Four festive historic villages near NYC to visit this holiday season hE problem wit being a istorian is t at istory can be, well, downrig t dull. Anyone w o’s been forced to memorize t irdrate former presidents or arcane political feuds will sympat ize. W en I find my eyes growing weary from poring over barely legible old documents, I know t ere’s only one answer to revive my interest: a road trip!
“Living istory” in places like Colonial Williamsburg can seem c eesy. I’ve certainly seen enoug frontier women in bonnets c urning butter to last a lifetime. But t ese age-old structures and sketc - style reenactments can also be t e best ways to understand ow our ancestors lived in a world wit out any modern conveniences.
New York City as a number of destinations wit in driving distance w ere istoric sites come alive t roug t e efforts of costumed interpreters, skilled artisans and umorous, knowledgeable guides.
W at’s more, t e olidays are an ideal time to journey into t e past to explore ow C ristmas and ot er winter festivals would ave been enjoyed by Americans before us.
If you’d like to keep your explorations wit in t e five boroug s, ead out to Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island, t e former county seat. Since t e 1930s, t e Staten Island historical Society as been preserving structures in t e neig bor ood, as well as relocating omes from across t e island t at were in danger of demolition.
It’s wort taking one of t e guided tours ($8 per person; free on Fridays), w ic s owcase different structures eac day, from t e 1695 Dutc sc ool ouse to an old general store ( HistoricRichmondTown.
org). And on Dec. 10, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., experience an in-dept tour ($24) of t e town t at traces its istory of C ristmas celebrations.
Also close to ome is Nassau County’s Old Bethpage Village Restoration. T e town’s 36 buildings, w ic were built from 1765 to 1865, were moved to Bet page from around Long Island. From Dec. 15 to 18 (5 to 9 p.m.), t e village offers “Candle Lig t Evenings” wit music and a craft fair, w en costumed interpreters s are ow t e oliday season was fêted in t e 19t century ( OBVRNassau.com).
An easy our-and-a- alf trip from t e city in New Paltz lies Historic Huguenot Street, a fascinating collection of omes t at date back to t e area’s original settlement by Frenc Protestant refugees in t e late 17t century.
Tours (offered on weekends only) are led by docents w o trace t e evolution of t e street from t e colonial era to t e Gilded Age. Guides ere tell t e stories of enslaved Africans w o lived and worked on t ese properties, too. Advance reservations are encouraged ( HuguenotStreet.org).
But w at if you really want to get away from it all? It can be ard to imagine, but in t e 1700s, America’s frontier wasn’t even as far west as Pittsburg . Just over four ours from Man attan is Bedford, Penn., and Old Bedford Village. Not only are t e ouses, s ops, and works ops in t e village almost all original structures, but t ey are also staffed by artisans w o s ow off aut entic skills, suc as pottery-making and smit ing ( OldBedfordVillage.com).
T e village is closed in cold weat er except for special oliday events. On Dec. 10, Old Bedford offers “Candlelit C ristmas,” w ic is a c ance to visit t is supremely picturesque spot in winter, as well as learn ow t e country’s 18t - and 19t -century pioneers would ave enjoyed t e festive season. C eers!