Peekskill’s Past on Foot, LLC will launch two walking tours of historic Peekskill, New York in August:
- Architectural Walking Tour of Peekskill’s Nelson Avenue / Fort Hill Historical District – Focused on the architecture and history of a neighborhood developed during the half century after the Civil War through the 1920’s. The neighborhood’s history reflects the rapid industrial, economic, and population growth experienced by Peekskill at that time. The streets retain much of the Victorian, Shingle and Arts and Crafts housing stock from this period.
- History Walking Tour of Downtown Peekskill – A tour telling the city’s story in the context of the social and economic history of the United States. The tour tracks Peekskill’s journey from a small farming village through revolution, rapid industrialization, mass immigration, deindustrialization, suburbanization, and gentrification.
The tours will be overseen by two Peekskill residents, Trevor Noble and Alan Most. Both are experienced tour guides and have strong interests in local history. Trevor is the developer of the Peekskill History app and has a Master’s degree in public history; Alan’s interests lie in architectural history and he is, also, a tour guide at Russel Wright’s Manitoga in Garrison.
“We feel that Peekskill’s history and architecture are hidden treasures,” said Noble. “With the growing number of tourists coming to the Hudson Valley, we want to highlight Peekskill to them with fun tours that tell the city’s rich story. We. also, look forward to local residents gaining a new appreciation of the city.”
“I’m amazed at the wide range of old homes in Peekskill, and they can be Gothic Revival, Shingle Queen Anne, Second Empire, Craftsman, or a combination of them, “ said Most. “Trevor and I want to show both tourists and local residents what Peekskill has to offer.”
“We are looking to partner with the Peekskill Business Improvement District, Westchester County Tourism, and local businesses to let people know about our tours,” said Noble.
Tours will be offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10:30am, and will last about 90 minutes. The cost for August tours will be $15.00 per person during August. The August tour schedule is:
August 1: Downtown Peekskill
August 2: Nelson Avenue/Fort Hill
August 15: Nelson Avenue/Fort Hill
August 16: Downtown Peekskill
August 22: Downtown Peekskill
August 23: Nelson Avenue/Fort Hill
The Facebook and Instagram accounts will provide the most up to date tour dates. Reservations can be made by emailing peekskillspastonfoot@gmail.com or by checking the Facebook or Instagram accounts.
