Beyond NYC: Vanderbilt Mansion in Beautiful Dutchess County, NY

May 8, 2018May 8, 2020 arts-NY 2 Comments

Beyond NYC: Vanderbilt Mansion in Beautiful Dutchess County, NY

History and nature all within less than two hours from New York City

Vanderbilt Mansion Hyde Park NY Dutchess county — View of Hudson river from the roof-top of Vanderbilt Mansion; photo credit NPS Bill Urbin / Image courtesy of NPS

Vanderbilt Mansion and Gardens in Hyde Park, NY is a perfect place to get in touch with history and nature. If you haven’t explored the hills of the east shore of Hudson River yet, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Located just under a 2-hour drive from New York City, the treasures of Dutchess County seems to be infinite and as fulfilling as ever.

The proximity to the City and easy access to the mighty Hudson River and its steamboats running up and down from New York to Albany made this land a very desirable real-estate starting from the early 19th century. The Grand Central Railroad allowed for stable connection from the secluded places like Hyde Park or Rhinebeck to the City and established the area as and a tourist destination. As for the ultra-rich, it let them combine life on the estates with the pleasures of city life. The mansions of the industrialists started popping up on the shores of Hudson River showcasing their net-worth to the public.

The region’s historical treasures are numerous and range from the revolutionary period all the way to the mid-20th century.

Check the historic site website for the opening hours and public alerts.

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Beyond NY: Contemporary Art at Dia:Beacon in Beautiful Dutchess County, NY

August 3, 2018August 2, 2019 contact@arts-ny.com

Beyond NY: Contemporary Art at Dia:Beacon in Beautiful Dutchess County, NY

The sanctuary for contemporary art fans, this unique and fascinating art space in Beacon, NY will be a highlight of your trip to Dutchess County, NY

Dia Beacon Contemporary Art Dutchess County NY — Dia: Beacon Exterior Shot; Photo by Bill Jacobson / Image courtesy of Dia: Beacon

Located in the south-west corner of Dutchess County, the city of Beacon is having its renaissance with colorful art-galleries, artistic collectives, unions and institutes lining up its main street and adding to its creative vibe. Only hour and a half train ride from the city, Beacon offers its visitors a reformative experience of green countryside and vibrant artworks.

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Its most alluring treasure, Dia: Beacon, the art and exhibition space that occupies former industrial box-printing facility for Nabisco (National Biscuit Company) factory, is a delight for contemporary art connoisseurs and those who are open to stepping into an unknown territory. Dia: Beacon collection includes paintings, photographs, sculpture, and multi-media works. What strikes the visitors entering the museum are the streams of natural light. Many of the works are site-specific to fit the space and its lighting arrangements in the most artistically productive way. Andy Warhol, Richard Serra, Gerhard Richter and other contemporary masters contributed and created works for Dia installed here for a long-term or permanently. This type of arrangement seems to slow down the passage of time and makes the artwork an integral part of the space itself.

Explore the collection at your own pace or join an informative tour which highlights the works selectively.

Beyond NYC: Historic Montgomery Place at Bard College, NY

October 16, 2018June 27, 2019 contact@arts-ny.com 1 Comment

Beyond NYC: Historic Montgomery Place at Bard College, NY

Splendid country mansion surrounded by the formal gardens and a nature park in Red Hook, NY

Front view of the Montgomery Place Mansion at Bard College, NY — Montgomery Place Mansion / Image courtesy of Dutchess Tourism Inc.

Montgomery Place is the early 19th century estate built by Janet Montgomery Livingston, the widow of the American Revolutionary War hero General Richard Montgomery and named in his honor. The estate was purchased more than 25 years after General Montgomery was killed in the battle of Quebec in 1775, and was originally called the Chateau de Montgomery. It was passed on to Livingston’s descendants who subsequently rebuilt and modernized the mansion, added the nursery and developed the grounds. The estate was put on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1975.

In 1986, the family transferred the property to the Historic Hudson Valley, a regional historic preservation organization. And recently in 2016, the estate was purchased by Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.

What makes this site to stand out among other equally distinguished places scattered around the Hudson Valley, is its elegance and graceful confidence of its owners’ good tastes. The understated chic of the house decoration and furnishing is meticulously preserved and kept alive so much so that one almost feels the hosts’ presence. At times it seems that they just stepped out and will be back any minute. Explore the place for yourself and get in touch with history and nature here.

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Beyond NYC: Staatsburgh State Historic Site in Beautiful Dutchess County, NY

October 4, 2018April 3, 2019 contact@arts-ny.com 1 Comment

Beyond NYC: Staatsburgh State Historic Site in Beautiful Dutchess County, NY

History and nature all within less than two hours from New York City

Staatsburgh State Historic Site Library Christmas Tree decoration — Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Library / Image courtesy of Dutchess Tourism Inc.

Mills Mansion, known now as Staatsburgh State Historic Site is a hidden treasure for history buffs and nature fans. Located just under 2-hour drive or train ride from the City, this peaceful and striking estate offers both a chance to travel back in time to see the Gilded Age splendor and to enjoy the serenity of nature by mighty Hudson River. The site which belonged to Mills family and known as Mills Mansion before it was donated to the State of New York in 1938 is open for tours and offers a program of special events.

Mills Mansion and the Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park surrounding it offer a deep dive into the intricacies of American history and the life of American aristocracy at the turn of 20th century, and an unparalleled beauty of the hiking trails running along the river and in the sprawling hills of the estate.

A peaceful hamlet of Staatsburgh, NY is across the road. Now quiet and sleepy, it leads its origin from the land patent in the 1690s to Dutch settlers. The hamlet has a historic church and used to have Staatsburgh train station for easy connection to the city.

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Beyond NYC: Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, NY

November 1, 2018April 3, 2019 contact@arts-ny.com

Beyond NYC: Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, NY

Fall 2018 exhibitions and talks for the local community

Contributed by Anna Adler, Outreach & Operations Coordinator, Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY

Kathryn Cirincione, Waiting / Image courtesy of the artist

Home of the Dutchess County Art Association from its founding in 1935, Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, NY is operated with a broad mission of fostering and perpetuating an appreciation of the visual arts in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

Upcoming events:

THIS Saturday, Nov 3, join us for a Found Object Sculpture Workshop with Suprina (12-3pm) and New Directions Artist Talks (3-4pm).

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Tag: Dutchess county