Columbia County Historical Society - 5 Albany Ave., PO Box 311, Kinderhook, NY 12106. (518) 758-9265
The Columbia County Historical Society is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history of Columbia County, NY. The Society owns and operates three historic properties, open to the public during the summer season, and a museum, open year-round.
All of the properties owned by the Society are conveniently located within a few miles of each other in Kinderhook, NY. Visitors can easily enjoy discovering Columbia County's history at all of the sites in one day.
The Columbia County Museum, open to the public since 1985, was originally built as a Masonic Temple in 1916. Today it houses the Columbia County Historical Society offices, research library, collections storage and exhibit space. Volunteers and staff organize educational programs and aid in genealogical research as well as many other activities. The Museum is free to the public.
The museum is located at 5 Albany Avenue in Kinderhook, NY.
The James Vanderpoel House is a distinguished example of Federal Period architecture. Originally the home of a prominent lawyer and politician, James Vanderpoel, the house and its furnishings reflect an elegant lifestyle in a prosperous, early 19th-century village.
The fashionable Federal style emphasized lightness of proportion, symmetry, and delicate ornamentation. High cielings with decorative cornices, Palladian windows, and a graceful curved staircase are important interior features.
From the formal parlor to the master bedroom, the James Vanderpoel House is being restored to its original 1820's appearance.
The James Vanderpoel House is located just off the square in the village of Kinderhook.
The Luykas Van Alen House interior is typical of the domestic settings in which many Hudson Valley Dutch farmers and merchants lived and worked. Large, jambless fireplaces dominate each room, with iron cooking utensils and period furnishings preserving a moment in time.
The Luykas Van Alen House is located on Route 9H one mile south of Kinderhook.