Since the 1980s, our agency’s Division of Historic Preservation has recognized outstanding individuals and projects with the annual Historic Preservation Awards.
These honorees represent reverence for the past and creativity and vision for the future, combined with the necessary attention to detail, perseverance, skill and hard work it takes to bring historic preservation projects to life. From a rustic farm to a bootlegger’s warehouse, let’s take a look at some of the projects and people our agency honored this year.
On Saturday, May 3, there was a warmth in New York that no rains could dampen.
I Love My Park Day volunteers brave the rains at Allegany State Park, Clark Reservation, and Wellesley Island on Saturday, May 3.
I Love My Park Day returned for its fourteenth year. Across hundreds of historic sites, state parks, rail trails and public lands, thousands of volunteers turned out to help us prepare for the summer. They came as families, they came in groups small and large, they came alone, but they left as a part of a bigger whole, coming together for their communities.
Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh includes the Hasbrouck House and the Museum Building (shown in background). The Hasbrouck House is furnished to reflect when General George Washington was using it as his headquarters during the American Revolutionary War. The Museum Building houses and displays historic artifacts and exhibitions.
1895 view of the site and grounds. Washington’s Headquarters was the first state-owned historic site in New York.
Since then, New York State has collected objects, archival materials, and other items related to New York’s history. 2025 marks the 175th anniversary of New York’s state historic sites – which now number over 35 locations, over a million historic objects, and over three million archaeological objects.
Like the first birdsong, the start of Major League Baseball is a sign of spring.
Baseball fans celebrate the start of the season every year, but there are two other “baseball holidays” circled on the calendar of fans everywhere at opposite ends the season: Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, and Roberto Clemente Day on September 15. Did you know that New York State Parks has connections to both?
As Tom Petty once sang, “You belong among the wildflowers, you belong in a boat out at sea.” At New York State Parks, we cannot offer you a boat at sea, but we CAN offer you wildflowers! New York State is blessed with a bounty of native wildflowers that you can view throughout the year, but they are particularly brilliant in the spring.
New York State Parks and Historic Sites Blog 