Top Things to do in Hudson River Valley
Top Hotels in Hudson River Valley
- 1. Hampton Inn Albany-Western Ave/University Area
- 2. Homewood Suites by Hilton Albany
- 3. HYATT Place Poughkeepsie
- 4. Hampton Inn by Hilton New Paltz
- 5. Tarrytown House Estate
- 6. Homewood Suites by Hilton Poughkeepsie
- 7. Homewood Suites by Hilton Newburgh-Stewart Airport
- 8. Hilton Garden Inn Albany Airport
- 9. Hampton Inn & Suites Albany-Downtown
- 10. Hotel Nyack
What to do and see in Hudson River Valley, Hudson River Valley: The Best History Museums
Discover the best top things to do in Hudson River Valley, United States including Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, National Purple Heart Hall Of Honor, USS Slater DE-766, Burden Iron Works Museum, The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, Beacon Historical Society, Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History, Lyndhurst, Albany Institute of History & Art, Schuyler Mansion.
Restaurants in Hudson River Valley
1. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,511 reviews
Historic site features the home and estate of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Springwood, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the only Presidential Library used by a sitting president. It was conceived and built under President Roosevelt's direction and opened to the public in 1941.The Library's mission is to foster research and education on the life and times of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and their continuing impact on contemporary life. Our work is carried out by four major areas: Archives, Museum, Education and Public Programs.
Reviewed By R4960NKjustinw - Hasbrouck Heights, United States
I have been on the tour of Springwood many times but not at the holidays. The tour was really interesting of birthplace of FDR and the home of his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt. The house was supposed to be decorated for the holidays but only a Christmas tree in the library and the dining room set for dinner were the only holiday decorations in the house. The mansion will be going through a full renovation in April and then will be closed for a year so tour it now! The park ranger gave us an informative tour of the family, when the house was built and the additions added on, how the family grew here and the role the house played in the history of the United States especially in World War II. FDR continued to visit here after he became President and used it as his summer White House. Still it was his mother's home and Sara's influences are all over the house. Unlike other mansions, you could tell this was someone's home that was used at all times of the year. You can really see the family influences all over the house as if someone was still living here. It is a great tour and take time to visit the museum and walk through all the exhibits. It really does take two or three days to tour the house.
2. National Purple Heart Hall Of Honor
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 61 reviews
Please note the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is CLOSED on Mondays
Reviewed By Timzorrr - Edmonds, United States
The site of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor besides being a very interesting, touching and well done museum, also occupies the grounds of the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site (Revolutionary War). Both attractions are worth seeing. The Purple Heart Hall of Honor has the original purple heart on display as well as a history of the Purple heart. In the same building, in the basement are the weapons and miniature figures of the Cantonement. Outside you will find a log cabin that was used in the Revolutionary War. A little history: "The site of the last encampment of Washington's army between October 1782 and June 1783 which included 8,000 soldiers and their families. By late December 1782 the soldiers had constructed some 600 log huts. The cease-fire agreement of April 19, 1783 effectively ended the war, and the soldiers were sent home." So see both while you are there!
3. USS Slater DE-766
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 432 reviews
During World War II 563 Destroyer Escorts battled Nazi U-Boats on the North Atlantic protecting convoys of men and supplies. In the Pacific, they stood first in line to defend naval task forces from Kamikaze attacks. Today only one remains afloat in America. Step back in time. Return to 1945 aboard USS SLATER. See how Sailors worked, hear the sounds of a living ship, touch a piece of American history, and walk the decks where hundreds of Sailors have walked before.
Reviewed By Q5053BDscotta
Having visited most of the WWII museum ships on the east coast (and some on the west), I can say that the USS Slater beat them all in terms of a restoration that made you feel as though you were on the ship when it was in service. My nine-year-old son, who only had a passing interest in WWII, loved the tour, which included tour guide (Austin) demonstrations as to how to get into a top bunk, direct an anti-aircraft gun, and use a signal light. My son particularly liked seeing and holding munitions that were near some of the armament on board because it gave him a greater appreciation for the effort that gun crews needed to expend when defending the ship. The guide answered my son’s many questions that ranged from medical care, living conditions, and general quarters patiently and clearly. My son has already made me promise to take him to see the U.S.S. Massachusetts at Falls River the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York.
4. Burden Iron Works Museum
5. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 45 reviews
Engage with the untold story of the Underground Railroad movement in the Capital Region. Learn about the Freedom Seekers who sought refuge at The Myers Residence. Experience the real beginning of the Civil Rights movement led by Black abolitionists. Be in the place history happened. Underground Railroad Education Center researches and preserves the local and national history of the Underground Railroad movement, its international connections, and its legacy for today’s social justice issues, thereby empowering people of all ages to be agents of change toward an equitable and just society.
Reviewed By 147tobyc
This historical site, and the wonderful tour provided by Paul, provide a glimpse of the Underground Railroad quite different from the snippets of information imbedded in the minds of many of us. The house is undergoing repair and renovation but it and the many artifacts on display gave us insight into the life saving efforts of ordinary citizens almost 200 years ago. The foundation’s ongoing summer projects with local students provided us with key historical information. We definitely recommend a visit.
6. Beacon Historical Society
7. Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Explore the past, present, and future of Historic Reher's Bakery. Visit the Retail Shop ca 1959 to learn about Sunday mornings mid-century, when Kingstonians converged here to pick up rolls for breakfast on their way home from church. In the oven room, explore historic bakery equipment and hear how Frank Reher and his six children ran this business for 80 years.
Reviewed By U1805SBcaitlin
This resonant space is remarkably well-preserved, down to the outlines of the rolls that were baked day after day for decades. As a historic site it hasn't been made in any way hokey -- instead there's a Secret Garden quality to it, and you feel lucky to be let in to a place where the past feels tactile and present. Our tour was intelligent, engaging, and delicious (I don't know if every visit features fresh-baked bread, but I appreciated that multi-sensory touch!). I've visited the Hudson River Valley area several times, mainly to see art and be in nature, and I'm grateful to the Reher Center for giving me a much better understanding of the whole region's history, including the stories of immigrants and they communities they created. Not many historic sites manage to trace both micro and macro histories in this way -- brava!
8. Lyndhurst
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 543 reviews
Lyndhurst mansion is closed but the grounds are open! Daily Grounds Passes are available through December 20th. Overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York, is Lyndhurst, one of America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions. Designed in 1838 by Alexander Jackson Davis, its architectural brilliance is complemented by the park-like landscape of the estate and a comprehensive collection of original decorative arts. Its noteworthy occupants included: former New York City mayor William Paulding, merchant George Merritt, and railroad tycoon Jay Gould. Lyndhurst is a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Reviewed By an0nym0us9999 - Memphis, United States
Lyndhurst was a dream estate built by Mr. Pauling that was sold to Jay Gould that overlooked the Hudson River. During Halloween, the house was decorated with Halloween decorations that took away from the overall historic feel of the house but was entertaining. I took the tour of the house it lasted about an hour and a half and get a good look at the furniture that was in the house during Jay Gould’s life. The house itself wasn’t anything extremely impressive. The most memorial piece of information about the estate for me was that the TV series, Dark Shadows, was filmed at Lyndhurst, and Barnabas’ and Angelique’s paintings from the TV series were displayed in one of the rooms. The house was built in a gothic revival style where ever door, window, room, furniture and et cetera had a parallel matching accompaniment. It was a enjoyable historic site to explore.
9. Albany Institute of History & Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
Step inside one of the oldest museums in North America for a glimpse of what life was like in old Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley through an amazing collection of furniture, clothing, paintings, silver and photographs, all celebrating the importance of this region in American history.
Reviewed By kzsull01 - Windsor, United States
My husband and I visited the Albany Institute of History and Art in Albany, New York on Wednesday March 31, 2021. This museum is about an hour and forty-five minutes from our house, but it has always been worth the long trip, being a nice walk back through time. The exhibits have been consistently interesting, informative and quite educational, being a good lesson in art, history, culture, politics and much more, depending on what is applicable. This time we really enjoyed the Special Exhibit: ‘A Sense of Time: The Historical Art of L. F. Tantillo’. It is a very impressive and excellent representation of historical fine art, truly a great treasure, including numerous marine scenes with a particular focus on New York State, the Albany area and the Hudson River Valley. More details about our experience viewing this exhibit are provided below in the Special Exhibit section. All the exhibits in this museum are nicely curated and have detailed write-ups describing them that are very well done. We have visited this museum multiple times and have always been impressed with its nice mixture of various types of art work, including many beautiful Hudson River School paintings included in the Permanent Collection, which are always nice to see and are another great treasure in the museum. Details about both the Special Exhibits and Permanent Collection are provided below.. Our visit to the museum took about an hour and a half this time. The museum staff member at the front admission desk was very friendly and helpful, providing details regarding where each particular exhibit was located. The write-ups/documentation that he provided to us were also quite helpful. However, the timed tickets that were recommended but not required caused us to delay our visit a couple of times. We prefer more flexibility and not having to be at the museum at a specific time. But we appreciate that the timed tickets applied to an hour span of time. It is great that the museum offers convenient free parking in the museum’s parking lot, which is located behind the museum just before the intersection of Dove Street and Elk Street. We have been lucky to get one of the last parking spaces the times we parked in this lot.. We have parked in both the museum’s parking lot and across the street from the front of the museum on Washington Avenue, which is metered parking that is free on Sundays. Specifically the days that we parked in the museum’s parking lot included a Sunday (around 12:20 PM) and a Wednesday (around 11:00 AM) and both times there was very limited parking available. In the past, our car navigator has led us to the parking lot behind the museum automatically. But this time it led us a different way and we had issues finding the museum. It led us to the front of the building on Washington Avenue. To get to the parking lot from Washington Avenue heading towards the state capital, take a left at the Intersection of Washington Avenue and Dove Street, just before the museum. The parking lot will be your first right. . . Special Exhibits: We highly recommend the Special Exhibit: ‘A Sense of Time The Historical Art of L. F. Tantillo’. This exhibit is really quite inspirational and has a variety of different historical fine art paintings nicely classified under nine different themes, ‘Native People’; ‘New Netherlands’; ‘New Amsterdam’; ‘the English Colony’; ‘A New Nation’; ‘Steam Powers a Nation’; ‘Building Interest’; ‘Technology and Defense’’ and ‘En Plein Air’.. The text/write-ups that accompanies each work were written by the artist, Len Tantillo, are very informative, interesting and educational. The background on the artist is quite impressive, including his reliance on a network of dedicated historians, leading to a consensus on texture and tone in his artwork. Also, his ideas about history, including that: ‘history is all what we share and joins us together’ represents a great perspective. I loved the many boat/marine scenes, including the steam ships; the Fort Orange scene showing how Albany looked in 1635; the ‘Siege of Fort William Henry, 1757’ scene, depicting the historic battle that took place on the banks of Lake George, New York in 1757; the section on ‘Plein Air’ painting; as well as the artist speaking about his work in the background. This exhibit is definitely well done and we are glad to have had the opportunity to view it during our visit at the museum this time. The Special Exhibit: ‘Fellow Citizens: Dewitt Clinton (1769 – 1828) Broadsides of the Early Republic’ has a lot of material to read but is of historical significance, providing good context to American life at the time the broadsides were created. Included in the exhibit is details about the background of Dewitt Clinton, the sixth governor of New York and about his Uncle George governor of New York for seven terms. Political Broadsides related to the elections of 1789, 1792, 1795, 1798 and 1801 are on display with information about each gubernatorial race, including: the candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, party, number of votes and percentage of votes. Information about Albany and a very historic map of the city; the New York State Constitution of 1777 and Voting Rights is also on display. Interesting information on the parties of the elite Federalists and Democratic-Republicans of more moderate means, who promoted equal opportunity for all men, equal rights and free markets, is also provided. This exhibit is quite interesting and definitely a good lesson in history. The Special Exhibit: ‘A Fresh Look at Eighteenth Century Portraits’ is quite interesting, especially from the perspective of the methods and procedures for conserving works of art that are three hundred years old and which have undergone earlier restoration and conservation treatment. The exhibit helped me really appreciate this type of art and the efforts required for its conservation and preservation. The preserved versions of the artwork on display looked great!! Permanent and On-Going Exhibits: The gallery of Hudson River School paintings on display in salon fashion is beautiful. It was very nice to have been provided with documentation at the front admission desk that included the title of each numbered painting on display along with other information describing the painting. There were 83 paintings included on the list of paintings on display. The document also included a quick guide to scan to get more information about the paintings on view. The overview about the paintings in the middle of the gallery gives good background information, including historic context for these paintings. The overview provides a good comparison of Hudson River School landscapes and Impressionist landscape styles. The paintings in this gallery are nostalgic and show the country during decades of transformation from small farms to a nation of industry and cities with rapid westward expansion and social and political turmoil that reshaped the nation’s identity and cultural outlooks. The on-going exhibit on Ancient Egypt, has a great collection of nice artifacts and curios, including mummies, jewelry, as well as a good display on ‘Animals in Ancient Egypt’. This exhibit has nicely done write-ups providing good background information covering such topics as ‘Gods and Goddesses’; ‘The Afterlife’ ‘Crafts and Professions’; ‘Samuel W. Brown: The Man Who Bought the Albany Mummies’; ‘Ankhefenmut and His World’; and ‘Ankhefenmut as a Sculptor and Priest’.. The on-going exhibit on ‘Traders and Culture: Albany and Shaping of American Identity’ is a good lesson in history. It provides interesting details on how the values, culture and character of current Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley have been shaped by the diverse people of colonial Albany and the objects that reflect the early inhabitants’ interests, values, and interactions. The diverse people who shaped colonial Albany and the objects that reflected their interests and values are nicely illustrated. Also, the ways that Albany’s cultural identity evolved from the commercial and social interactions of its people, in the process constructing a unique culture and values that define us today as Americans is well depicted. Subject areas included in this exhibit were Life and Work; Trade, Commerce and Conflict; Traders and Culture; Social Identity; and Albany’s social economic, political and cultural connections to the Netherlands We recommend visiting this museum. We enjoyed it and hope that you have the opportunity to visit it and enjoy it as well. An added bonus to the museum are all the interesting dioramas scattered throughout the museum!!
10. Schuyler Mansion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 121 reviews
Georgian style home of American Revolutionary War Major-General Philip Schuyler and his family. In general, tours begin at 11:00 a.m., are offered on the hour, with the last tour at 4:00 p.m. Site is currently CLOSED for the 2019 season and will re-open for general visitation May 2020. For information about special events, please visit https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/33/details.aspx or find us on Facebook.
Reviewed By R4252TRfranks - Brunswick, United States
This gives one a real good insight into the history of the Dutch and their importance to this area. Our guide Ian was great and provided a lot of information not heard in other sources.
