Ulster County invites you to the Matthewis Persen House Museum and Cultural Heritage Center, a cornerstone of the City of Kingston's historic Stockade District. This house has witnessed many important moments in Ulster County's history. It was burned at least twice, saw wars and revolution and was home to doctors, tailors, grocers, druggists and innkeepers. As you walk through the House, you walk through time. Please join us at the Persen House located at 74 John Street, Kingston, New York, where we bring Ulster County's rich history alive!

Stay up to date by visiting us on Facebook!  Are you interested in a private or group tour?  Would your organization like to host a Saturday at the house?  Please Contact Us or email archives[at]co.ulster.ny[dot]us for more information.

Hours of Operation

In 2024, the Persen House will be open on the following schedule:

MAY 25 through SEPTEMBER 7

Thursdays & Fridays 9am-4:30pm and Saturdays 10am-4pm

SEPTEMBER 14 through OCTOBER 26

Saturdays Only 10am-4pm or by Appointment

Events Schedule for 2024

The Persen House is pleased to welcome many historical groups, community organizations and cultural heritage groups to host an event this season.  

WWII D-Day Event by Hank Yost

City of Kingston Historian

1st Ulster Militia Revolutionary War Reenactors

Veterans in a New Field Civil War Era Concert

Senate House State Historic Site

Woodstock Museum

D&H Canal Historical Society & Museum

Colonial Game Days

Don Terpening, Revolutionary War Medical Reenactor

Harambee

Kingston Guards Vintage Baseball Team

Ulster County Historian and Friends Meet & Greet

Woodstock Museum

Wool Spinning Demos with Gina Martin

Theatre on the Road

WWII V-J Day Event by Hank Yost

Wiltwyck Quilters Guild

Red Feather Singers & Drummers

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County

Friends of Historic Kingston

Society for Creative Anachronism Medieval Reenactors

Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration by Save Native Sites

Woodstock School of Art (O+ Festival Event)

Burning of Kingston Events

Book Signing by Regional Historian Deb Bruno

Exhibits at the Persen House in 2024

Each year the Persen House is home to many interesting and educational exhibits.  From historic document & artifact displays to student artwork, there is sure to be something for everyone! 

AFRICANS IN AMERICA AND ANTIQUITY 

A Season Long Exhibit by TRANSART

The exhibition chronicles the history and culture of people of African descent in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York State, showcasing recent triumphs and enduring struggles. It also reveals the legacy of a people who were forcibly brought to this land and highlights the cultural artifacts they carried with them. The exhibition also features a collection of instruments and elements used in various ceremonies and events such as life's milestones, religious worship, and work-related activities. 

CURRENT STUDIES OF THE ULSTER COUNTY HISTORIAN

A Season Long Exhibit

Explore a sampling from the rich tapestry of our local history from Ulster County Historian Geoff Miller. Step into the Parlor of Mary C. Bruyn for a glimpse into domestic music making in early 19th century America. Retrace the building of the Ashokan Dam through songs published at the time by the NYC Board of Water Supply. Discover the vibrant legacy of Camp Woodland and the annual Catskill folk festival of the mid-1900s. Journey back to Kingston's School #8 before it became the home of the Kingston Library in the late 1970s as we reflect on its rich educational heritage and the community it served. This exhibit invites you to delve into these fascinating facets of Ulster County's past.

CELEBRATING THE PAST AND PRESENT OF ULSTER COUNTY

On Display from July-September

An exhibit of street photography and mixed media by photographer Star Nigro highlighting un-staged moments captured throughout the small towns of our valley while incorporating a variety of materials such as maps, historically minded information and locally found objects as a means to visually connect the past with the present.