Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site — Attraction in Town of Stony Point

Wow!

What a great place to stop, stretch your legs (though hilly in places), take in some pretty cool Revolutionary war history, visit a small air-conditioned museum, see a lighthouse and find some fantastic Hudson River views. It's just one of these places that is so easy to overlook (guilty as charged!) but then coming away wondering why I didn't visit before. And for those penny pinchers out there, it's all free. Though I'm sure the parks department won't mind if you happen to drop a spare Washington or Lincoln into the donation slot at the museum.

Anyhow after driving through a fascinating entrance and across an old narrow bridge traversing some freight trains, you'll be met with a large parking lot. While everything worth seeing starts at the top of a large paved hill getting up there is definitely a work-out. Fortunately the site offers a free shuttle cart which will swiftly get you up (or down) to where all the action is. From there, there's a museum to be explored or venture down one of several inviting paths each of which has several areas of interest. For those wanting to know more about this place, there are numerous signs explaining the historical significance of this fort. Not much for history? Fear not. There's a small lighthouse to see or one of several areas that offer phenomenal views.

In a hurry? You can probably see it all within 30-35 minutes if you keep a New Yorker no-muss pace. If you're more of a stop and smell the flowers person, you can probably spend 2 hours or more taking it all in. Picnic tables were available so feel free to pack lunch. While I believe one or two water fountains were tucked away in places, I would recommend bringing something to drink if you plan on staying for awhile. There's nothing available to buy.

While there's a fair amount of shade, there is also a fair amount of sun making this destination HOT in the dead of summer. Dress accordingly. Flying insects appeared to be far and few between so didn't see much need for bug spray on the hot day we went. Finally, restrooms were available for...

Stony Point Battlefield is a beautiful historic site located in Stony Point, NY. Stony Point is set high on a bluff that overlooks the Hudson River. The views from the park are spectacular. Rarely does a historic site offer the combination of striking scenery and rich history, but this place does! The park offers both a nice indoor museum and outdoor walking paths. The paved walking paths have interpretive exhibits explaining the historical importance of the battlefield. There are several overlooks where you can see up and down the Hudson for many miles on a clear day. The overlook near the lighthouse is the best part of the walking trail and you will want to spend a few minutes at this spot. The rocky outcroppings along the path are a nice touch as well. There are benches to sit and rest as you go along. The museum does a great job putting together exhibits that explain the historical significance of the area. There are exhibits with artifacts found from the American and British armies here. They also have an informative display on how the lighthouse operated for the years that it was in use. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in the museum. When coming into the park you will see the Stony Point memorial arch. The arch is a memorable entrance way into the park. On certain days the park also has historical reenactors, who do a great job demonstrating what life was like in the American Revolution. This area might be overlooked, but it should not be. It offers great history, scenic views, a nice museum, and is a great place to be.

Short History: In 1779 the British Army occupied this bluff and controlled the Hudson River. On the night of July 16,1779 American General Anthony Wayne led a corps of American soldiers that captured the bluff and took control of it from the British. This effectively ended British control of the Hudson River and after this most of the fighting in the American Revolution would shift to the American south. Years after the American Revolution, the lighthouse on the bluff was built in 1826 and is the oldest one on the...

This is the location of a famous battle during the revolutionary war. The location was critical as it controls a narrow portion of the Hudson River. It is also near West Point another important fort controlled by the continental army and the location of a chain that went across the Hudson and blocked the British ships from passing up to Albany. Read the text in the enclosed photos as the have a vivid account of the British taking this location and the subsequent attack by the continental army when it was retaken.

This is a location well worth visiting as you will realize how important the location is when one looks out over the Hudson. you will also appreciate how difficult it was to recapture and why the attack by the continental army happened at night. There are many special activities held during the warmer times of the year and they are well worth attending. But even when there is no activity planned it is still worth visiting as there are numerous informative signs at the location and the views are special. Some of the signs are included in the photos attached to this. It is well worth reviewing them before coming as you will then be better prepared to understand why it was such a critical choke point during...