By Isabel Prontes
Poughkeepsie is a city located in upstate
New York, in Duchess County. Many people refer to Poughkeepsie as "The Queen City of the Hudson," as it is along the Hudson River Parkway right between the state capital of Albany and New York City. For people interested in visiting the Poughkeepsie area, there is no shortage of things to do and see while there, from visiting different kinds of museums to looking at historical landmarks.
Mid-Hudson Children's Museum
The Mid-Hudson Children's Museum is a 2-story museum that features a wide variety of interactive exhibits and displays, including a massive bubble maker, a model railroad and a rock climbing area. One of the most exciting exhibits at the museum is the Hudson River Diving Bell, in which children can simulate a descent into the Hudson River. Other fun exhibits include Morse Telegraph and Dinosaurs and More. This is an educational and fascinating way for a child to spend a day or an afternoon in Poughkeepsie (75 North Water Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, Tel: 845-471-0589).
Bardavon 1869 Opera House
The Bardavon 1869 Opera House is located in Poughkeepsie's downtown district and is New York's oldest theater that is still going. If you want to catch touring acts of opera, dance, music and any other performance types, you can at the Bardavon. Whether you want to see a Hudson Valley Philharmonic Concert or mainstage shows, the Bardavon has it all. In the past, legendary entertainers including Frank Sinatra, Mark Twain and Harry Belafonte have all graced the stage at the Bardavon (35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, Tel: 845-473-5288).
Locust Grove
Locust Grove was the residence of Samuel F.B. Morse, the famous inventor who devised both the Morse Code and the single wire telegraph system. This is a museum that contains an extensive selection of artwork and memorabilia regarding Samuel F.B. Morse. There are also displays of his telegraphic equipment as well. Morse's gardens are particularly breathtaking, with their romantic nineteenth-century ambiance, rolling hills, majestic trees and views from inside of the residence (2683 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, Tel: 845-454-4500).
Poughkeepsie Post Office
The Poughkeepsie Post Office is a historical landmark that displays five different murals illustrating local, national and state history. Some of the events displayed in the murals include the United States' Constitution's Ratification from New York. The post office is considered to be a Federal WPA (Works Progress Administration) design structure. Walking into this post office feels somewhat like taking a time machine back into the city's history (55 Mansion St.,
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, Tel: 845-452-5297).
Springside National Historic Site
The Springside National Historic Site is considered to be the last standing example of Andrew Jackson Downing's (the United States' first landscape architect) work. This is a beautiful, scenic historic site and there are over 20 acres of old carriage-style roads to wander down. This landmark was given federal recognition for its historical relevance. This is one of the most popular historic sites in all of Poughkeepsie (185 Academy Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, Tel: 845-471-0183).
About the Author:
Isabel Prontes is a freelance writer and traveler residing in Manhattan, NY. She has traveled to five continents and counting. Her work has appeared on a number of websites, such as Travels, eHow.com and "Happy Living Magazine." Prontes has a professional background in public relations; she received a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Pace University.
