2026 Junior Historian Programming

Seal of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, featuring a landscape with a river, mountains, trees, and a boat with sails.

You can arrange a private group tour by appointment. To schedule a visit or inquire about group rates for schools and youth programs, please email us at info@newburghhistoricalsociety.org.

The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands is proud to present History House, now on view throughout the month of October at the Newburgh Free Library.

History House invites children, families, and community members to explore local history through creativity, storytelling, architecture, and hands-on learning. The exhibit features miniature houses created as part of the Historical Society’s History House program, each demonstrating how homes, neighborhoods, families, and everyday people help tell the story of Newburgh and the Hudson Valley.

Designed to make history feel approachable and alive, History House encourages young people to look beyond dates and textbooks and instead build, create, ask questions, and connect the past to the places they see around them every day.

Through miniature architecture, design, storytelling, and local history, the project introduces young learners to ideas about historic preservation, changing neighborhoods, architectural styles, and the many people whose lives shape a community.

“At its heart, History House is about helping young humans see that history belongs to them,” said Jonathan Hamilt, President of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands. “When youth learn the stories of the places around them, they begin to see their community in a new way. They understand that history is not just something that happened long ago. It is something they are part of.”

History House reflects the Historical Society’s ongoing commitment to making local history accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all ages. By combining education, creativity, and community pride, the program hopes to inspire the next generation of historians, preservationists, artists, architects, and storytellers.

History House is on view throughout October at the Newburgh Free Library.

Step Inside History

A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a gray sweater, stands with arms outstretched in a room filled with children sitting on the floor and on chairs, engaged in an activity. The room features ornate curtains, a large painting, a grandfather clock, and a fireplace with decorative items.

Discover the Crawford House Museum through programs designed especially for young learners. Our guided visits introduce children to the elegant 1830 home of Captain David Crawford, a civic leader and maritime entrepreneur who helped shape Newburgh’s growth from a quiet riverside town into a thriving center of industry and trade.

The Crawford House, once set on 500 acres overlooking the Hudson River, now serves as the headquarters of the Newburgh Historical Society. Here, history comes alive through interactive tours, object-based learning, and age-appropriate activities that connect students to Newburgh’s rich past.

As stewards of the city’s heritage, the Historical Society is committed to offering educational experiences that spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and inspire young people to explore the stories, cultures, and architecture that make Newburgh unique.

A yellow, two-story Victorian-style house with large white columns, green shutters, and a balcony, filled with children and adults. There are trees with autumn leaves surrounding the house and a sign in front that reads, 'Welcome to Crawford House, Please Use Rear Entrance'.
Children and adults sitting and standing on a porch, having a picnic with lunchboxes. Some children are eating, and some adults are talking. The porch is part of a historic house with columns and a balcony, and an American flag hangs from the balcony. There are trees with autumn leaves and brick buildings in the background.
A woman with gray hair and glasses leaning over a table with children, helping with a craft activity. The table is filled with supplies like glue, markers, paper, and photos. There is a colorful folded display card on the table. A large framed painting of a street scene hangs on the wall behind them. Several children are engaged in the activity, and some are wearing jewelry and colorful clothing.

"We are so grateful for the warm welcome our school received during its recent field trip to the Historical Society. It's wonderful to see our students comfortable enough to engage with such thoughtful questions and genuine curiosity. Having this resource that preserves and shares the rich history of Newburgh means so much to our community.

What we'll treasure most is knowing that our students now see this landmark as part of their own neighborhood story.

Thank you, Crawford House team, for opening your doors and helping our students feel so connected to the place they call home."

-Rebecca Harrison, Director of Education, Little Friends Learning Loft

A young woman with long brown hair and a black sleeveless top standing outdoors in a fall setting with blurred autumn leaves in the background.

Take a Virtual Tour of Crawford House

Elegant living room inside Crawford House in Newburgh, New York, featuring a chandelier, fireplace, vintage furniture, and large windows with curtains.

We partnered with Newburgh native Seth Colegrove (IG: @empireexplorer) to create an interactive virtual tour.

Step inside our 1830 headquarters from the comfort of your home and explore the first floor in detail. Along the way, clickable info boxes reveal the stories behind the Society’s collection of Hudson River School paintings and 19th-century decorative arts, bringing Newburgh’s history to life in a new way..