back to the architecture of early American colonial homes, often with grand entrances and symmetrical designs.

Claverack Free Library
The Claverack Free Library.

Clermont Academy

The Clermont Academy in Clermont is a wooden Federal style building from 1834. It's the oldest school building in New York State, even though it's not used as a school anymore. Imagine learning in a building that old!

Clermont Academy, Clermont, NY
The historic Clermont Academy.

Columbia Turnpike-East Tollhouse

This 1830s wooden house in Hillsdale was part of a major transportation route. It was a tollhouse, where people paid money to use the road. This road was important for travel between New York and Massachusetts for much of the 1800s.

Columbia Turnpike-East Toll House
The Columbia Turnpike-East Tollhouse.

Columbia Turnpike-West Tollhouse

Another tollhouse, the Columbia Turnpike-West Tollhouse in Greenport, also played a role in the Columbia Turnpike. These tollhouses remind us of how people traveled and paid for roads long ago.

Columbia Turnpike-West Tollhouse
The Columbia Turnpike-West Tollhouse.

Charles H. Coons Farm

The Charles H. Coons Farm in Germantown has buildings from a successful 19th-century fruit farm. It includes a beautiful Picturesque farmhouse and a New World Dutch barn. These buildings show how farms were designed and used in the past.

Coons House

The Coons House in Clermont, built in 1850, is the only temple-style Greek Revival building in Clermont. Greek Revival architecture was inspired by ancient Greek temples, often featuring columns and grand entrances.

Coons House, Clermont, NY
The Coons House.

Copake Iron Works Historic District

The Copake Iron Works Historic District in Copake Falls was a place where iron was made. It's part of Taconic State Park. This district shows the history of industry and how iron was produced in the past.

Copake Iron Works Charcoal Blast Furnace
The Copake Iron Works Charcoal Blast Furnace.

Copake Memorial Clock

The Copake Memorial Clock in Copake is a special memorial from 1944. It honors those who served in World War II and has become a symbol of this small town.

Copake Memorial Clock, Copake, NY
The Copake Memorial Clock.

Double-Span Whipple Bowstring Truss Bridge

The Double-Span Whipple Bowstring Truss Bridge in Claverack is also known as Shaw Bridge. It's very unique because it's the only bridge of its kind in the country with two spans. It's an important example of old bridge engineering.

Shaw Bridge, Claverack, NY
The Shaw Bridge.

Henry A. and Evanlina Dubois House

The Henry A. and Evanlina Dubois House in Hudson is a historic home that shows the architectural styles of its time. It's a reminder of the families who lived in Hudson long ago.

Henry A. and Evanlina Dubois House
The Henry A. and Evanlina Dubois House.

Cornelius H. Evans House

The Cornelius H. Evans House in Hudson is a well-preserved house from 1861. It belonged to a local brewer who was also the city's mayor for two terms. It gives us a peek into the lives of important people in Hudson's history.

Cornelius Evans House, Hudson, NY
The Cornelius H. Evans House.

George Felpel House

The George Felpel House in Claverack is a 1922 Colonial Revival house. It was built using stones from the old Claverack College. This shows how materials from older buildings can be reused in new ways.

George Felpel House, Claverack, NY
The George Felpel House.

First Columbia County Courthouse

The First Columbia County Courthouse in Claverack was built in 1786. It was the original courthouse for the county and is now apartments. It played a role in important legal cases in early New York history.

First Columbia County courthouse, Claverack, NY
The First Columbia County Courthouse.

German Reformed Sanctity Church Parsonage

The German Reformed Sanctity Church Parsonage in Germantown is the oldest building in town. It was built in the mid-1700s and is a remaining part of the early German settlement in the area.

German Reformed Sanctity Church and Parsonage, Germantown, NY
The German Reformed Sanctity Church and Parsonage.

Stephen Hogeboom House

The Stephen Hogeboom House in Claverack is a well-preserved house from the late 1700s. It was later updated in the Greek Revival style. It shows how homes were built and changed over time in this community.

Stephen Hogeboom House, Claverack, NY
The Stephen Hogeboom House.

Houses at 37-47 North Fifth Street

These houses in Hudson are well-preserved Italianate worker houses from the 1870s. They show what homes were like for working families during that time.

Houses at 37-47 North Fifth Street, Hudson, NY
Houses at 37-47 North Fifth Street.

Hudson Almshouse

The Hudson Almshouse in Hudson is a historic building that once served as a home for people in need. It's a reminder of how communities cared for their residents in the past.

Hudson Almshouse
The Hudson Almshouse.

Hudson Historic District

The Hudson Historic District covers the city's downtown area. It was planned in 1785 and has over 700 historic buildings from the late 1700s to the early 1900s. Warren Street, in particular, is known as the most complete 19th-century commercial street in New York State.

Warren Street west view, Hudson, NY
Warren Street in the Hudson Historic District.

Hudson River Heritage Historic District

This huge historic district stretches along the east side of the Hudson River. It's shared with Dutchess County and covers about 35 square miles. It's the largest historic district on the U.S. mainland and shows how the land was used and what architecture looked like from the colonial era.

Hudson view from Clermont Manor
View of the Hudson River from Clermont Manor, part of the Hudson River Heritage Historic District.

Hudson–Athens Lighthouse

The Hudson–Athens lighthouse is a beautiful lighthouse built in 1873. It's located south of Middle Ground Flats in the Hudson River. This lighthouse helped guide ships safely along the river.

Hudson-Athens 2006
The Hudson–Athens Lighthouse.

Dr. Abram Jordan House

The Dr. Abram Jordan House in Claverack is a well-preserved Greek Revival house from 1822. It's a great example of this popular architectural style.

Abram Jordan House, Claverack, NY
The Dr. Abram Jordan House.

Kinderhook Village District

The Kinderhook Village District in Kinderhook has many well-preserved buildings from the 1700s and early 1800s. This was the hometown of President Martin Van Buren.

Main square, Kinderhook, NY
Main square in the Kinderhook Village District.

Lace House

The Lace House in Canaan is a Federal-style house from 1806 that has been kept in its original condition. It's a beautiful example of early 19th-century architecture.

Lace House, Canaan, NY
The Lace House.

Livingston Memorial Church and Burial Ground

The Livingston Memorial Church and Burial Ground in Linlithgo is a historic church and cemetery. It's connected to the important Livingston family.

Livingston Memorial Church, Linlithgo, NY
The Livingston Memorial Church.

Mellenville Railroad Station

The Mellenville Railroad Station in Mellenville was once a busy train station. It's a reminder of the importance of railroads in connecting communities.

Mellenville Railroad Station (Now Mellenville Grange)
The Mellenville Railroad Station, now the Mellenville Grange.

Harmon Miller House

The Harmon Miller House in Claverack, also known as "Brookbound," was built in 1878. It's one of the few Second Empire style buildings in the Claverack area. This style often features a mansard roof.

Brookbound, Harmon Miller House in Claverack, NY
The Harmon Miller House, "Brookbound."

Stephen Miller House

The Stephen Miller House in Claverack is a farmhouse from 1790. It's a good example of the architecture from that time period in the area.

Stephen Miller House, Claverack, NY
The Stephen Miller House.

Cornelius S. Muller House

The Cornelius S. Muller House in Claverack is a Dutch-English brick house from 1767. It was even used for military trials during the American Revolution!

Cornelius Muller House, Claverack, NY
The Cornelius S. Muller House.

North Hillsdale Methodist Church

The North Hillsdale Methodist Church in North Hillsdale is a historic church building. It has served the community for many years.

North Hillsdale Methodist Church
The North Hillsdale Methodist Church.

Harriet Phillips Bungalow

The Harriet Phillips Bungalow in Claverack is a well-preserved bungalow from 1926. It might even be a "catalog home," meaning it was ordered from a catalog and built from a kit!

Harriet Phillips Bungalow
The Harriet Phillips Bungalow.

William and Victoria Pulver House

The William and Victoria Pulver House in Snyderville is a historic home that tells the story of families in the area.

Pulver House
The William and Victoria Pulver House.

Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack

The Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack is the oldest institutional building in Columbia County, dating back to 1767. It was renovated and expanded in the 1800s.

Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack, NY
The Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack.

Rossman-Prospect Avenue Historic District

This district in Hudson was the city's first planned neighborhood outside of its original grid layout. It was developed in the late 1800s and shows how cities grew.

Houses on Prospect Street, Hudson, NY
Houses on Prospect Street in Hudson.

Simons General Store

The Simons General Store in Ancram is a historic general store. General stores were once the main places where people bought everything they needed in small towns.

Simons General Store Dec 10
Simons General Store.

Snyderville Schoolhouse

The Snyderville Schoolhouse in Snyderville is an old school building. It reminds us of how children learned in one-room schoolhouses long ago.

Snyderville Schoolhouse
The Snyderville Schoolhouse.

Spencertown Academy

The Spencertown Academy in Spencertown is a Greek Revival schoolhouse built in 1847. It was used as a school until 1970.

Spencertown Academy, NY
The Spencertown Academy.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church

The St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Livingston is a historic church that has served its community for many years.

St Johns Livingston NY
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

St. Luke's Church

St. Luke's Church in Clermont is a Gothic Revival church from 1857. It was designed by a famous architect named Richard M. Upjohn.

St Luke's Church, Clemont, NY
St. Luke's Church.

St. Peter's Presbyterian Church and Spencertown Cemetery

This church in Spencertown was built in 1771 in a New England style. It was moved across the road in 1826. The cemetery dates back to 1760.

St Peter's Presbyterian Church and Spencertown Cemetery
St. Peter's Presbyterian Church and Spencertown Cemetery.

Stone Jug

The Stone Jug in Germantown is an unusual stone house built in 1752 by the Lasher family, who were immigrants from Germany. It's part of a farm that also includes a farmhouse from the mid-1800s.

Stone Jug, Clermont, NY
The Stone Jug.

Stephen Storm House

The Stephen Storm House in Claverack is a well-preserved Federal-style house from 1810. It combines both city and country architectural ideas.

Stephen Storm House, Claverack, NY
The Stephen Storm House.

Taconic State Parkway

The Taconic State Parkway is a scenic highway that runs through several towns in Columbia County. It was planned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and built between the 1920s and 1960s. It's a great example of how parkways were designed to be beautiful and connect people to state parks.

Taconic State Parkway from NY 217 in Ghent, NY
The Taconic State Parkway.

Tracy Memorial Village Hall Complex

The Tracy Memorial Village Hall Complex in Chatham is a Neoclassical building from 1913. This building helped launch the career of architect Horace Whittier Peaslee.

Tracy Memorial Village Hall Complex Chatham NY Apr 09
The Tracy Memorial Village Hall Complex.

Trinity Episcopal Church

The Trinity Episcopal Church in Claverack was built in 1901 in the Arts and Crafts style. It's now used as a home.

Former Trinity Episcopal Church, Claverack, NY
The former Trinity Episcopal Church.

Union Station

Union Station in Chatham was a train station where different railroad lines met. It was an important hub for travel and trade.

Union Station Chatham, New York Apr 09
Union Station in Chatham.

U.S. Post Office-Hudson

The U.S. Post Office-Hudson was built in 1911. Its classical design on the front matches the county courthouse across the street.

Hudson, NY, post office
The U.S. Post Office in Hudson.

Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House

The Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House in Claverack is made up of two 18th-century stone houses joined together. It has a lot of local historical importance.

Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House, Claverack, NY
The Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House.

Elisha Williams House

The Elisha Williams House in Hudson is a brick Federal house from 1810. It was the home of Elisha Williams, who was a state assemblyman for nine terms and a well-known speaker.

Elisha Williams House, Hudson, NY
The Elisha Williams House.

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