The Hudson Valley is full of history. The immediate vicinity of our Uptown Kingston office contains the courthouse where Sojourner Truth had her fateful court case and the Four Corners, the only place in America where all four corners contain pre-revolutionary stone houses.
For those people who love history, the gift of learning more is an attainable one. There are dozens of interesting local history books. Most bookstores often display local history books front and center. It could be assumed most lovers of local history have read these books and have as much knowledge as they could possible find within the pages of a book.
If this is indeed the case, how about giving this individual the experience of walking through local history? I remember when my kid was young we signed her up for a writing program at Historic Huguenot Street. We had walked through this area many times, passed by the graveyard, glanced at the buildings, and saw the wigwam.
We had a general understanding that this was land that once belonged to Native Americans. However, it took on a whole different meaning when my kid went there and learned the ghost stories about the way in which the families lived, the slaves they held, and even the ages at which these people died. Learning on the actual ground from local experts is an experience that brings much more understanding.
Many local historical sites offer memberships and tours. Friends of Historic Kingston offers a membership with every $50 donation. Historic Huguenot Street has memberships that can be gifted starting at $40 with the tag line “Give a Historic Gift.” The Ulster County Historical Society offers memberships starting at $25 for seniors and students, $60 for other individuals and $80 for households. Historical Society of Woodstock memberships start at $25 for seniors and students, $35 for individuals and $50 for households.
There are historical societies and memberships in almost every town in the area. A membership often includes free tours and exhibits and free or reduced-rate entry to the talks, demonstrations and events held each year. You will be giving a gift that will help the lover of history in your life surround themselves with local history in a new and different way.
Join the family! 
