Historic Cherry Hill
Historic Cherry Hill is entering an exciting phase of repairs and restoration. As a result, the museum is currently closed to walk-in tours. Please re-visit our website often for the latest information on events and special tours.
Explore Albany's Stories & Traditions a the Tenth Annual
400 Years of History in 4 Days
May 1-4, 2009
Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
Historic Quackenbush Square (Downtown Albany, Broadway & Clinton Ave.)
(518) 434-0405 www.albany.org
Day 3 (Sunday, May 3rd) includes Historic Cherry Hill Tour of Planned Restorations, 1-4 pm, $3. Reservations: 434-4791
Click here for all the details (PDF, 1.9MB)
Arts Day Video Testimony
Historic Cherry Hill was asked to produce YouTube testimony for a joint meeting of the New York State Assembly and Senate Committees on Arts and Tourism, held as part of Arts Day on February 3, 2009. The testimony, and YouTube response from Assembly Member John J. McEneny may be seen here:
Hudson 400 Program Series
Join us for an exciting variety of programs on the theme of history versus nostalgia. The program series is funded by the New York Council for the Humanities and co-sponsored by the Town of Bethlehem. The four programs are free to the public.
Cherry Hill was home to five generations of the Van Rensselaer family and their descendents from 1787-1963. Cherry Hill's first owner, Philip Van Rensselaer, built his Georgian-style home on a 900 acre farm in what was then the Town of Bethlehem. Philip, a descendent of the first Dutch Patroon, was a Hudson River trader and farmer who served as the town's first supervisor. The program series will incorporate new research findings on Philip and his wife, Maria, and contrast their 18th century lives with the later family's nostalgic views of this past.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Scholar's Talk - Where the Past Beats the Present: The Cherry Hill Family's View of Their Hudson River Heritage. The series begins with a talk by noted historian Dr. Tamara Plakins Thornton, Professor of History at the State University of New York (SUNY)-Buffalo. By the late 19th century the Cherry Hill family experienced wrenching social, economic, and personal changes. Dr. Thornton will explore why the Cherry Hill family responded to these changes by re-creating and romanticizing their past and how these views of their heritage differed from the actual lives of their 18th century ancestors. Among the realities of colonial life Dr. Thornton will discuss are the roles of the rum trade, slave labor, and advantageous marriages in creating elite fortunes.
When: 2:00 p.m.
Where: Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Avenue, Delmar.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Family Event - This fun-filled event for all ages will feature re-enactments, interactive games and activities on the grounds of Historic Cherry Hill. Visitors will take part in the Cherry Hill family's 20th century celebration of their past and then visit the 1700s to discover the real history!
When: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Rain date: Sunday, August 23.
Where: Historic Cherry Hill, 523 ½ South Pearl Street, Albany.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Tour of the House and Collections - This special curator's tour will tell the stories of the Cherry Hill family who lived in their 1787 Georgian-style home for almost 200 years. The tour will highlight the collections and architectural elements of the 18th century and the Colonial Revival periods.
When: 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Space is limited; reservations are required. Call 434-4791.
Where: Historic Cherry Hill, 523 ½ South Pearl Street, Albany.
Saturday, October 3 and 10, 2009
Trolley and Walking Tour - This combination trolley and walking tour will focus on the landscape changes from 1787-1963 as Cherry Hill evolved from a 900 acre farm to an urban home on five acres surrounded by immigrant housing. Participants will also visit the site of the family's 18th century dwelling and merchant storehouse in Albany. Using evidence from family manuscripts and other primary sources, the tour will emphasize the family's changing attitudes towards their environment. The tour will be led by Anthony Opalka, Albany City Historian, and Historic Cherry Hill staff.
When: 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day. Space is limited; reservations are required. Call
434-4791.
Where: Historic Cherry Hill, 523 ½ South Pearl Street, Albany.
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