How much does one know about the history of the Revolutionary War in the Hudson Valley?…read more Like a well-written mystery novel, the Hudson Valley unfolds its secrets, luring history buffs for good reason. The American Revolution played out along the Hudson's banks--from the first riots protesting the British Quartering Act on Golden Hill in Lower Manhattan to the chaining of the Hudson and Benedict Arnold's attempted betrayal of West Point in the Highlands. Just north of the New Jersey border, Tappan, derived from a Lenape Indian word thought to mean "cold water," has the oldest surviving building in Rockland County. The DeWint House, owned by Patriot Johannes DeWint, holds a special place in American history as it served as a temporary headquarters for George Washington during the American Revolution. Washington was a guest of the house twice in 1780 and twice in 1783. It was here that Washington signed the death warrant of British Major John Andre, a spy who conspired with American General Benedict Arnold to betray West Point. Upon arrival as first-timers yesterday, my partner and I were the only vehicle in the spacious parking lot. The house built using brick and indigenous stone is a prime example of Hudson Valley Dutch Colonial architecture, showcasing the unique blend of Dutch and American styles that were prevalent during the colonial period. The house's bottom floor (the top floor is off-limits) houses the North and South Rooms. The South Room was where Washington and his staff resided. The North Room was where work was done, especially with regard to the trial and execution of Andre. The rooms are both open to the public for viewing through glass partitions. Period furniture, bedding, and desks are among the items one sees. An adjacent 19th-century carriage house contains displays of artifacts uncovered at the site during archaeological digs. A 15-minute video about the historic site can be seen, and an over 150-year-old grandfather clock keeps the correct time. So much history happened in this spot that changed this country forever. Don't miss it.

Lovely self guided tour for this history geek; takes about an hour, but guided tours ARE available…read more Stop by nearby Piermont Pier or village for bites after!

If it had not been for the splash of color of the American flag next to the memorial, I would have…read moremissed this entirely. This marker commemorates the Continental soldiers who died in the Battle of Young's House on February 3, 1780, a lesser-known but poignant skirmish of the Revolutionary War. Located near Grasslands Road, in the cloverleaf between the Sprain Brook Parkway and its southbound entrance, the site marks the burial of 13 Continental and 3 British soldiers who were killed during a surprise attack by a force of 500-600 British and Loyalist troops led by Lt. Col. Chapple Norton and James DeLancey. The Continental outpost, headquartered at Joseph Young's house, had been a strategic depot for supplies and a defensive position protecting the area between Bedford and the Hudson River. The house itself stood near what is now Blythedale Children's Hospital, and it had endured multiple raids before the final, devastating assault in 1780. The soldiers were originally buried nearby, but in 1923, their remains were reinterred beneath this monument donated by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). A quiet testament to the sacrifices made in the snowy woods of Westchester County, where young men fought and died far from the famous battlefields. There isn't much for parking here - it is a traffic cloverleaf for a major roadway. But if you use caution and watch for other cars, you may be able to visit. [Review 1053 of 2025 - 564 in New York - 24607 overall]

We did not take any tour of the house when we were here because it was closed. The ground were huge…read moreand nice to take a walk. It's a nice place to stop and relax after a long drive. Next time, we might go back to check out the house.

This is a cute little historic site, although it sure is remote from other things. We had a tour…read morewith 1 other couple, so it's not a popular location and it probably gets less funding as a State Park site vs. National Park Site so as far as a historical house goes it's not the most intriguing or lavish, but it's nice if you are in the area. It's not as impressive as say Monticello and not as popular and informative as FDR's house not to far away, but it has its charm. Being hidden away can be an asset, as when you are at the house, it's far up the hill from the road and really quiet, so you can get a good sense of what Mr. Jay would have enjoyed in his retirement. You can feel the peacefulness and why he'd choose to live here after living in Manhattan. The tour is about an hour and there was a farmer's market set up in the adjacent lot, but otherwise there isn't a lot to see/do nearby. Still, it's worth seeing if it's not too far from you or if you have other things in the area to see.

"But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency All…read morenon-believers and men stealers talkin' in the name of religion And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend" (Bob Dylan) You've probably seen maps of train or subway lines before. A spaghetti like graphic of different colored lines, sometimes running parallel to each other, sometimes crisscrossing each other like a spider web on LSD. So how do train lines manage all that switching and changes of direction without crashing into other trains? It's all computer driven today, but way back in the day things were done manually by throwing huge levers in a Switch Tower, and you can learn all about it and see the 100+ year old equipment in this very cool free museum. The museum is on three stories, and you have to walk up a metal staircase all the way to the top because that's where the tour starts. Our guide on the 3rd floor was John and he was fantastic. We saw the gigantic old switches, and he did a great job explaining the technology of the day and how it changed over the years. Next, we walked down to the second floor where Joe took over and he explained the switches and system in deeper detail. Finally, we walked down to the gift shop on the first floor with all sorts of railroad memorabilia, mugs, and hats are available for sale. John and Joe are volunteers, and their love of trains was quite evident. If you like learning about how mechanical things work, or you have a train buff in your family, you really can't go wrong with a visit to this niche museum.

Wonderfully restored historic building. The tower and docents were excellent....knowledgable,…read morefriendly and you could tell, very much train enthusiasts. The tour was quite interesting and satisfying. GO....you'll learn something...about how they used to 'switch' trains on the New Haven line

In this area, the border between New York State and Connecticut is the Byram River and this bridge…read morecarries I-95 over the bridge, joining the communities of Port Chester with Greenwich. This crucial piece of infrastructure dates back to the ambitious expansion of the Interstate Highway System in the middle of the 20th century. The bridge was built in the 1950s as part of the initial Interstate 95 buildout, which connected Maine and Florida on the Eastern Seaboard. For both long-distance and local commuters, its location across the Byram River--a natural border between Connecticut and New York--made it a key crossing point. The bridge's design reflects the utilitarian engineering of the era: sturdy, functional, and built to accommodate increasing volumes of automobile and freight traffic. Over the decades, it has undergone multiple renovations and structural upgrades to meet modern safety standards and traffic demands. These include reinforcement of its superstructure, resurfacing, and drainage improvements, especially in response to flooding events like the 2007 nor'easter, which affected several crossings along the Byram River. Despite its rather utilitarian and practical appearance it has silently observed the transformation of American mobility, from postwar optimism to the intricacies of 21st-century infrastructure. As it connects not only two towns but two states, it continues to be an important conduit in the Northeast Corridor and serves as a reminder that even the most modest structures can bear the burden of time and development. [Review 1054 of 2025 - 107 in Connecticut - 24608 overall]

Very cute arts and crafts show! I happen to see this event through Yelp and decided to stop by…read moresince my passion is in arts. Every craft was truly unique in its own way and very affordable. I've never been to an arts and crafts show so I thought maybe the creators would be there to describe their work as well as how their business (if any) is going. However, they weren't there. Also the event runs quite long! I believe it started 10/27 and ended 12/3! I learned there were other arts and crafts shows around the area. My boyfriend and I purchased this super cute snowman :)

Beautiful, living history museum with antiques. This house was built before the Revolutionary war +…read moreGeorge Washington had stayed there. The property originally owned 500 acres of land with a farm. The house was also owned by a couple different families up until the 1960's. It's worth the trip too visit and very educational as well.

I've heard of the Ramapo Indians but never saw the tribe spelled as "Ramapoo" until yesterday when…read moreI saw that unusual combination of letters on the Ridgefield Historical Marker. The inscription details a fairly in depth story of the town, starting with the Ramapoo, then moving on to the town's historical significance during the Revolutionary War, and its evolution into a prosperous New York City getaway for the affluent. You'll find the marker in front of the Ridgefield Library where Main Street hits Prospect Street. It's a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. There is a different inscription on each side. The marker was dedicated in 1980 and is in excellent condition. The full inscription reads: This town was founded in 1708 by a group of families from Norwalk who purchased twenty thousand acres from the Ramapoo Indians for one hundred pounds sterling. They were aided by John Copp, a surveyor, who explored the land now lying between High Ridge and East Ridge and recommended it as a promising agricultural area, suitable for settlement. In 1777 at the Battle of Ridgefield, Colonial militia fought British and Hessian troops returning from a raid on American military stores in Danbury. They were headed back to Compo Beach on the shore of Long Island Sound. Ridgefield began as a farming community and remained a typical New England village until after the Civil War. Then it became a summer resort town for prosperous New York City families and many large homes were erected over the years on Main Street, West Lane, High Ridge, Peaceable Street, and East Ridge. Since railroad lines had avoided Ridgefield because of its altitude, it remained more rural than other towns near New York City. Businessmen of the town, however, were able to promote and secure the construction of a spur line from Branchville in 1870 to make this community more easily accessible. The families from New York hired Italian and Irish immigrants who built village utilities and became estate managers and gardeners. The descendants of many of these workers attained status in business and civic affairs of the town as time went on. Native sons of Ridgefield who achieved eminence include Phineas C. Lounsbury, Governor of Connecticut 1887-1889, and Cyrus Northrup, President of the University of Minnesota from 1884 to 1911. The expansion of suburban New York began to reach Ridgefield in the 1950's and continues to this time. Despite this, much of the town retains its true small-town New England flavor. Erected by Town of Ridgefield, The Ridgefield Preservation Trust and the Connecticut Historical Commission. 1980. Five stars for its excellent condition, two sides of an interesting inscription, and the Ramapoo!

A fireman cradles a young girl in both of his arms as he carries her to safety. She clutches a…read moreteddy bear in her right hand. The fireman is talking to her, reassuring her. It's one of those simple monuments that is so eloquent and so powerful. The monument is located in a large park adjacent to the Post Road (Route 1) where the main drag is intersected by Quaker Lane. The metal sculpture sits on a stone base with the following inscription: To our Brave Volunteer Firefighters Past and Present From a Grateful Community October 7, 2000