Current
Indoor Exhibitions
Indigenous Peoples in Putnam County
This exhibition explores Lenape and Wappinger culture in Putnam County, with a special focus on the Woodland period when these cultures flourished in the Hudson Valley. In addition to sharing Lenape stories—past and present—the exhibition features important artifacts and replicas including stone tools, stone points, pottery sherds, and a dugout canoe.
Funded in part by the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, American Historical Association, and the Cold Spring Lions Club. Image courtesy of the Staten Island Museum
Julia L. Butterfield Bicentennial
Through this pop-up exhibition, explore the life and legacy of Julia L. Butterfield, a philanthropic woman whose influence still resonates in Cold Spring, two centuries after her birth.
A Love for Cold Spring & A Lasting Legacy: A well-travelled woman, Julia’s heart always gravitated back to Cold Spring and her cherished summer home, Cragside, even amidst tragedy. Her lasting impact upon the community may be experienced at the Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library, or in remembrance of the Julia Butterfield Memorial Hospital which served the community for decades. Other reminders of her enduring influence persist throughout the region including contributions at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in-the-Highlands and the Philbrick James Library in New Hampshire.
West Point Foundry
There is a permanent Foundry exhibition on display at PHM. It includes photographs, artifacts, paintings, maps, and videos highlighting the Foundry related objects within the PHM collection, including a fully restored 10-pounder Parrott Rifle.
Outdoor Exhibition
Messages from the Hudson
A Selection of Postcards from the Barry C. and Mary Jean (MJ) Ross Hudson River Postcard Collection
Messages from the Hudson explores a range of topics, illuminated by the beauty of historic postcards all centered around a distinctive geographic landmark, the Hudson River. The featured cards from the Barry C. and Mary Jean (MJ) Ross Hudson River Postcard Collection offer a glimpse into daily life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through the exhibition’s transcribed messages, we listen to the echoing voices and stories of the senders. As you explore these notes—some spanning over a hundred years—envision the writers jotting down their thoughts, similar to the quick emails or text messages we send in today’s modern world.
More about the Barry C. and Mary Jean (MJ) Ross Hudson River Postcard Collection here.