Home News Laura Bush Announces Preserve America Grants Budget Preserve America Community: Putnam County, New York

Putnam County, New York (population 84,000) is located about 60 miles north of New York City in the heart of the picturesque Hudson Valley, an area rich in history. From the site of Benedict Arnold's surrender, to well-preserved 19th-century villages, to the home and studio of 20th-century designer Russel Wright, Putnam County has an exceptionally wide range of historic resources.

The Village of Cold Spring in Putnam County, New York, is known for its 19th-century architecture and is an important heritage tourism destination. (Photo courtesy of the Cold Spring Architectural and Historic District Review Board)

The county is included in the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area as well as in the designated American Heritage River area that encompasses the Hudson. The Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist College is actively engaged in developing and promoting a wide range of historic preservation, natural resource preservation, and heritage tourism projects through these programs.

County funding also helps to support the Putnam County Historical Society and Foundry School Museum, which features local history collections and offers many programs for children, school outreach programs, and travelling exhibits throughout the county.

Putnam County has taken a proactive role in supporting cultural and historic initiatives by partnering with local municipalities and non-profits to promote preservation and heritage tourism.

For example, the Putnam County Tourist Promotion Agency partners with local organizations to promote exhibits and events at historic sites, publishes an annual travel guide, and facilitates cooperative advertising to draw visitors to the county's heritage destinations.

The Putnam County Historical Society is celebrating its 97th year, and Putnam County employs a County Historian and has a Historic Advisory Preservation Commission that has a comprehensive county preservation plan under development. The Village of Cold Spring, known for its 19th-century architecture and an important heritage tourism destination, already has a preservation ordinance in place.

For more information

Preserve America:
www.PreserveAmerica.gov
Summary of the Preserve America initiative

Putnam County, New York:
www.visitputnam.org
www.putnamcountyny.com
www.travelhudsonvalley.org
www.hudsonvalleyheritagearea.com

An independent Federal agency, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) promotes historic preservation nationally by providing a forum for influencing Federal activities, programs, and policies that impact historic properties, advising the President and Congress, advocating preservation policy, improving Federal preservation programs, protecting historic properties, and educating stakeholders and the public. For more information, visit the ACHP's Web site at www.achp.gov, or contact Bruce Milhans at 202-606-8513 or bmilhans@achp.gov.

Learn more about ACHP

Posted January 15, 2004

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