named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Columbia County school programs
Annual educational visits for fourth-grade students to the Luykas Van Alen House, ongoing since 1973.
Dutch Farming Heritage Trail
1.7-mile walking trail connecting the Luykas Van Alen House to Martin Van Buren’s Lindenwald, highlighting early Dutch farming practices.
Early Heritage Narrative Walk
Permanent outdoor exhibition with nine interpretive panels exploring the multifaceted history of Columbia County.
Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse
Historic one-room schoolhouse from c. 1850 used for educational programs about 19th-century rural education and literary history.
James Vanderpoel House
Federal-style historic house from circa 1820 offering tours and exhibitions on local architecture and history.
Luykas Van Alen House
Preservation and public interpretation of the 1737 Dutch Colonial farmhouse, a National Historic Landmark, offering tours and educational programming about early Dutch settlement.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Develop and maintain outdoor interpretive sitesMaintains the Early Heritage Narrative Walk, a permanent outdoor exhibition with nine interpretive panels on Columbia County history, and manages the Dutch Farming Heritage Trail, a 1.7-mile walking trail connecting historic sites related to early Dutch settlers.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Host private events at historic propertiesHosts small private events such as film shoots, club meetings, and tea parties at historic properties to support engagement and operations.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Host school and community educational visitsHosts annual visits by fourth-grade school groups from Columbia County at the Van Alen House and offers educational programming tied to 19th-century one-room schoolhouse education at the Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse.
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Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Maintain historical collections and archivesHolds a permanent collection of over 10,000 historical objects, including paintings, furniture, and rare manuscripts, and maintains an extensive archive of materials on Columbia County history and genealogy for public research use.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate museums and historic sitesOperates multiple historic properties including the Luykas Van Alen House (a 1737 Dutch Colonial farmhouse), the James Vanderpoel House, and the Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse, offering public access and educational programming. Maintains the CCHS Museum & Library in a repurposed early 20th-century Masonic temple with exhibition galleries and archives.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Provide public educational programs and exhibitionsPresents annual exhibitions, lectures, and educational programs on themes of Columbia County history, including a curated exhibition of 19th-century Hudson River School-style artworks and the annual Gallery of Wreaths and Greens. Offers docent-led tours at historic sites during summer and fall.
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Local History Publishing 1 activity
- Publish historical research and contentProduces and publishes the award-winning magazine Columbia County History & Heritage, which explores the county's history, and creates free history road trip itineraries to promote public engagement with local historic sites.
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Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
- Support public research and library servicesProvides library support services during the week and on Saturdays at the Columbia County Historical Society for researchers and community members.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Enhance organizational capacity for public access and engagementConducted a capacity enhancement initiative, supported by a NYSCA Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement grant, to improve access and engagement for patrons and community members.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$940K
Contributions & grants$889K95%
Program service revenue$22K2%
Investment income$29K3%
Other revenue$425
expenses
Total expenses$355K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$164K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.50M
Cash$818K
Investments$0
Liabilities$26K
Net assets$2.48M
Liquid reserves27.7 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +276.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Weilbacker | Director | 40 | $80K |
board members · 4
- Alexandra Anderson — Vice-President
- Eric Blair-Joannou — Treasurer
- John Delikanakis — President
- Sharon Rae — Secretary
relationships · 11
Who they work with
- Embassy of the Netherlands Partner — Donated Delft tiles to the Luykas Van Alen House.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provided the NYSCA Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement grant to support improved access and engagement initiatives.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Funder of the NYSCA Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement grant supporting access and engagement improvements.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided a Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement grant to support improved access and engagement initiatives.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided a Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement grant to support new and improved access and engagement for patrons and community members
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides funding through the NYSCA Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement grant to support improved access and engagement for patrons and community members
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides grant funding through the NYSCA Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement program to improve access and community engagement.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides grant funding through the NYSCA Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement program to support improved access and community engagement.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides grant funding through the NYSCA Regrowth and Capacity Enhancement program.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Receives grant funding from the New York State Council on the Arts for improved access and engagement initiatives.
- New York State Department of Education Government — Chartered the organization via the Board of Regents.
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-Engaged Volunteering as Public Educationmethodology: community-engaged volunteeringBy involving volunteers in society operations, we strengthen public education and community involvement in local history because participatory roles deepen personal investment and stewardship of cultural heritage.
- Cultural Heritage Education through Multi-Channel Engagementmethodology: cultural-heritage-educationBy integrating museum operations, research, publications, exhibitions, and educational programming, we deepen public understanding of local heritage because sustained, multi-format exposure reinforces learning and community connection.
- Cultural Memory through Regional Art and Environmentmethodology: cultural_memory_through_artBy using regional landscape art, we examine how physical environments shape cultural memory and collective identity because visual and sensory engagement with place deepens historical understanding during times of societal change.
- Decentralized Knowledge Networks for Historical Inquirymethodology: decentralized network referralBy referring researchers to local historical societies and town historians, we enhance historical inquiry because localized, distributed expertise improves accuracy and community-specific contextual understanding.
- Self-Guided Engagement for Flexible Public Accessmethodology: self-guided public engagementBy offering self-guided road trip itineraries, we enable broader public engagement with local history because flexible, independent formats remove barriers to participation and accommodate diverse learning preferences.