Our Work
Stone Strategies: Documentation, Stewardship, and Conservation of Historic CemeteriesThis series of hands-on trainings featured three full-day workshops: a morning full of practical, useful information and an afternoon in the cemetery learning functional hands-on preservation methods. Offered at three locations:
Oakwood Cemetery in Troy - May 2023 Old Burying Ground in Bedford - June 2023 Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz - September 2023 Our presenter for the sessions was Joe Ferrannini of Grave Stone Matters. Workshops were held rain or shine. Participants were taught about documentation of headstones, and cleaning methodology before spending the afternoon cleaning and resetting headstones. There was also a demonstration of how to repair headstones. To see additional photos from the May and June sessions, please click here: www.flickr.com/photos/greaterhudson/albums |
Behind the Scenes Networking EventsBehind the Scenes networking events highlight the host site's collections, archives, or exhibits and give GHHN members and friends the chance to forge connections in a relaxed environment. Sharing challenges and successes shows that we all, no matter the size of our site or organization, face similar issues.
Our most recent Behind the Scenes Networking Event was held at Philipse Manor Hall. The event was a chance for those in the museum community to experience the newly reopened site and see the reinterpretation which incorporates the journeys of the Philipse family, the Indigenous people from whom the Philipse lands derive, and enslaved Africans, from whose work and trade the Philipse family prospered during the pre-Revolutionary era. While past exhibits and lectures have documented the role that Africans and Indigenous people contributed to New York State history, these expanded permanent exhibits more fully depict the multicultural environment of the colonial period, and share this complex history with visitors. Past Behind the Scenes Networking Events have given attendees an in-depth look at conservation practices, environmental controls, areas that are not typically included on tours at local historic sites, and special curator tours of new exhibits. |
History UnpausedPresented in partnership with the Historic House Trust of New York City and funded through an IMLS CARES grant, the History Unpaused project included a digital classroom, hands-on training sessions, special project support, and direct funding for HHT's partner historic house museums.
Workshops were held at Alice Austen House on Staten Island (May 2022), Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island (July 2022), and Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx (September 2022). Two workshops focused on historic housekeeping - moving, handling, packing, and cleaning collections; and one workshop focused on archival processing and care and storage of archival collections. Workshops were taught by GHHN staff - Priscilla Brendler and Kerry Sclafani - and independent museum consultant Caroline Drabik. A discussion about the successes and challenges of this project was presented as a session at the 2023 MANY Conference held in Syracuse in April of 2023. Entitled “Tell Me What You Want (What You Really, Really Want): An Honest Conversation about Constituent Engagement”, it was among the highest-rated sessions by attendees and will be presented as part of MANY's "Meet MANY Online" virtual programming in December of 2023. |
Annual Conference & Awards for Excellence
GHHN has hosted an Annual Conference since 1980 for those in the museum community to learn, network with colleagues, and honor excellence in our field. The 2022 Annual Conference and 2021 Annual Conference were not held due to COVID, and the 2020 Annual Conference was held virtually over 6 weeks.
Attendees from approximately 150 historic sites gather for a day long Conference which features concurrent sessions presented by their peers, an exhibit hall, Office Hours with funding organizations (NYSCA, HumanitiesNY, Preservation League of New York State, New York State Archives/DHPSNY, a poster session for projects who have received Awards for Excellence, and plenty of networking with colleagues and friends. The 2023 Annual Conference and Awards for Excellence will be held at Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison in October of 2023. To see more information about past Annual Conferences, please click here. |
MidHudson History Day
Coordinated by GHHN, MidHudson History Day is the regional contest for National History Day (NHD), a program that provides over half a million students each year the opportunity to excel at historical research, interpretation and creative expression.
The MidHudson Contest was held in March 2023 at Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie. Students in grades 6 -12 competed in the following categories: website, paper, documentary (both individual and group), exhibit, and performance. GHHN reached out to the heritage community for volunteer judges: teachers, county historians, school administrators, and museum educators participated. First and second place winners in each category advanced to the NYS National History Day competition held in April 2023 at SUNY Oneonta. |
Services to the Field
In addition to our regular programming and events, GHHN also provides the following for NY's heritage community:
Technical Assistance
- Orange County Cultural Heritage Assessment
- Site Assessment of Montgomery Place at Bard College
- Provides curatorial and technical assistance (includes workshops and programs) for the Historic House Trust of New York City
- On Demand Training and Programs
Virtual Programming and Content
- On Demand Webinars
- Digital Showcase
- Flipping the Narrative Catablog
- NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant online database
Service on Grant Panels/Committees
Revolutionary Westchester 250
Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Management Committee
Humanities NY Action Grant Panel
Arts Westchester Grant Panel
New York State Council on the Arts Grant Panel.
Technical Assistance
- Orange County Cultural Heritage Assessment
- Site Assessment of Montgomery Place at Bard College
- Provides curatorial and technical assistance (includes workshops and programs) for the Historic House Trust of New York City
- On Demand Training and Programs
Virtual Programming and Content
- On Demand Webinars
- Digital Showcase
- Flipping the Narrative Catablog
- NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant online database
Service on Grant Panels/Committees
Revolutionary Westchester 250
Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Management Committee
Humanities NY Action Grant Panel
Arts Westchester Grant Panel
New York State Council on the Arts Grant Panel.