with Dr. Nancy Watson

Recent Articles

Wave Hill

Wave Hill

Marty and I visited Wave Hill at the end of the autumn, when the Hudson shimmered below us. Perched high above the river in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, the former country estate felt worlds away from the bustle of the city with the sweeping views stretching toward the Palisades in New Jersey.  Originally developed […]

New York, New York
Schuyler Mansion

Schuyler Mansion

After seeing Hamilton on Broadway, exploring the real-life connections from the play became a fun pastime. One stop was the Schuyler Mansion in Albany. This was the home of General Philip Schuyler and his three daughters: Angelica, Eliza and Peggy. General Schuyler was a decorated leader during the American Revolutionary War, serving as a major general […]

Albany, New York
Gould House – Jay Gould’s Lynhurst

Gould House – Jay Gould’s Lynhurst

I visited the Gould House, known as the Lyndhurst Mansion with Marty.  Perched high above the Hudson River in Tarrytown NY, the limestone mansion looks like a story book home with turrets and spires.   Lyndhurst is one of the finest examples of the Gothic Revival style in America.  When Jay Gould, the railroad tycoon, and […]

Tarrytown, New York
Harriet Tubman National Historic Site

Harriet Tubman National Historic Site

When I visited the Harriet Tubman Visitor Center in Upstate New York in 2024, I was familiar with her daring rescue stories and her work with the Underground Railroad. I learned more about the remarkable courage of her life after those dangerous journeys. Her story did not end when she stopped guiding enslaved people to freedom. […]

Auburn, New York
Sagamore Hill

Sagamore Hill

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site is a remarkable home and a lasting testament to the giant of a man, Theodore Roosevelt. Much has been written about this extraordinary figure who rose to the presidency at the young age of 42. Often regarded as one of the most intelligent and dynamic presidents. Roosevelt left an indelible mark with […]

Oyster Bay, New York
Mansion House

Mansion House

Last summer, on our return from a camping trip to the Finger Lakes, we took a few detours to explore historic sites along the way. Upstate New York was the heart of the Religious Awakening in the years before the Civil War, and it is dotted with places where people gathered in search of a […]

Oneida, New York