named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Bluestone Preservation Initiative
Educational program providing resources on the history, maintenance, and significance of Ulster County bluestone, including self-guided tours and glossaries.
Fred J. Johnston House Museum
Preserved historic Federal-style house open for guided tours May–October, showcasing 18th and 19th-century decorative arts and furnishings as left by antiques dealer Fred J. Johnston.
Historic District Walking Tours
Monthly guided tours of the 1658 Stockade National Historic District and Rondout National Historic District, highlighting early Dutch settlement and maritime history.
Louw-Bogardus Ruin & Frog Alley Park
Preserved 17th-century limestone ruin and adjacent public park maintained by FHK, stabilized with state and donor funding, and used for community events.
Publications and Exhibits
Produces and sells books, exhibit catalogs, and brochures on local history, architecture, and artists; hosts rotating exhibits in the FHK Gallery.
Sharp Burying Ground Restoration
Ongoing project to restore and maintain a 19th-century cemetery, including reinstallation of markers and installation of period-appropriate fencing.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
-
Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Conduct guided and self-guided walking toursOffers monthly guided walking tours of the 1658 Stockade National Historic District on the first Saturday and the Rondout National Historic District on the last Saturday of each month, in addition to self-guided tour options. Group and private tours are available by special appointment.
-
-
Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host special events and exhibitionsOrganizes and hosts special events such as gallery talks, readings, historic cemetery tours, and annual exhibitions like the Edward Budney: Photographer exhibit. Also hosts the Kingston Scarecrow Festival at Frog Alley Park.
-
-
Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- Operate a seasonal bookshop on local historyRuns a bookshop offering publications on Kingston’s history, architecture, and cultural heritage during seasonal hours, supporting public education and access to local historical resources.
-
-
Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate historic house museum and galleryOwns, preserves, and operates the Fred J. Johnston House Museum and Friends of Historic Kingston Gallery in Kingston, NY, offering changing exhibits and guided public tours from May through October on Fridays and Saturdays. The museum is a historic Federal-style clapboard house built circa 1812, maintained with original contents and architectural integrity since 1993.
-
-
Cemetery Preservation and Maintenance Funding 1 activity
- Preserve and maintain historic cemeteries and burial groundsOversees and restores the Sharp Burying Ground and the Post Office Memorial at Montrepose Cemetery in Kingston, including ongoing restoration projects, installation of period-appropriate fencing, and preservation of individual grave plots such as that of John Sudam.
-
-
Local History Publishing 1 activity
- Publish books and educational materials on local history and architectureProduces and publishes books, exhibit catalogues, and educational resources on Kingston’s architectural, cultural, and industrial history, including guides to historic districts, biographies of local artists, studies of the IBM complex, street name origins, and the bluestone industry. Also co-produced preservation guides with municipal partners.
-
-
Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
- Support heritage preservation through advocacy, education, and programsSupports and protects the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of Kingston, NY through a combination of advocacy, educational initiatives, and preservation programming, as stated in IRS-990 documentation.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Stabilize and manage the Louw-Bogardus Ruin at Frog AlleyPurchased the 17th-century Louw-Bogardus property in 1975 and has conducted ongoing stabilization of the ruin and maintenance of the surrounding green space to enable public access, including hosting the annual Kingston Scarecrow Festival at Frog Alley Park since 2021.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$330K
Contributions & grants$287K87%
Program service revenue$4K1%
Investment income$38K12%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$249K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$92K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$816K
Cash$239K
Investments$570K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$816K
Liquid reserves39.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +29.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANE KELLAR | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $60K |
board members · 12
- ANNA BRETT — VP
- ELI BASCH — BOARD MEMBER
- ERIC WINCHELL — BOARD MEMBER
- JENN ZELL — BOARD MEMBER
- JON PALMER — BOARD MEMBER
- KEITH GARMIRE — PRESIDENT
- MARY MOXHAM — BOARD MEMBER
- MELANIE KORMANN — SECRETARY
- MICHAEL DEL PRIORE — BOARD MEMBER
- NANCY CHANDO — BOARD MEMBER
- PETER ROBERTS — TREASURER
- TAYLOR BRUCK — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- City of Kingston Partner — Co-produced the brochure "7 Ways to Love Your Older Home."
- City of Kingston Partner — Collaborates with the City of Kingston on historic preservation and educational initiatives.
- Fred J. Johnston House Partner — Site used for public guided tours and educational programming.
- Greater Hudson Heritage Network Network — Member organization of the Greater Hudson Heritage Network.
- Landmarks Preservation Commission Partner — Collaborated on the production of the brochure "7 Ways to Love Your Older Home."
- Mayor T. R. Gallo Government — Collaborated with the Friends of Historic Kingston on the rededication of the Sharp Burying Ground in 1995.
- Modjeska Signs Collection Partner — Collaborates to preserve and display historic signage from local businesses.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation Network — Member organization of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
- New York State Government — Provided funding for the stabilization of the Louw-Bogardus ruin.
- New York State Board of Regents Government — Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents.
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Provided funding through a Certified Local Government grant for the brochure "7 Ways to Love Your Older Home."
- Preservation League of New York State Network — Member organization of the Preservation League of New York State.
- Preservation League of New York State Partner — Frog Alley project was featured on the Preservation League of New York State’s website.
- SENYLRC Network — Member organization of SENYLRC.
- Stockade National Historic District Network — Member of the Stockade National Historic District, with the Fred J. Johnston House contributing to the district's historic register listing.
- T.R. Gallo Park Partner — Hosts departure point for the Rondout National Historic District Tour.
- Ulster Garden Club Partner — Collaborated with Ulster Garden Club in the 1974 decision to preserve the Louw-Bogardus ruin and create a public park.
strategies · 3
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.
- Authentic Preservation and Interpretationmethodology: authentic-preservationBy preserving historic properties and presenting them with minimal intervention—including original materials, spatial arrangements, and period-specific details—the organization fosters authentic public connection to the past, because authenticity enhances historical understanding and emotional resonance.
- Integrated Advocacy, Education, and Preservationmethodology: advocacy-education-preservationBy combining advocacy, education, and preservation into a unified approach, FRIENDS OF HISTORIC KINGSTON sustains community engagement and protects cultural heritage, because integrated methods strengthen public stewardship and institutional support for historic sites.
- Multimodal Public Engagementmethodology: multimodal-public-engagementBy using a variety of formats—such as exhibits, tours, publications, and events—the organization increases public access to and connection with local history, because diverse engagement methods reach broader and more varied audiences.