New York State Division for Historic Preservation Opens Its Doors at Peebles Island State Park

Three-Day Event Features Conservation Labs, Historic Artifacts, Hands-On Activities, Tours, Presentations and Revolutionary War Exhibits

The New York State Division for Historic Preservation will open the doors of its Peebles Island headquarters to the public for the first time in more than 15 years during a three-day Open House — Thursday, October 15 - Saturday, October 17, 2026. Free and open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, the Open House will offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how New York preserves, protects and shares its history.

The special event will feature recent projects and ongoing work of the Division for Historic Preservation (DHP), part of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). Visitors are invited to explore the buildings and grounds of the Peebles Island Resource Center, meet with staff, participate in hands-on activities, watch demonstrations, hear presentations, explore specialty projects, and tour spaces. Attendees of all ages are encouraged to bring their curiosity and questions as they interact with archaeologists, historians, conservators, curators, historic preservationists, environmentalists, designers and technical experts.

“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is making historic investments in preserving our past and finding new ways to connect people with the stories that shaped our state,” said OPRHP Commissioner Kathy Moser. “Peebles Island is where so much of the behind-the-scenes work to preserve and share New York’s history happens. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, there is no better time to open the doors at Peebles Island and give New Yorkers an insider’s look at the people, expertise and craftsmanship that bring our history to life.”

The Peebles Island Resource Center is home to DHP, including the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the New York State Bureau of Historic Sites (BHS). SHPO administers programs such as the State and National Registers of Historic Places, historic rehabilitation tax credit programs, historic preservation technical assistance consultation and review, the Certified Local Government (CLG) program, archaeological expertise, historic preservation grants, resource surveys, education and outreach. The Bureau of Historic Sites provides museum and historic preservation technical support to New York’s state-owned parks and historic sites, including collections care, conservation of objects, preservation of historic buildings and landscapes, research, exhibitions, interpretive signage and educational resources.

Located at 1 Delaware Avenue North, Cohoes, NY 12047, Peebles Island State Park sits at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers. The park offers fishing, spectacular river and rapids views, and miles of trails through a gently rolling and wooded landscape.

Parking is available at the park but may become limited during the event. Carpooling is encouraged.

Open House Highlights

Programming will be offered throughout all three days, with additional activities on Saturday, October 17:

Timed Tours and Special Activities

Visit theConservation Labs to learn about current projects and the science we use to care for historic objects. Tour groups will rotate approximately every 30 minutes starting at 9:30 a.m., with the last group starting at 2:30 p.m.
Discover Peebles Island’s industrial past with a guided tour of the historic Cluett Peabody factory facility: 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.
Turtle Time! Join us as we feed our resident snapping turtle Snaps: 11 a.m.
Explore history: guided History Hike by the Friends of Peebles Island: 11 a.m.
Explore nature: guided Foliage Hike: 1 p.m.

SATURDAY ONLY

Birds of Prey special program with live animals: 10 a.m.
Reptiles special program with live animals: 11 a.m.
Bilingual Story Hour with Project Growing Minds will focus on archaeology: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Information and Resources Tables

State and National Register of Historic Places
Enslavement to Freedom: 1627-1827-2027 Initiative
Historic rehabilitation tax credit programs, including the New York State Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation program
Historic preservation grants and incentive programs
Snaps’ Snack Shack and informational table, hosted by Friends of Peebles Island State Park
Saratoga250 information and displays highlighting the Battles of Saratoga and the turning point of the American Revolution in 1777

Behind-the-Scenes

Museum Exhibition Shop: Visit our workshop where we make museum displays, interactives, and signs for historic sites and parks across New York.
Digitizing Historic Collections - TMS: Pop in and check out our camera capture set-up that is helping us share our collections online through our new online database.
Historic Reproduction Dress Program: History can be sew interesting when you are outfitting living history professionals. Come learn about our ongoing program to make reproduction clothing for our interpretive staff.

Ongoing Activities and Demonstrations

Sifting for Artifacts: What can you learn from the things you find? Meet with archaeologists and get hands-on with a special discovery activity.
Crafts: Get creative with some art!
Make a Historic Neighborhood by coloring different architectural styles and adding them to our big map
Make a Tricorn Hat out of construction paper
Make a Liberty Cap out of felt
Birding: Play the Bird Migration Game or borrow one of Peebles’ Birding Backpacks.

SATURDAY ONLY

Historic Trades: Watch historic window restoration in progress.

Displays

Revisit the Revolution traveling exhibition, talk with our interpretive staff as you explore banners, 21 historic objects, and an interactive kiosk.
Another Face of War: Enslaved and Free Blacks in the Revolution banner exhibition, part of the Enslavement to Freedom: 1627-1827-2027 initiative.
Peebles Island: discover Peebles Island’s history and current activities in a new exhibition.

Presentations (approximately 20 minutes each)

Downtown Revitalization and Historic Preservation: Discover how Glens Falls is utilizing historic preservation for their Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI): 9:30 a.m.
From Hot Dogs to Roller Skates: Local businesses on the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry: 10 a.m.
New York’s Most Memorable: Discover the delightfully unexpected and quirky National Register listings in New York State – from the Big Duck to the Space Shuttle Enterprise: 10:30 a.m.
Highlights of the Commercial Historic Tax Credit Program: Learn about examples of successful building rehabilitations utilizing the federal history tax credit program in conjunction with the NYS commercial historic tax credit: 11 a.m.
Historic Rehabilitation Incentives for Homeowners: Own an historic home? Find out about the Homeownership Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program in New York: 11:30 a.m.
About the Historic Barn Tax Credit Program: Learn more about this growing program and see some great before-and-after photos of completed projects: 12 p.m.
Capital Region Notables: Explore the noteworthy National Register listings in the Capital Region: 1 p.m.
Enslavement to Freedom: 1627-1827-2027: Preview the upcoming commemoration of two significant events in New York history – the 200th anniversary of the end of legalized slavery in New York State and the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Africans enslaved in the colony of New York: 1:30 p.m.
Exploring New York State’s Historic Places Online with CRIS: Find out how you can use our online database for your historic projects: 2 p.m.
Power Up! Solar Panels on Our Bleachery Building: We know firsthand that solar energy and historic preservation can go together: 2:30 p.m.

For more information, contact DHP at (518) 268-2213.

For those in need of reasonable accommodation for this event please contact OPRHP’s ADA Coordinator Owen Gilbo at (518) 402-2648 or [email protected].

The mission of the New York State Division for Historic Preservation (DHP) is to create meaningful connections to the dynamic history of the state for all residents and visitors, and the Division is committed to protecting historic and cultural resources. Part of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the DHP strives to raise awareness of the value of historic places for future generations and to expand the complex narratives in order to tell a more complete story that represents the diversity of the state's people, both past and present. Learn more about the full scope of the Division's work online.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 86 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.

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