The Historical Society of
Rockland County
A Brief History of Rockland County
Rockland County is the smallest county in New York State outside the five boroughs of New York City. It is bounded by the Hudson River on the east, the State of New Jersey on the south, and the Ramapo Mountains to the north and west. Although the county consists of only 176 square miles, it is a land rich in history.
To a newcomer, Rockland County may appear to be border-to-border housing developments built over the past forty years, but its historical roots go back almost four hundred years—more than ten thousand years if you include Native American history. Records indicate that the first residents were the Indians of the Delaware or Lenape Nation, who were scattered throughout the county in small bands. ...
Exhibitions
2025 Exhibition
Home Grown
A History of Farming in Rockland County
The 2025 exhibition explores key eras of our region’s rich agricultural history, from Lenape cultivation to the community farms of today.
Coming Soon: October Podcast
Crossroads of
Rockland History
Memories of John Zehner
and the Blauvelt Barn
Host Clare Sheridan welcomes
Russell Woolley, a lifelong Rocklander who remembers the early days of the Jacob Blauvelt Homestead as the headquarters of the Historical Society in New City.
Upcoming Events
Rockland County Local History Event Calendar
28
Lecture: Riverside Moguls, Part 2
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
Show all
29
30
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
1
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
2
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
3
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
4
10am Fort Montgomery: Twin Forts Day
10am HSRC: Tappan Historic Homes & Landmarks Tour
11:30am Stony Point Battlefield: Lighthouse Visiting Hours
Show all
5
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
6
7
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
8
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
9
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
10
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
11
12
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
12pm HSRC: Second Kids' Crafts
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
Show all
13
14
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
15
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
16
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
7pm HS-Nyacks: Regular Meeting
17
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
18
2pm Stony Point Battlefield: Guided Battlefield Walk
19
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
20
21
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
22
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
23
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
24
8:20am HSRC: Vanderbilt Mansion Bus Daytrip
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
Show all
25
26
12pm HSRC: Exhibition - Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County
1pm O'town Museum: Exhibition Opening: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
27
28
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
7pm Genealogical Society of RC: Monthly Meeting
29
30
12pm HSRC: Annual History Luncheon: Protecting the Ramapo Pass
31
10am O'town Museum Exhibition: "1776/1976: From Democracy to Disco: Orangetown and the Bicentennial"
1
Press Room
South of the Mountains
Dive into a world of captivating stories, insightful discussions, and endless entertainment.
Issues of South of the Mountains from 1957 to 2013 are available in fully searchable PDF form online via the New York Heritage portal.
Collections
The Historical Society of Rockland County's collection comprises approximately 3,650 objects that date from the early eighteenth century to the present.
Podcasts
Crossroads of
Rockland History
Host Clare Sheridan welcomes guests every month to explore, celebrate and learn about the rich history of Rockland County and New York's Lower Hudson Valley.
