named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
HerStory: Putnam County Women and the Vote
Exhibition highlighting the lives and contributions of over 35 Putnam County women, including their roles in suffrage, business, military service, and social reform.
Local Newspaper Database Access
Provides public access to historical newspapers through the Hudson River Valley Heritage database, supporting research and community engagement with primary sources.
Map Collection and Research
Maintains a collection of historical maps, including Sanborn fire insurance maps, for research on the development of Putnam County and the Hudson Highlands.
Museum Alphabet Series
Monthly educational blog series using the alphabet to explore local historical sites, figures, and themes in Putnam County and the Hudson Highlands.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Collects and preserves historical materialsCollects, preserves, and maintains historical and cultural materials related to Putnam County, the West Point Foundry, and the Hudson Highlands, including artifacts, photographs, documents, and donated items such as the 1750 Davenport Bible.
- Develops digital and virtual exhibitionsProduces virtual exhibitions and digital content on regional historical topics, including the West Point Foundry, Benedict Arnold’s command of West Point, historic kitchen items, and Anna and Susan Warner, accessible through online platforms and YouTube.
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Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
- Engages volunteers and interns in museum operationsEngages volunteers in research, exhibition preparation, educational programs, event support, and collections projects, and involves summer interns in transcribing historical articles for digitization efforts.
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Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- Operates museum shop and visitor servicesOperates a museum shop to support visitor engagement and enhance public access to museum resources.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operates public museum exhibitionsOperates permanent and rotating indoor and outdoor exhibitions on topics including the West Point Foundry, Indigenous Peoples of Putnam County, women in the American Revolution, and the Hudson River School of Art, with public access to galleries Wednesday through Sunday from 12 PM to 4 PM during the open season.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Organizes public programs and eventsHosts an annual county-wide family scavenger hunt in August, weekend vintage postcard tours, and other public events to engage the community with local history.
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History Education Curriculum Development 1 activity
- Produces educational and self-guided materialsCreates and distributes self-guided brochures, history hikes, history crawls, downloadable coloring pages, and educational companion guides for exhibitions, including content tailored for children, students, and families.
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Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Provides public research accessMaintains a research library and online collections database accessible to the public by appointment, and provides an area research guide to support local history research.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$287K
Contributions & grants$176K61%
Program service revenue$8K3%
Investment income$108K38%
Other revenue$-5K
expenses
Total expenses$279K
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$179K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.34M
Cash$134K
Investments$1.07M
Liabilities$9K
Net assets$3.34M
Liquid reserves51.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASSIE WARD | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $73K |
board members · 11
- CAROLINE DANFORD — TREASURER
- CHRISTINE FOERTSCH — VICE CHAIR
- CRAIG WATTERS — TRUSTEE
- JENNIFER SCHMALZ — TRUSTEE
- KIRK MOLDOFF — TRUSTEE
- MARK FORLOW — CHAIR
- PRESTON PITTMAN — SECRETARY
- SAM BROE — TRUSTEE
- TIM DONOVAN — TRUSTEE
- TIM WALLACH — TRUSTEE
- TODD LONDAGIN — TRUSTEE
relationships · 35
Who they work with
- American Historical Association Funder — Funded part of the Indigenous Peoples in Putnam County exhibition
- Barry Ross Partner — Longtime resident and collector who shared his vintage postcard collection for a museum project.
- Boscobel Partner — Includes Boscobel's online collection in its list of local history resources.
- Chronogram Partner — Includes Chronogram as a source for Hudson Valley art, culture, and spirit.
- Cold Spring Lions Club Funder — Funded part of the Indigenous Peoples in Putnam County exhibition
- Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Funder — Funded part of the Indigenous Peoples in Putnam County exhibition
- Constitution Island Association Partner — Co-organized the virtual exhibition "The World of Anna & Susan Warner" with the Putnam History Museum.
- Google Art & Culture Network — Recommends Google Art & Culture as a platform for exploring museum collections.
- Historic Hudson Valley Partner — Links to Historic Hudson Valley’s “History at your Fingertips” content.
- Hudson Valley Magazine Partner — Lists Hudson Valley Magazine as a regional history and culture resource.
- Kent Historical Society Partner — Links to the Kent Historical Society's digitized photos.
- Library of Congress Network — Includes the Library of Congress as a recommended history resource.
- Lyndhurst Mansion Partner — Includes Lyndhurst Mansion’s virtual tours as a linked resource.
- Mohonk Preserve Partner — Includes Mohonk Preserve’s “Nature Nuggets” environmental education series.
- NY State Council on the Arts Government — Provided public funds for the Revolutionary Visions exhibition through the Arts Link Grant Program
- NY State Legislature Government — Supported funding for the Revolutionary Visions exhibition through state arts grants
- National Park Service Government — Links to the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places program for remote learning.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation Network — Links to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s collections and virtual tours.
- New York Heritage Network — Lists New York Heritage as a resource for collections throughout New York State.
- New-York Historical Society Network — Includes the New-York Historical Society’s online exhibitions and educational resources.
- Office of the Governor Government — Supported funding for the Revolutionary Visions exhibition through state arts grants
- PHM Summer Interns Partner — Students who assist with transcription and digitization of historical materials
- Palisades Interstate Park Commission Partner — Provides historical photographs and images for use by the Putnam History Museum.
- Putnam Art Council Funder — Administered the Arts Link Grant Program supporting the Revolutionary Visions exhibition
- Putnam County Historian Partner — Links to the Putnam County Historian’s blog as part of shared local history resources.
- Putnam History Museum Network — Self-referential membership in its own network of programs and events.
- Putnam Valley Historical Society Partner — Features the Putnam Valley Historical Society's photo collection as a linked resource.
- Scenic Hudson Partner — Collaborates to connect the West Point Foundry Preserve with the West Point Foundry exhibition at the museum.
- Scenic Hudson Partner — Partners with Scenic Hudson to provide virtual tours of the West Point Foundry Preserve.
- Smithsonian Magazine Partner — Features Smithsonian Magazine’s videos on New York’s colonial history.
+ 5 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Curated Historical Engagementmethodology: community-engaged-history-presentationBy involving the community in sourcing and curating historical materials and stories, the museum deepens public connection to regional history because shared authorship fosters ownership, relevance, and sustained engagement.
- Dialogic Interpretation of History Through Art and Artifactsmethodology: art-history-dialogueBy juxtaposing historical artifacts with contemporary artworks, the museum creates interpretive dialogues that challenge viewers to reflect on historical continuity and change because contrasting temporal perspectives stimulate critical thinking and emotional resonance.
- Object-Based and Visual Historical Educationmethodology: object-based_learningBy using physical objects, vintage postcards, and visual media as primary teaching tools, the museum enables deeper understanding of historical life and culture because concrete artifacts serve as accessible entry points to abstract historical contexts.
- Place-Based Learning Through Immersive Experiencemethodology: place-based_learningBy integrating historical narratives into physical experiences like hikes and self-guided tours, the museum makes history tangible and memorable because bodily and spatial engagement strengthens cognitive and emotional retention of historical content.
- Remote and Family-Centered Historical Engagementmethodology: remote_public_engagementBy designing at-home activities and family-oriented tours, the museum broadens access to history education because lowering logistical barriers and encouraging intergenerational participation increases inclusivity and sustained learning.