Century House Historical Society & Snyder Estate — Attraction in Town of Rosendale

One of the priceless jewels of the Hudson Valley! If you have a Sunday afternoon free, this is a quirky and endlessly fascinating little museum tucked away on an old estate off of Route 213 in Rosendale, the famous cement mining town described by many as 'scrappy'. This place was the home of A.J.Snyder, and tells the story of Rosendale Cement, from past to present. You see the tools, learn about the geology and the industry that built around it. It's a fabulous glimpse at local history, the stories told by lively and authentic displays. Not to be missed is the "Atomic Rosendale" exposition. The grounds are a kind of natural museum with easy trails you can hike, and you can go into the Widow Jane Mine and see a subterranean lake. They host lots of cool events, too....

The hills along the Rondout creek were hollowed out by hand from Tillson to Kingston for a cement so good the ancient Romans would have been proud. The museum here can tell you more about that. There is even a section of the old mine for you to enter where naturally air conditioned performance events are...

As a guide to the Rosendale and Kingston mines, the Century House Historical Society museum is my go-to place for learning the history of the local cement industry and geology so as best to teach my underground clients. The museum has great displays, photos, and artifacts that shed light on the region's...