PHM History Hike Series: Fahnestock State Park

—–

Registration Link: www.eventbrite.com

How are parklands selected? Travel with us back in time as we explore Fahnestock State Park on foot while we learn its history through the many artifacts that still exist in the park as remnants of the past.

We will discuss Native American history, the American Revolution, the discovery of iron within the park, the role the mines played during the Civil War, Odelltown and Dennytown, the last ditch effort to revive iron mining at Fahnestock in the 1890s by Thomas Edison, and the purchase and acquisition of the land as part of the Fahnestock Estate, and lastly the bequeathing of the land by Ernest Fahnestock to Governor Franklin Roosevelt and New York State, to be made into a park memorializing his brother Clarence in perpetuity. By the 1930s Roosevelt was President and Fahnestock was a target of his New Deal. Members of the CCC or Civilian Conservation Corps built roads, trails, and even a lake during this era. A Boy Scout camp was constructed and there was even a rest camp for British sailors during WW2.

Join us on a fine Spring day to hike the 8 ½ miles of Sunk Mine Road (with a few detours). Be sure to wear hiking boots!

Date: Saturday, May 7th, 10 am – 5 pm (Rain date May 28th)
Duration: 7 hours
Tour led by: Dan Ricci, Putnam Valley Town Historian, Cassie Ward, PHM Executive Director, & Kara Mattsen PHM Education & Public Programming Manager
Difficulty: Challenging due to length, some steep slopes
Cost: PHM Members $8 | Non-Members $10
Meeting/Parking Location: Park in a lot at the intersection of Dennytown Road and Sunken Mine Road. 41.427262, -73.868322. Map will be provided to registered guests.

Registration Link: www.eventbrite.com

Participants will be required to sign a release before the event.