Columbia County Historical Society

The Columbia County Historical Society and CCHS Museum & Library, established in 1916, serves the residents of all eighteen Columbia County towns and the city of Hudson. This institution is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and presenting the history, heritage, and culture of Columbia County, New York.

Historic Properties of the Columbia County Historical Society

The Columbia County Historical Society owns and maintains four historic properties. These include a museum & library at its headquarters located in the village of Kinderhook, New York. The other properties are the 1737 National Historic Landmark, Dutch Colonial 'Luykas Van Alen House'; c.1820 James Vanderpoel House; c1850 Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse; and the 1915 CCHS Museum & Library building.

The Barbara P. Rielly Memorial Research Library

The Barbara P. Rielly Memorial Research Library, located within the headquarters building, holds a wealth of material on Columbia County and New York State history, genealogy, architecture, and decorative arts. This includes manuscripts, books, maps, architectural drawings, diaries, personal correspondence, scrap books, broadsides, business records, pamphlets, programs, ephemera, photographic prints, glass and film negatives, cased images, and albums.

Educational Programs at the Columbia County Historical Society

Each year, the Columbia County Historical Society provides tours of the Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse and Luykas Van Alen House to fourth graders throughout Columbia County. In addition to these tours, the society also offers several curriculum-based school programs and teacher resources, fostering a deep appreciation of New York and Columbia County history and culture.