Step back in time and discover Peekskill’s rich history

Today we're road-tripping back in time through generations of Hudson Valley history at the Peekskill Museum!
"The Peekskill Museum is an old house, late Victorian style, about 1880 or so, it's a family house, and it was designed by a famous American architect," explains John Curran, of the Peekskill Museum.
Inside are hundreds of pictures and pieces of the past, belonging to those who once called Peekskill home. "Peekskill-Cartlandt has an extensive history going back to the 1600s," says Curran.
There are original artifacts unique to this region, once belonging to indigenous tribes, soldiers of the Revolutionary War and World War II, and beyond. "We have a children's room, and authentic items there that the kids used in the past. It is a family house, and some people can understand that as well how were people living back then, and ask how was that really?" says Curran.
Also, did you know that The Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum went to military school there? Some have drawn a connection with his young life here and the inspiration to write the iconic fictional classic. "There had been local interpretations made that sort of follows young Frank's life," muses Curran.
And Curran says a faded yellow brick road on South Water Street holds more than meets the eye. "Hypothetical but plausible connection made there. It's just interesting to play with."
Some food for thought as we head to our next stop —The Lincoln Depot Museum a place where president-elect Abraham Lincoln stopped at before his inauguration! "In Westchester County, this location is the only place that he stopped at in the county," says John Testa, the president of the museum.
And today it's dedicated to a deep dive into Lincoln's life in Peekskill and beyond. The walls are adorned with original photos and precious pieces of incredible stories from the Civil War.