The Van Wyck Homestead Museum is open for free tours from June through October on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4. Come and experience our history.
Cornelius Van Wyck came from Hempstead, Long Island. He was hired by Madame Brett, of Beacon,New York, as a Land Surveyor. In 1732 he purchased 959 acres from Madame Brett's extensive land holdings and built a three-room house, the present east wing of the Van Wyck Homestead Museum. Some time before 1757, the west wing was added.
British strategy at the beginning of the Revolutionary War was based on taking the Hudson and Champlain Valleys. Fishkill became a strategic area. The mountains around Fishkill offer protection from enemies. Present day Routes 9 and 52 were not always called Routes 9 and 52 but they have been around a long time and intersect in Fishkill. The reason that Routes 9 and 52 were major highways was because they offered travel through the mountains to important places like New England and the Highland Forts of West Point and Montgomery.
The Van Wyck Homestead was requisitioned from Isaac Van Wyck by the Continental Army as officers' headquarters in 1776. The Van Wyck Homestead served as General Isreal Putnam's headquarters and was visited by many notable people like George Washington, General Lafayette, General Von Steuben, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. A supply depot known as The Fishkill Supply Depot was located on about 70 acres around the homestead. The Fishkill Supply Depot supplied the Continental Army in the Hudson Valley and also had other support services like hospitals, wheel wrights, blacksmiths etc. Today, there is an undeveloped area between Snook and Van Wyck Lake Roads that was used as the depot's cemetery. A present day group known as Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot are trying to raise awareness and funds to preserve twelve undeveloped acres that remain of the Fishkill Supply Depot including the cemetery where Revolutionary War soldiers are buried.
After the war ended, the house reverted back to the owners and Van Wyck descendents occupied it for 150 years. Only two other families owned the home before it was purchased for $1 by the Fishkill Historical Society in the 1970's. The Fishkill Historical Society is operated by volunteers who provide guided tours of the Van Wyck Homestead Museum, host historically significant seminars and community event for the public and scheduled groups throughout the year.
The Van Wyck Homestead Museum is part of the Hudson Valley National Heritage Area and is part of the New York Independence Trail. The Van Wyck Homestead Museum and Fishkill Supply Depot are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was awarded historic designation by Dutchess County Landmarks.
To share the story of Fishkill's history.
There is a gift shop located in the museum. The gift shop contains many books, colonial era toy reproductions and home décor items.
