Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Panel Discussions to Highlight New York State's Vital Role in American Revolution, Historic Efforts to End Slavery, and Important Work to Preserve State History Through the National Register

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is pleased to announce, "Making History: Revolution, Abolition, and Preservation in New York State," an all-day symposium held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site (29 Warburton Ave., Yonkers, NY) and simulcast online.

This program will highlight the work of the Division for Historic Preservation, including New York State Historic Sites, the Bureau of Historic Sites, and the State Historic Preservation Office on New York State's Our Whole History initiative. The symposium will include panel discussions on the state's research and plans for the 250^th anniversary of the Revolutionary War; the 400^th anniversary of the first enslaved people in New York (1626-2026) and the 200^th anniversary of the abolition of legal slavery in New York State (1827-2027); and community preservation services and opportunities, including information on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. "Making History" is part of the New York State Parks Centennial celebrations.

"Those invested in New York State history, interpretation and museum studies, and community preservation should not miss ‘Making History,' a day of education and discussion curated by State Parks' phenomenal Division for Historic Preservation staff," said New York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. "Our 2024 Centennial year marks the beginning of a new era of New York State Parks where we look to the future and ensure that we support the next generation of park and historic site staff and visitors. Events like this are fully aligned with that mission."

The panel "Revolution & Our Whole History" will discuss state plans for the 250^th anniversary and highlight new research and perspectives from state historic sites around the state. Speakers include Sarah Wassberg Johnson of Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, who will discuss the Philipsburgh Proclamation, Black Loyalists, and the Westchester neutral zone; and Ian Mumpton of Johnson Hall State Historic Site, who will discuss the role of Sir William Johnson and the Brant family in the Revolution.

The panel "Abolition & Our Whole History" will discuss slavery in colonial New York, gradual emancipation and the 1827 abolition of legal slavery in New York, and statewide projects surrounding the anniversary. Speakers include Michael Lord of Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, who will discuss slavery and slave laws in colonial New York; Jessica Serfilippi of Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, who will discuss recent research on slavery at Schuyler Mansion; and Lavada Nahon, Interpreter of African American History for New York State, who will discuss legislation leading up to and the impact of abolition in New York as well as Our Whole History projects around Abolition throughout the state.

For "Preservation & Our Whole History," Cordell Reaves, Historic Preservation Programs Coordinator, and Leslie Krupa, Historic Preservation Program Analyst, will discuss efforts to reassess old and assess new National Register nominations as part of the Our Whole History initiative, as well as community programs of the State Historic Preservation Office.

Each panel discussion will include time for audience Q&A.

The symposium will end with a special tour, "Our Whole History & Philipse Manor Hall," where attendees can tour the museum exhibits and discuss with staff the thought process, research, and design process behind the new exhibits, programs, and interpretation at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site.

"Making History: Revolution, Abolition, and Preservation in New York State" is open to the public. In-person seating is limited, and tickets are required. Tickets are $40 per person and include refreshments and lunch as well as admission to Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site. "Making History" will be simulcast via WebEx. Virtual access is free, but registration is required.

To learn more, and to register, visit www.philipsemanorhall.com/programs-and-events/making-history.

About Our Whole History

The Our Whole History initiative seeks to reveal and share historically undertold stories of ordinary and extraordinary New Yorkers across the state. By providing multiple perspectives on historic places and events, New York State Historic Sites and Parks encourage the general public to take a deeper look at our state's history, learn more about the people who got us where we are today, and embrace the heritage of all New Yorkers.

The Our Whole History initiative dates back as early as the 1980s, when the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) sought to expand and deepen the public's understanding of New York State history, including the construction and opening of Ganondagan State Historic Site. Codified in a State of the State address in 2020, Our Whole History has since been the driving force behind several recent and upcoming projects for OPRHP, including the renovation of Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, which reopened in 2022; the opening of new exhibits at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, Clermont State Historic Site, and Crailo State Historic Site; the acquisition and opening of new state parks, including Sojourner Truth State Park; the renovation of existing state parks, such as the Shirley Chisholm State Park and Marsha P. Johnson State Park; and statewide endeavors like the Revolutionary War 250 kiosk project.

About Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site

Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, located at 29 Warburton Ave., Yonkers, NY, 10701, is open for tours Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dating back to the 1680s, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site sits near the confluence of the Nepperhan (Saw Mill) and Hudson Rivers, the site of a Munsee Lunaape village. Used by four generations of the Philipse family and worked by the people they enslaved as well as European tenant farmers, the Philipse Manor was once over 200,000 acres and helped make the Philipse family the richest in New York. Loyalists during the American Revolution, they fled to England and the Hall was owned by several individuals before becoming the Yonkers Village Hall and later Yonkers City Hall. When a new City Hall was built in the early 20th century, the house was preserved through the generosity of Eva Smith Cochran and donated to New York State to serve as a historic site. Today, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site provides visitors with a balanced approach to interpreting the lives of Indigenous, European, and African people to understand the complex relationships that took place at the Manor from the earliest days of the Dutch Colony of New Netherland to the American Revolution and beyond. Learn more at Philipse Manor Hall's Virtual Wing at www.philipsemanorhall.com.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and the OPRHP Blog.