For everyone


AfAm Burials Rhinebeck
Below: The story of Andrew Frazier, the ancestor. The only Black family with a large plot. Adjacent to and facing, but not technically within, “Colored Section E.” Below: Images and profiles.
Posted in: African Heritage, For everyone, Towns


Lafayette Gift to Brinckerhoffs
This is the story of ongoing work to confirm details of an oral tradition in Fishkill’s Brinckerhoff family of nearly 200 years. The tradition holds that Lafayette gave this desk as a gift during his 1824 tour. Recently discovered evidence tends to confirm that oral tradition. In 2013, with the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s 1824 […]
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What did they see in Lafayette?
Why have so many admired Lafayette for so long? The Dutchess County Historical Society was honored to speak at this important Fishkill commemoration of Lafayette. We can learn so much about why he remains important by looking through the lens of local history. Lafayette earned the admiration of George Washington, and was honored by established, […]
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Guide to the Study of Local Black History
Starting Places People Places Things Words from the past Newer Perspectives Other Starting Points The Walter M. Patrice Collection focuses largely on the history of the Smith AME Zion Church in Poughkeepsie, which through Mr. Patrice’s efforts was listed on the national historic register. Although unable to part with the photo album, Mr. Patrice allowed […]
Posted in: African Heritage, For everyone


2023 Home
Dutchess County Historical Society WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION Thank you for your patience while we make updates to a new platform.You will find some gaps here and there during this period. New Location in Rhinebeck Physical space opening in December 6282 Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572We are excited to announce our first move in fifty years […]
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1824: Lafayette in Dutchess County
Above: Invitation to New York City Celebration, DCHS Collections Today we find his name at every turn Or the name of his home in France, LaGrange Lafayette’s local visit 200 years ago September 16, 2024 will mark the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s vist to Dutchess County’s Poughkeepsie and Staatsburg — and Columbia County’s Clermont and […]
Posted in: 18th Century, For everyone, Veterans


Collins Estate
Layers of Dutchess County History are Exposed in a Rare Personal Setting By Bill Jeffway A version of this article appeared in the May 17, 2023 issue of the Northern/Southern Dutchess News. A rare weaving together of the varied and rich threads of Dutchess County history will come together at the historic 1840 Collins Estate, […]
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Spotlight: Hudson River
A message from Hudson Views: Hudson Highland Tours, LLC, known as Hudson Views, is pleased to sponsor this ongoing “spotlight” from the Dutchess County Historical Society featuring the beauty of the Hudson River. The strategic role of the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War prompted George Washington to call it the key to the North […]
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DCHS Horizons
DCHS Horizons:Seeing the threads that connect the present to the past helps us create a better future. Whether we look sequentially back across a long trail (as with the path to women’s right to vote), or look forward to anniversaries of national events through the lens of local history (as with Black history relative to […]
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Horizons: Women’s Right to Vote
2023 November 7, 2023Election Day How did I get here? Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Minima incidunt voluptates nemo. 1919National Women's Suffrage National Women's Suffrage Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Minima incidunt voluptates nemo. 1917 1917Women can vote in any election, and be a candidate in, a man can […]
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