The Senate House State Historic Site in Kingston, where New York State government first met, will hold a grand reopening May 30 following the completion of a $2.5 million restoration and the addition of two new exhibits to its museum.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced plans for the celebration, which will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 30.
The event will feature open house-style tours of the historic Senate House, access to the newly updated museum exhibits, Revolutionary War reenactors from the 1st and 3rd Ulster militias, live music by historical performers Carla and Keyes, food trucks and hands-on craft activities for visitors of all ages.
“This site, home to New York’s first state government, is a powerful part of our shared Revolutionary history, and this restoration work will preserve it for generations of visitors to experience,” Kathy Moser, acting Parks Office commissioner, said in a statement. “Dedicating resources to preserving historic places like the Senate House is an essential part of our (America’s) 250th celebration. I am grateful to all who contributed to this successful project.”
The restoration project was supported with a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The remaining $1.75 million was provided by Parks Office capital funds.
The reopening also will mark the first stop of the “Revisit the Revolution” traveling exhibition, produced by the Parks Office. The exhibition will travel across the state, visiting historic sites, parks, libraries and community spaces, as part of the statewide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
The exhibit brings together historically significant artifacts from across New York State’s historic site system to highlight the state’s pivotal role in the Revolution.
“Nearly 250 years ago, brave patriots gathered at the Senate House in Kingston to declare their freedom from tyranny and convened the first meeting of the New York State Senate under the newly adopted New York State Constitution,” U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan said in a statement. “Though British forces burned the city in retribution, our Senate House stands strong today as a testament to New York’s unmatched resolve and patriotic spirit.”
Work included installation of a new cedar shake roof, repairs to framing and dormer windows, and exterior masonry restoration at the Senate House. Improvements to the adjacent museum’s building included roof, window and porch repairs, along with the installation of a new sitewide drainage system serving both buildings.
The site’s museum building, which dates to the 1920s, features two new permanent exhibits: “Revolution Comes to Kingston,” featuring the role of the city and the Senate House during the American Revolution, and “Vanderlyn: The Artist,” highlighting the life and work of neoclassical painter and Kingston native John Vanderlyn.
Located at 296 Fair St. in uptown Kingston, the Senate House is the former home of Abraham Van Gaasbeek, a merchant who supported the patriot cause during the Revolutionary War.
After the British occupation of New York City, the New York Provincial Congress relocated north to Kingston, which became New York’s capital following ratification of the state constitution in April 1777.
Van Gaasbeek allowed the new state Senate to rent one of his rooms for their initial meetings.
In October 1777, British troops raided and burned Kingston, destroying hundreds of buildings throughout the city. Although damaged in the attack, the Van Gaasbeek home survived, and today it stands as the Senate House State Historic Site.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Senate House reopening marks Revolutionary milestone in NY
Reporting by Mike Randall, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
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