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Museums

Huguenot Street

The stone houses on Huguenot Street, a National Historic Landmark, is the site of a collection of colonial and early National period stone houses owned and operated as historic house museums by the Huguenot Historical Society in the Village of New Paltz. Most of the original portions of the homes date to the 1680s; however, most of the homes stayed in the families for centuries, giving visitors a sense of how the homes evolved down through time. "Three Hundred Years of History" is a familiar slogan to describe these house museums, reflecting the homes' unique representation of changing needs in the Hudson Valley.

New Paltz was founded in by a group of French Protestants in 1677 after the purchase of nearly 40,000 acres along the Wallkill River from the native Esopus Indians. Their homes are represented by the the Bevier-Elting, Jean Hasbrouck, and Abraham Hasbrouck Houses, which were built in the 1680s; the Federal-style LeFevre House, built in 1799 by Ezekiel Elting; the 1894 Deyo House, representing Queen Anne-style; and the Freer House. Most of these homes are modeled and furnished to reflect different historical periods that range from the 17th century to the early 1900s. The DuBois Fort (1705), also on the site, contains the tour office, gift shop and an exhibition space and the French Church, with its adjacent burial ground. A library and picnic facilities are also located on-site.

Touring Huguenot Street is enjoyable not only because of its historical interest, but also because of its proximity to the Wallkill River and the funky ambiance of New Paltz itself. Past and present are neatly packaged in New Paltz, with the Gunks as a spectacular backdrop to the entire scene.

To learn more about the Huguenot Historical Society, call 845-255-1660, or refer to their web site: www.hhs-newpaltz.net.

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