Preservationist Tour Guide: A (Fall) Weekend in Kingston
Kingston, NY, is located in the Mid-Hudson Valley about 90 miles north of New York City. This area is the traditional homeland of the Esopus people who were displaced by Dutch and British settlers beginning in the 1600s. In 1777, Kingston became the first capital on New York State. This early history is evident throughout the city, most notably in uptown Kingston. The Stockade Historic District, the Midtown Arts District, and the Roundout Historic District downtown provide three distinct neighborhoods chock full of great architecture sure to delight any preservationist. There are also plenty of shops, restaurants, and natural beauty, making it great place to explore a bit of our state’s history.
Friday
Hotel Kinsley in Kingston’s Stockade neighborhood has two historic buildings that have been converted into boutique hotels (with two more restorations underway). This would be a great place to set your home base for a weekend exploring the city.
Rough Draft Bar & Books operates in a 1774 stone building in Kingston’s uptown Stockade Historic District.
Take a walk around the Stockade to admire the historic architecture spanning the 17th-19th centuries. If you get to town early enough, make sure to visit The Senate House. Built in 1676 (with later additions from the late-17th and early-18th centuries), this house is where the New York Senate met in 1777. Join them for a tour and stop into the museum.
For a few more examples of pre-Revolutionary War buildings, head to Kingston’s Four Corners at the intersection of Crown and John Streets. Each of these stone houses was built between 1663-1775. This is also where you’ll find Rough Draft Bar & Books, and you should absolutely check out this bookstore/coffee shop/bar while you’re in town.
Saturday
Head down Broadway and grab breakfast at Village Coffee and Goods. There is outdoor seating and beautiful locally made ceramics to complement your meal.
Black Lives Matter mural at 695 Broadway. Artists: Jalani Lion, Dina Kravtsov, & Mat Schulze | This mural memorializes and honors Black lives, calls for an end to systemic racism, racial violence and police brutality, and offers healing to those who have endured these inequities for generations. Jalani Lion’s portraits of the late Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery are set among Dina Kravtsov’s paintings of resilient and medicinal Hudson Valley plants. Matthew Schulze painted the lettering throughout. Copy and image from O+ mural map.
Spend your morning exploring the Midtown Art District, admiring the many murals made possible by O+. This nonprofit builds “long-term relationships between creatives and health and wellness providers to help strengthen local communities. Their year-round efforts culminate in one-day and weekend-long celebrations, during which underinsured artists and musicians create and perform in exchange for a variety of services donated by doctors, dentists and complementary care providers.” Their mural program has transformed walls across the city into massive works of public art — and they have a map to help you find them all.
Head all the way down Broadway and you’ll find yourself in the historic Rondout neighborhood. At the top of the district is the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History. Join them for a historic bakery tour to learn about how one immigrant family brought their community together with fresh-baked bread. The Reher Center has received two NYSCA-funded Preserve New York grants from the League, and we’re excited to see how they continue to steward their building to better serve their community. Tours take place Saturdays at 1:00 and Sundays at 2:00, but be sure to check their website!
The Reher Center for Immigrant History and Culture is located on the corner of Broadway and Spring Street. Their time capsule storefront helps tell the story of immigration in Kingston.
There are plenty of restaurants as you head toward the Rondout Creek, but consider Brunette for small plates and natural wine.
If the timing works out, be sure to book a Roundout Lighthouse Tour, courtesy of the Hudson River Maritime Museum. Boat tours are offered Friday-Sunday through October and will give you access to explore the lighthouse — one of only seven remaining on the Hudson River
Before heading back, visit ArtPort Kingston in the historic Cornell Steamboat Building. Situated directly on the water, this 1906 building was meant to accommodate maritime transportation on the Hudson River between the D&H Canal and New York City. Now it is home to contemporary art exhibitions, performances, and community gatherings.
Sunday
A row of historic buildings on Wall Street in Kingston. The neighborhood is full of shops and restaurants.
Have breakfast at Outdated Cafe, where everything is for sale. And if you want more vintage treasure hunting, be sure to walk over to Kingston Consignments and Upstate Capital Market, both on Front Street.
There is a lot of overlap in the Venn diagram of “preservationists” and “train enthusiasts,” so we suggest closing out your Kingston experience with a fall foliage tour on the Catskill Mountain Railroad. A ride on this recreational, heritage railroad will give you unbeatable views of fall colors through the Catskills.
Honorable Mentions
The Old Dutch Church in the Stockade was built in 1852 in a Renaissance Revival style. You can’t miss it if you’re exploring the neighborhood, but go inside if you can to admire the stained glass.
Friends of Historic Kingston operate the Fred J. Johnston House, an 1812 Federal style building full of antiques collected by Johnston. The house is open Fridays and Saturdays by guided tour only, May-October.
The Ulster Performing Arts Center in Midtown is housed in a beautifully restored historic theatre. Check their schedule to see what’s happening while you’re in town.
The Trolley Museum of New York offers rides along the Hudson River weekends and holidays April-October.
If you make it a point to visit historic libraries when you travel, you’ll find the Kingston Library on Franklin Street