Yaz’ Hudson Valley Ruins and Abandoned Buildings, Etc.

Tom Rinaldi's half of Hudson Valley Ruins - Just in case you didn't come in from the main page. 

Bibliography

Hudson Valley Resources    ·    Historic Sites    ·    Ruins & Photography    ·    Preservation & Architecture
Brick Collecting . com - Not specifically Hudson Valley, but the region could rightly claim to have been the brick capital of the world in the late 19th-century. There is information on the Hudson River brick industry here, as well as photos of some of the Hudson River brickyards and updates on Dennings Point.

Burton Postcard Collection - Bill Burton's collection of Westchester County Postcards.

David Rumsey Map Collection  - Plenty of Hudson Valley maps and atlases here to help research the history of many of the properties found on these pages.

Dunderberg Spiral Railway - Joseph Brennan's thorough study of the pleasure railroad partially constructed in 1890-1891 on a mountain near Jones Point in Rockland County. Also see his sections on the Abandoned Subway Stations of New York City and the Beach Pneumatic Transit Company and other interesting things accessible from his homepage. 

Existing Railroad Stations in New York State - A Web site devoted to the classic railroad stations still standing in New York State. A great resource for finding or identifying abandoned railroad stations.

Great River Revisited - Lucey Bowen's journey to the Hudson Valley landmarks that her father Croswell Bowen photographed and described in 1938 for his book, Great River of the Mountains: The Hudson.

Hudson Heritage Park - The site of the developers of the former Hudson River State Hospital. There is a nice gallery of interior and exterior photos. Also visit The Chazen Companies.

HudsonRiver.com - The information resource for New York's Hudson Valley. Many interesting articles, and the online home of the Half Moon Press.

Hudson River Bracketed Blog - John Thorn's site, devoted to arts and letters in the Hudson Valley, past and present, running from Lake Tear of the Clouds to New York City. It features current and historical essays and images. A "kindred spirit" indeed.

Hudson River Blog - Loose collection of postings and links to articles of regional interest. Created by a sophomore seminar at Hamilton College.

Hudson Valley Day Trips - A unique and comprehensive source of excellent recreational activities for areas within a 2.5 hour drive from New York City. Formerly DayTrips.org, now at a new online home.

  Iron Miners.com - Primarily focused on the iron mines of the Highlands of New Jersey and New York. 
                            - Has an active and useful forum.
    See also: Historic Iron Mines - 
    And also: Northeastern Mine Explorers - Connecticut and New York.

Newburgh Links:
Times Herald-Record - "Newburgh: The Promised Land" special report.
Newburgh Revealed - A fascinating study of the architectural playground of the Hudson Valley. Once home to some of 19th Century America's greatest architects, Newburgh now features entire blocks of abandoned historic buildings. Newburgh is a sad but classic example of how we destroyed our own cities and waterfronts through poor urban planning. 
Dutch Reformed Church - Newburgh Preservation Association. See also the Times Herald-Record Special Report on the Dutch Reformed Church.

New York Public Library - A Hudson River Portfolio.

NYCSubway.org - Contains an excellent section documenting the Westchester County ruins of the New York, Westchester and Boston Railroad. Of course, there is a ton of stuff on the New York City subway system as well.

Old Abandoned Buildings of Northern New York - Many abandoned farmhouses and more near the Canadian border.

Poughkeepsie Journal - "State of the Hudson" special report.

Preserve Putnam - Supporting preservation of Putnam County's historic landscapes and buildings through collaborative partnerships.

RPI Model Railroad page - This site is devoted to the construction of  a model railroad from the Capital District to the source of the Hudson River. Documentation of many ruins and industrial buildings along the way is included. A word of warning for those in search of some of these buildings - a few of the buildings shown on this site have been demolished since 2004.

York Staters - A communal home for thoughts, news, observations, fiction and non-fiction writing, and photos about  New York.

Hudson Valley Historic Sites and Organizations
Bannerman's Castle - The official web site of the Bannerman Castle Trust.

The Castle on the Hudson - A regal escape to the enchanted days of yesteryear at this hotel and restaurant in Tarrytown.

Century House Historical Society - A not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to the industrial history of the Rosendale natural cement region, located at the Snyder Estate Natural Cement Historic District.

Columbia County Historical Society - The society owns, maintains, and interprets collections and buildings of historical significance, including the Dutch Colonial Luykas Van Alen House and the Federal-style James Vanderpoel House;  the CCHS also operates a museum that includes exhibition galleries and an extensive research library. 

D & H Canal Museum - From 1828 to 1898, the Delaware and Hudson Canal, a 108-mile, man-made waterway and engineering feat of pre-industrial America, brought coal from the hills of Pennsylvania out to the Hudson River.

Friends of Belden House - Committed to preserving and restoring the 245-year old Carpenter-Gothic style Belden House in Carmel, NY.

Heritage Tours by MC Plans - Tours of Historic Yonkers. Explore more than 350 years of history and architecture with Yonkers city planner, Mario Caruso.

The High Line - Dedicated to the preservation and reuse of the High Line - a 1.5 mile, elevated railway that runs along the West Side of Manhattan

Historic Albany Foundation - Advocates preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings through education, and technical assistance programs.

Historic Hudson - Discover the rich history and architectural history of the City of Hudson.

Historic Hudson Valley - HHV is a network of six historic sites in Sleepy Hollow Country and the Great Estates Region: Washington Irving's Sunnyside; Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate (a National Trust Historic site); Philipsburg Manor; the Union Church of Pocantico Hills; Van Cortlandt Manor; and Montgomery Place Historic Estate.

Hudson River Maritime Museum - The only museum in New York State exclusively preserving the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and the industries that developed around it.

Hudson River Valley Heritage - Providing online access to historical materials from New York State's Hudson River Valley.

Hudson River Watertrail Association. - A coalition of small boaters who are actively interested in the Hudson River as a treasure of natural and human history.

Hudson River Heritage - A nonprofit membership organization committed to preserving the unique character of the Mid-Hudson Valley's historic architecture, rural landscapes and scenic viewsheds through advocacy and education.

Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area - Provides information on approximately 80 Heritage Sites.

Hudson Valley Network - Guide to the Upper Hudson Valley. Follow the link to their Great Estates section.

Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture - A not-for-profit organization dedicated to surveying, recording, researching, and preserving the rural vernacular architecture of the Hudson Valley.

Lower Hudson Conference - Listings of Museums, Libraries and Historical Societies in the Lower Hudson Valley.

Lyndhurst - Tarrytown. A property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Maple Grove - Poughkeepsie. A stunning example of Hudson River Bracketed architecture located in a pastoral setting protected by conservation easements. Although largely unoccupied since 1950 and in need of major restoration, Maple Grove awaits a new life befitting its beauty, historical significance and extraordinary survival. Weekly tours now offered seasonally, visit their website for details.

Museum of the Hudson Highlands - Cornwall. Many interesting public programs are offered here.

Old Croton Aqueduct - Dedicated to protecting and preserving the old Croton Aqueduct. Website includes history, illustrations, and maps.

Old Dutch Burying Ground - Friends of the Old Dutch Burying Ground. "Where the Legend of Sleepy Hollow Lives On." Information about free guided tours and Halloween Weekend events. Includes photographs by Rob Yasinsac.

Scenic Hudson, Inc. - A non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Hudson River Valley.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery - "A rural cemetery projected by some of the worthies of Tarrytown, on the woody hills adjacent to the Sleepy Hollow Church." Burying ground of Washington Irving, William Rockefeller, Walter Chrysler, Samuel Gompers and many other famous Americans of historical note. Includes photographs by Rob Yasinsac.

Tarrytown House - Tarrytown. A Destination Hotels and Resorts conference center comprising the former Biddle and King Estates.

Westchester County Historical Society - Also, visit the Westchester County Virtual Archives for family history and governmental record and the county's best-preserved public and private documents..

Putnam County Historical Society and Foundry School Museum - Collecting and preserving historical and cultural materials pertaining to the Philipstown area, the West Point Foundry, and Putnam County.

Walkway Over the Hudson - A not for profit corporation dedicated to preserving the historic Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad Bridge and turning it into a park.

Wilderstein Preservation - Rhinebeck.

H. Lee White Marine Museum, Oswego, NY - Not Hudson Valley, but where I interned in the spring of 1999. The museum is located in the former office of  the 1925 Grain Elevator, which was demolished that semester. Home of the LT-5, a WWII Tug.

Ruin / Photography Links / Etc.
Abandoned But Not Forgotten - About abandoned sites, nature, museums, and historical collections throughout the United States.

Ballparks by Munsey and Suppes - Tour professional athletic arenas and stadiums, past, present and future.

Built St. Louis - Documenting the architecture of St. Louis, Missouri.

Cinema Treasures - Devoted to preservation and awareness of the last remaining movie palaces across the country.

Dark Passage - A Northeastern-based exploration website.

Jim DuPont's Castle Page - Various castles in the United States.

Exploring and Modern Ruins - Xydexx’s page. Includes Briarcliff Lodge, Bannerman's Castle, and other east coast ruins. 

The Fabulous Ruins of Detroit - A tour through the fabulous and vanishing ruins of Lowell Boileau's beloved Detroit.

Forgotten Ohio - Lots of cool stuff here.

Forsaken Places - Central New York.

Hours of Darkness - New York State-based night photography.

Infiltration - The online companion of the paper 'zine about going places you're not supposed to go.

James Howard Kunstler - The author of Geography of Nowhere and Home From Nowhere has an idea of what the future may look like if we keep destroying our historic downtowns and neighborhoods. These books should be mandatory reading for every local planning board. The Eyesore of the Month feature is great.

Lost America - Night photography by Troy Paiva, west coast USA. He also has a beautiful book of the same name.

LTV Squad - New York City urban exploration.

Modern Ruins by Philip Buehler - Primarily New York State.

Modern Ruins by Shaun O'Boyle - Ruins and landscape photography of New York and surrounding states. 

Chris Payne - Photographer, architect, and author of "New York’s Forgotten Substations: The Power Behind the Subway." Work on asylums and New York City's "High Line" also included on his website.

Ruins and Lonely Places - Links to ruins, cemeteries, and tunnels.

Matt Schneider - Portland, Oregon.

Synesthetic Light - Abandoned interior spaces. New York State. 

Under NY - New York State photos from this NYC-based group.

Urban Decay - Comprehensive list of links to various ruin websites.

Urban Lens - Unbounded enthusiasm for abandonment in New York City and beyond.

Visceral Axis - New England ruins.

Western Trails / Route 66 - This website was an excellent resource for ruins during my road trip through California and Arizona in March 2003.