The Dutchess County Department of History’s primary responsibility is to preserve and promote our understanding of the county’s past and how it impacts us today. In pursuing these objectives, we work closely with our partners in county government and in the community at large.
The department collaborates with more than 100 historical organizations in the county, ranging from the municipal historians and historical societies to preservation groups and historic sites. We provide assistance to the County Clerk with records management projects, and conduct research and exhibit work in conjunction with other county departments.
The department also offers active heritage tourism opportunities throughout the year in collaboration with Dutchess Tourism and numerous historical organizations.
We are happy to field inquiries from the general public, providing information and connecting individuals to specialists in the field.
We are living in unprecedented times, the events of which will have a lasting impact on our society for generations to come. Historians often regret the lack of direct eye-witness testimony to such formative events from the past.
We have an opportunity now to collect and preserve this rarest class of historical source for future generations.
There are several ways you can participate in this documentation effort.
Dutchess County Court Records from 1721-1830
An interactive map with information on historic houses and buildings collected in 1986
A variety of historical records, including board of supervisors minutes, court records, and history publications
Links to other repositories holding family and local history material
An overview of Dutchess History from 1683 to the present
The panel exhibit on the history of county government from 1713-2013
The panel exhibit on the history of the Nelson House Hotel in Poughkeepsie
In 2017, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office celebrated 300 years of service to our community
Documenting COVID-19 in Dutchess County
Contact information for local government historians and historical societies
Each year, the Department of History offers public outreach programs to educate and entertain county residents and visitors.
Dutchess Tourism and other sites
