They arrived in 1628, before New Amsterdam became New York. Eleven sturdy Huguenot families from France and Belgium immigrated to the mid-Hudson Valley, where they bought 40,000 acres from the Esopus Indians. They named their town New Paltz. Today, six of their stone houses are still standing, part of an unusual ‘living’ museum named Historic Huguenot Street.
The buildings of Huguenot Street range from the snug Bevier-Elting House to the Dubois family’s ‘Fort’, a stone house with gun loopholes which now serves as the visitor center. Nearby is the Crispwell Memorial French Church, a replica of the building that stood here in 1717.
In spring, guides lead visitors on 90-minute tours of Huguenot Street, explaining the culture and heritage of the people who lived here. Summertime brings ‘Live Like a Colonial Kid’ overnights for children, and archaeology weekends for teens and adults. Special events are held year-round. Huguenot Street gives you the chance to head out of the City while heading back in time for a different perspective on French-American 
relations.
The grounds are open to the public 365 days a year. The DuBois Fort Visitor Center is open and offers guided tours of the area and houses from April through December. Tours are $9-12 per person, less for children and seniors. Visitor Center hours are April: 11am-3pm, Sat and Sun; May-Oct: 10:30am-5pm, all days except Wed; Nov-Dec: 11am-3pm, Sat and Sun. New Paltz is a 90-mile drive from New York City.
Historic Huguenot Street
New Paltz, NY
HuguenotStreet.org
845-255-1660
