Did you know that Westchester County’s first post office was in Peekskill in 1791, and that the current Peekskill post office was built in 1930-1931 and served as the model for other post offices across the country after the Great Depression?
Did you know the birthplace of the American Circus, a Revolutionary War-era cemetery, two different balancing rocks, a tavern visited by General George Washington, and more are just a few of the 100 or so places families can discover this summer using the Westchester County Historical Society’s (WCHS) 150th Anniversary History Hunt on your phone or tablet mobile app?
Westchester County Historical Society (WCHS) 150th Anniversary Historical Exploration
Beginning July 1, families can register to participate in the free History Hunt program, which visits up to 90 historic sites in 32 different communities across Westchester and offers a glimpse into over 300 years of Westchester history. Each historic site has a “challenge.” Most challenges require taking photos and uploading them to the WCHS History Hunt mobile app. Anyone who uploads a photo is eligible to receive a prize, and families who visit all historic sites will receive free tickets to Westchester’s best activities. Special prizes will be awarded to the first family to finish and the account that submits the most original historic site images. The Family History Hunt will run from July 1 to September 10. To register and download the app, visit the Westchester County Historical Society’s Family History Hunt webpage and scan the QR code. Once the app is downloaded and registered, individuals can begin searching and hunting for objects in any location in Westchester, including local locations in Peekskill and Cortland.
The WCHS History Hunt mobile app, designed by Ossining-based Otocast, provides GPS-guided directions to locations. It then displays descriptions, images, and audio recordings with brief background information. Participants are tasked with a simple task of taking photos that can be easily uploaded as proof that they visited the sites. But don’t wait, the History Hunt ends on September 8th. Prizes will be awarded in the fall to families and groups who complete the entire History Hunt and/or have exceptionally creative entries. Gifts include free “tickets” to Westchester museums, restaurants, and entertainment venues for families.
Westchester County treasure hunt locations map
“Our county’s dedicated historians and historical societies have helped us compile amazing places to see and history to experience,” said Barbara Davis, WCHS co-director and History Hunt coordinator. “We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful and diverse historical heritage, and this is a great way to get a taste of that history.”
The Westchester County Historical Society is the 11th oldest county historical society in the United States and serves primarily as a library and research center. The nonprofit is located in the Westchester County Records Center in Elmsford, which also houses the county’s public records and archives. Documents, maps, photographs, manuscripts, books, and other materials have been collected since the WCHS’s founding, making it the only historical organization that manages materials representative of the entirety of Westchester. The collection of more than 500,000 items is stored in 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled safes, with shelves the length of 215 football fields. WCHS continues to add new materials to the library through donations, purchases, and long-term loans. For more information, contact WCHS Co-Director Barbara Davis at (914) 231-1437 or [email protected]Also visit the Westchester County Historical Society on Facebook and Instagram.
Peekskill History App
While you’re scouring Peekskill for the Westchester County Historical Society, don’t forget to download the Peekskill History App, available for Apple and Android, to learn more about the local neighborhoods, buildings, and events that happened in this little city we call home. In the years since the app’s initial creation, many more places and local communities have been added to the app. Use both apps in conjunction with one another and learn about Peekskill and Westchester all summer long. To learn more about the Peekskill History App and how it was created, check out the 2022 Peekskill Herald article, “Tour through Peekskill’s past and present using smart technology.”
To see more local events, check out our Peekskill Herald Events Calendar feature and the Peekskill Herald Events Calendar
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