Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack Announces Opening of 2024 Matthewis Persen House Museum Season with World War II Presentation

Kingston, NY - Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack is thrilled to announce the opening of the Matthewis Persen House Museum & Cultural Heritage Center's 2024 season on Saturday, May 25th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Persen House, located at 74 John St, Kingston, NY 12401, at the corner of Crown and John Streets in uptown Kingston's Stockade National Historic District, will be open to the public every Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., through Labor Day weekend. Afterward, the Persen House will open on Saturdays only from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until closing for the season on October 26th.

For opening day, join us for an exclusive D-Day presentation led by Hank Yost and Dan Swart, experts on World War II history. They will be highlighting the airborne part of the assault in Normandy on June 6, 1944, in particular, the American 82nd and 101st regiments. Yost and Swart will be wearing accurate jump uniforms for the D-Day invasion and carrying and displaying much of the equipment used by these paratroopers.  Visitors are encouraged to bring artifacts and stories of family members participation in WW2, be it in the military or on the home front.

"Historical reenactors bring history to life, and we couldn't be more excited to have Hank and Dan kicking off our season at the Persen House. Their unwavering commitment to authentically depict pivotal moments and individuals from this extraordinary historical era is an invaluable asset to our entire community,” stated County Clerk Nina Postupack. "We are equally fortunate to have a wide variety of Ulster County historical and cultural groups guest hosting at the Persen House this year. This season's schedule is packed with family-friendly events, including re-enactments, music, colonial games, and more. We are also excited to have a lineup of fantastic lectures and special exhibits throughout the season, including the season-long Africans in America and Antiquity exhibit by TransArt."

In addition to the exciting events and exhibits, visitors to the Persen House Museum can explore the history and culture of the Hudson Valley region, learn about the important role the occupants of the house played in early Kingston, and enjoy a variety of interactive exhibits and activities.  We are also pleased to be a part of this year’s Burning of Kingston events in October.

We encourage everyone to visit the Persen House Museum this season and experience the rich history and culture of the Hudson Valley for themselves. For further information about the Matthewis Persen House Museum, please contact the Ulster County Clerk’s Archives at (845) 340-3415 or archives[at]co.ulster.ny[dot]us. You can also visit us on Facebook for updates and announcements.

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Hank Yost, WWII Reenactor, at the Persen House. Photograph by Jonathan Palmer.

Africans in America and Antiquity Exhibit. Photograph by Jonathan Palmer.