Thousands upon thousands of people visit Dutchess County each year, and they come here for all different reasons. Its wondrous natural beauty, its world-class cuisine and craft beverages, its vibrant arts and culture scene — these are only a few of Dutchess County's biggest attractions.
Not to be overlooked, however, are Dutchess County's many historical sites. Significant events have transpired here in Dutchess, and iconic people have called it home.
With several exciting events planned for the weekend of October 11-13, I Love N.Y. makes it possible to step back in time along its Path Through History and explore Dutchess County's rich heritage. Here's a look at what’s on the calendar:
• Staatsburg Village Walking Tour (Saturday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m., starting at St. Margaret's Epicopal Church, Staatsburg): Visit several historic locations, including long forgotten factories, bustling downtown hotels and medieval memorials in Northern Dutchess. Explores the village of Staatsburg's close relationship with the Mills family and their estate on a 90-minute guided walk. Discover Staatsburg's vibrant past and the lasting legacy of Ruth and Ogden Mills beyond their estate walls. At the turn of the century, this hamlet was a thriving hub of businesses and manufacturing, fueled by these landed estates and the modernizing nation. Though this event is free, reservations are required; to save your spot, book here.
• The REAL Gilded Age: America's Elite in the Downton Abbey Era (Saturday, Oct. 11, 2 p.m.): Led by a costumed interpreter, this tour of the Mills Mansion highlights the real-life characters and themes at Staatsburgh that parallel "Downton Abbey" and HBO’s "The Gilded Age." Click here to purchase tickets.
• History Hidden in the Woods (Sunday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m.): Did you know there are ruins within Mills-Norrie State Park? This gorgeous land served as the ideal setting for grand Hudson River-front estates, and it is yours to explore on this two-hour guided hike. The program details the transformation of these structures through the centuries, from Staatsburgh’s founding as a gentleman’s farm in the 1700s to the development of The Point and Stonehurst estates in the 19th century. Click here to reserve your place at this free event.
• A Life in Service (Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m.): This 90-minute tour, led by a costumed guide, focuses on the lives and duties of those servants who worked in the mansion. The tour will include visiting additional parts of the mansion not on standard tours, including the unrestored servants’ hall! Click here to purchase tickets.
Related: The Destination Dutchess Tourism Story Finder History and Heritage Trail
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• Air Show: Living History (Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, 10 a.m.): The action is taking off at the Aerodrome, with air shows every Saturday and Sunday from June 14 through Oct. 19! Gates open at 10 a.m., with pre-show activity starting at 2 p.m. and the air show starting at 2:30. Open-cockpit biplane rides are available before and after the air shows from 10 a.m. until twilight. The Aerodrome's museum opens at 10 a.m. and the snack stand opens at noon. The Saturday "History of Flight" program highlights the Pioneer Era before World War I and the Golden Age of Aviation in the 1920s and 30s. The Sunday air show is the World War I dog-fight spectacular, with a hero or heroine, the villainous Black Baron of Rhinebeck, scenery, pyrotechnics, and a World War I tank, along with many antique automobiles. Click here to learn more.
• Open House and Market Day (Saturday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m.): Tour the Van Wyck Homestead Museum, the Officers Headquarters of the Fishkill Supply Depot during the Revolutionary War. Learn of the historical figures who visited the site and its importance during the eight years of the Revolution. Visit the craft fair with over 20 vendors with homemade soups and baked goods.
• Market Day Craft Fair (Sunday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m.): Experience a Revolutionary War-era market day this October. Come for the masterful crafts and stay for lunch, fresh apple fritters and a tour of the Van Wyck Homestead Museum. In the colonial era, market days allowed craftspeople, farmers, and friends to come together for fellowship and stock up on needed goods. Peruse works from over thirty vendors, including watercolor art, wooden gifts, pottery, jewelry, handmade soaps, knit clothing, and more. Plus, don tri-corn hats, mob-caps and other period-accurate garb sold at the museum gift shop. Lastly, Hamilton fans will adore the special exhibit celebrating the 200th anniversary of the the Marquis de Lafayette's tour of the United States.
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• October Curator's Tour (Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m.): Join Innisfree Garden landscape curator Kate Kerin for a lively 90-minute tour exploring Innisfree, a powerful icon of mid-20th-century design now recognized as one of the world's 10 best gardens and listed at the highest level — exceptional national significance — on the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to reserve tickets.
• Walkway Connections: FDR’s Train Commute (Saturday, Oct. 11, 2 p.m.): Franklin D. Roosevelt often traveled between Washington and his home in Hyde Park during his presidency. Learn about the trains he used and his connections to local places at this free event at the Walkway's East Gate Plaza in Poughkeepsie.
• The Livingstons' Landscape (Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m.): Uncover the relationship the Livingstons had with the land and those living on it in this free guided landscape tour. Look back through generations of the Livingston family and explore how their roles as landowners shaped the land and local communities. From the questionable land purchases from Indigenous tribes to enslaved men and tenant farmers tilling the soil, to the Livingstons' own gentleman farmers, the relationship with the land and those who worked it changed many times over the past 300 years.
