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st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ascii- mso-ascii-theme- mso-fareast- mso-fareast-theme- mso-hansi- mso-hansi-theme- mso-bidi- mso-bidi-theme-} Even a historic mansion with a priceless view needs to reinvent itself constantly to keep people coming back.
Boscobel Restoration in Garrison, site of the 1808 Dykeman House, is surrounded by lush grounds, a to-die-for view of the Hudson River, gardens, walking paths and a wealth of history. “While Boscobel is beautiful,” said Geoffrey Platt, the historical site”™s executive director, “you need to keep it fresh so that people who have visited once will want to come again. Like a museum, we must constantly change our venue in order to attract business.”
Boscobel has an endowment and charges entry fees for both the tour of the house and/or use of the grounds to keep it funded. But to bring in the public, the site has diversified its attractions so that the public will not drive past its entrance on Route 9D because “they”™ve been here before,” said Platt.
To perpetuate interest, Platt said the historic site has programs that run from April through December. Boscobel also is the permanent home of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, which entertains thousands during its three month summer runs. (The final curtain fell Sept. 3.)Â “They have helped keep Boscobel on the map and are a huge attraction,” said Platt.
Boscobel attracted 48,977 people in 2007, including those who attended the Shakespeare productions; 19,500 came for just Boscobel and its grounds.
A new art gallery recently opened that should also help bring in the tourism crowd, particularly art lovers, and keep Boscobel economically viable. Once a cellar in the main house, the new gallery has been totally renovated to showcase artists”™ work. Its first show, appropriately themed for the 19th century estate, is comprised of the works of the Hudson River School of Artists, founded by Thomas Cole. Â
Platt credited curator Kenneth Maddox for helping to assemble various pieces of Hudson River School art, which is on display until Oct. 1. “We hope to have revolving shows at the gallery, as well as constantly adding to our schedule of events, to keep the public coming back,” said Platt. “Like a museum that continually brings in special exhibitions, historic sites must do the same in order to keep the public”™s interest piqued. We are certain this new gallery will help us accomplish our goal.”
Along with the historic paintings depicting the Hudson before development took over its shores, Boscobel offers a map to gallery visitors to explore the sites where the artists”™ painted. “Some of them are exactly as they were nearly 200 years ago,” said Platt. “We are fortunate the Cold Spring, with its antique shops, bed and breakfasts”™ and restaurants, is near enough for our visitors to continue on their journey and visit nearby towns and other attractions along the way.”
Platt acknowledged the museum”™s economy has remained flat, and that Boscobel”™s visitor numbers, while they haven”™t gone up, haven”™t gone down, either. The site has so far attracted the same number as it did in 2007. Platt (along with the rest of the Hudson Valley), hopes that tourists and accompanying dollars will pick up. In the meantime, more locals are coming out to enjoy local attractions, and that has helped keep the books balanced.Â
“The new gallery has definitely helped bring in more guests,” said Platt. “We”™ve had visitors from as far away as Alaska and Australia.” Now, the goal is to keep people coming back for more.
Platt said the gallery plans to rotate exhibits, showcasing different collections at least three times a year. “This was a first for us, and it fit in very well with the character of the Dykeman home and the grounds…we were fortunate to have the gallery ready in time for the summer. What we”™ll do next is up to our board of directors, but it will definitely be a revolving exhibit for artists.”
Visit www.boscobel.org for the list of events on its schedule from September through December.