Historic Hudson Valley

Historic Hudson Valley is a museum of historic sites – buildings, landscapes, and collections. A not-for-profit educational organization, it owns, restores, preserves, interprets, and promotes historic landmarks of national significance within the Hudson Valley for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. The sites possess documented historical integrity, architectural distinction, superb decorative and fine arts collections, and exceptional importance of landscape and setting. The mission of Historic Hudson Valley is to celebrate the history, architecture, landscape, and material culture of the Hudson Valley, advancing its importance and thereby assuring its preservation. Historic Hudson Valley was formally chartered by the state of New York as an educational institution in 1951 as Sleepy Hollow Restorations. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., a passionate philanthropist, preservationist, and antiquarian, founded SHR. His enthusiasm for American history, architecture, the decorative arts, and historic preservation were stimulated by the restoration and reconstruction of Colonial Williamsburg, which he largely financed. Mr. Rockefeller was keenly interested in the history of the area made famous by Washington Irving as "Sleepy Hollow"because his own home, Kykuit, was located nearby. In 1951, Sleepy Hollow Restorations included two properties: Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving, and Philipsburg Manor. It was probably not John D. Rockefeller's intent to build a larger collection of historic properties in the "Sleepy Hollow"area, but Van Cortlandt Manor, threatened with destruction, became available for sale, and he added it to Sleepy Hollow Restorations in 1959. JDR, Jr. died the following year, but the family's interest in the organization continued and was led by three of his sons, Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, Laurance S. Rockefeller, and David Rockefeller, all of whom served as trustees (Laurance Rockefeller was chairman emeritus at his death in 2004.) Under their leadership, Sleepy Hollow Restorations continued to thrive. Through arrangements made by Rockefeller family members, the Union Church of Pocantico Hills became part of SHR in 1984. Montgomery Place, a historic riverfront estate located in the Great Estates Region, was added to the SHR network in 1986, a year before the organization changed its name to Historic Hudson Valley.