A BRIEF HISTORY

The Fishkill Historical Society was founded in 1962 by local Fishkill and Hudson Valley residents who were dedicated to preserving this historic Homestead.   They "fought valiantly" to save the Van Wyck Homestead from demolition as it was in the way of a clover-leaf exit ramp for I-84 which was in its design and planning stages in the early 1960s.   We are grateful to these “Founding FHS Members” for their foresight and perseverance to preserve this historic house from imminent destruction.   The Homestead was acquired in 1971 from the Snook Family who essentially donated the building to the Fishkill Historical Society to use as our headquarters and Museum.

The Van Wyck Homestead Museum is open for Guided Tours for the general public from 1 - 4 PM each Saturday and Sunday during the Tourist Season – June 1st thru October 31st.   Guided Tours can also be arranged anytime that’s mutually convenient !   Please see the “Contact Us” screen, and we will try to accommodate your request for a personal tour – especially if you live outside of the Fishkill, New York area, and you’ll be “passing by” sometime other than a weekend afternoon.   There is no Admission Fee, but donations are “Gladly Accepted’.  

Our Fishkill Historical Society co-ordinates tours with other Historic Sites, especially during the Ramble Weekends each September.   We also arrange for hands-on School Programs for local 4th grade students learning about American History during Colonial times – especially the American Revolution years.

In 1732 Cornelius Van Wyck purchased 959 Acres of land from Madam Brett and built a small house, the present east wing of the Homestead.  Today there is less than one acre left of the old Van Wyck farm property.  Our Van Wyck Homestead Museum rests on this remaining one acre at the corner of Snook Road and Route 9 right across the street from the I-84 exit 13 eastbound exit ramp.

During the Revolutionary War, the Van Wyck Homestead was requisitioned as the “Officers’ Headquarters” for the Continental Army assigned to the Fishkill Supply Depot (1776 - 1783).  General Israel Putnam was the first commander to use this Homestead as his Headquarters.   Putnam County, south of Dutchess County, is named in honor of General Israel Putnam.  After the American Revolution ended, the house reverted to the owners, and the Van Wyck descendants occupied it until the 1880's.   It was occupied until the late 1950s when, for some reason, it couldn’t be sold, and was abandoned.   Thus, in 1962 the Fishkill Historical Society was formed to preserve the Homestead and keep its history alive.

The Van Wyck Homestead is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.