Dutchess County Historical Society

6282 US-Route 9

Rhinebeck, NY 12572

(845) 471-1630

https://www.facebook.com/DCHSNY/

2023 Home

Open: Sunday-Monday Closed/Tuesday-Thursday 10:00am-3:00pm/Friday-Saturday Closed

Admission: Free but donations are accepted

My review on TripAdvisor:

The Dutchess County Historical Society at 6282 Route US 9 in Rhinebeck, NY

I recently visited the new Dutchess County Historical Society in Rhinebeck from its old home in Downtown Poughkeepsie. The new museum has a light and airy feel about it with new exhibitions being mounted and a new library being set up for research. The museum just opened for viewing so it is still in its early stages for displaying artifacts.

The Dutchess County Historical Society

The Main Gallery at the museum

The Mission of the Dutchess County Historical Society:

The Dutchess County Historical Society is committed to being the most meaningful source of Dutchess County history, a commitment in place since its 1914 founding.

We do this through the responsible archival stewardship of tangible objects and the energetic interpretation and presentation of local history to the public.

We are proud to be known for our community outreach through a wide range of publications, awards, exhibits, programs, talks, writings, videos and oral histories.

Online and traditional exhibitions, lectures, awards, conferences and special presentations round out Dutchess County Historical Society programming for members and our local communities.

Portraits of local residents and antique furniture

Some of the new permanent collection on display are family portraits, antique furniture, historic documents and local artifacts from towns all over Dutchess County. Much of these items were donated by the families that live in the area.

The portraits of local residents and historical documents in the collection

Historical Documents of Dutchess County with the original seals

The first exhibition that is being mounted in partnership with the Rhinebeck Fire Department is the history of the fire service in Dutchess County. Since part of the exhibition was being moved to the new fire museum at the Dutchess County Fair Grounds for the upcoming Dutchess County Fair, I got to see only a portion of it at the museum.

The exhibition “The History of the Dutchess County Fire Service”:

The exhibition shows the progression and growth of the fire service in Dutchess County since the time the Dutch lived in this region. The collection reflects the direction of these departments since the end of the Civil War and how much and how little the equipment has changed.

Fire department artifacts including documents and equipment

Fire Department jacket

Helmets and trumpets used by fire departments in the past

What was interesting about the exhibit was the depth of items of the past that each firefighting and the story they tell.

The Permanent Collection:

The remaining displays along the walls of the museum as set up continues tell the story of Dutchess Counties past and the families that lived here.

Family heirlooms

Household and Business items

An old Draft card machine

There will be more displayed of the treasure trove of items in the museum’s collection, so it gives people a chance to see the past of the County on display and how it differs from current life to playing its part in the County’s future. There will be a lot more to do and see in the museum going forward.