About The Catskill Park: |
The people of New York State and the Catskill region are very fortunate to have benefited from over a century of public land acquisition by the State government. Our open space resources and outdoor recreation opportunities are greatly enhanced by the thousands of acres which have been protected and are open to the public. |
State public lands fall into several categories and are managed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in a variety of ways. State land designations include State Parks, State Forest Preserve, Wildlife Management Areas, Reforestation Areas, Unique Areas, Special Use Areas, Public Fishing Access locations, and State Historic Areas. This diversity of management categories allows the State to provide for a variety of open space values, including public recreation, wilderness preservation, historic preservation, and long term maintenance of wildlife habitat and natural resources. |
Photo courtesy Dan Marazita |
In 1885 a law was passed by the NY State Congress which established the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve. From the beginning this land was protected by the State constitution as ‘Forever Wild’ land, never to be subjected to development or extraction of natural resources. In 1904 the Catskill Park was designated, which established a boundary, or ‘blue line’ around the Forest Preserve, and private land as well. Over the years the Forest Preserve and the Catskill Park grew, with the Catskill Park now comprising approximately 700,000 acres, about half of which is public Forest Preserve. |
Photo courtesy Dan Marazita |
The Catskill and Adirondack Parks are nationally unique because they are a checkerboard of public and private land; a grand experiment in how nature, even wilderness, and human society can coexist in a landscape. |
To view maps of the Park, click here
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Hiking opportunities abound in the Catskill Park. There are approximately 300 miles of marked, maintained hiking trails on public Forest Preserve land. Stewardship and development of these trails is shared by the New York State Forest Rangers and local chapters of hiking clubs such as the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference and the Adirondack Mountain Club. There are 35 Catskill peaks boasting heights greater than 3500ft elevation, and people who hike to the summits of each of these peaks earn membership in the Catskill 3500 Club. |
Five Catskill peaks, Hunter, Overlook, Tremper, Balsam Lake, and Red Hill, have fire towers on their summits; remnants of an era gone by. The Catskill Fire Tower Restoration Project restored these towers, making them safe so that the excellent views and educational aspects of the towers can now be enjoyed by the public. |
Photo courtesy Dan Marazita |
Both primitive and amenity camping opportunities abound in the Catskills. Primitive camping is allowed in the Wilderness and Wild Forest areas of the Catskill Forest Preserve, so long as you follow certain guidelines designed to protect sensitive summit forest communities and water quality of the streams. Wilderness camping rules include not camping within 150ft of a trail, stream, or pond, and not above 3500ft elevation except in winter. |
Camping near Samuel's Point Photo courtesy Chris Olney |
Three-sided, roofed ‘lean-to’ shelters have been constructed on several Catskill backwoods trails. The NYSDEC maintains seven public campgrounds in the Forest Preserve; North/South Lake, Devils Tombstone, Kenneth Wilson, Woodland Valley, Mongaup Pond, Little Pond, and Beaverkill. These campgrounds have tent and trailer sites, restroom facilities, and other amenities varying by location. Numerous private campgrounds are scattered throughout the Catskills. |
For more information regarding Forest Preserve Camping opportunities, contact the DEC in Region 3 (Sullivan and Ulster counties) at (845) 256-3082 or -3083, and in Region 4 (Delaware and Greene counties) at (607) 652-7364.
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The Catskill Park: Inside the Blue Line
The Forest Preserve & Mountain Communities of America's First Wilderness
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Written by Norman VanValkenburgh and Christopher Olney, this book, published on the 100th year anniversary of the Catskill Park, celebrates the Park's diverse natural and cultural features, and explores its interesting history as well as its potential for the future. To learn more about the book or to purchase a copy, visit the Catskill Center's web site at www.catskillcenter.org/store.html or Black Dome Press's at www.blackdomepress.com.
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Park Descriptions:
The Catskill Park Centennial Celebrating 100 Years in 2004
by Christopher Olney
Many refer to the Catskill Mountains as "America's First Wilderness" because its location upstream of old New Amsterdam put it in the path of Europeans settling the Hudson Valley during the 1600s. As novelist Wallace Stegner stated so eloquently, "Wilderness was the challenge against which our character as a people was formed," and this was as true for the Catskills as it was for any place in North America. The wilderness areas that we enjoy in the Catskills today are indeed a reminder of the challenges and opportunities that faced those who ventured into these untamed blue mountains long before us.
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History of the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve
Written by Norm Van Valkenbergh; compiled and edited from various sources by Chris Olney; with some additions by Chris Olney
The history behind the creation, purpose, and evolution of the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve is not fully understood by many. To learn the context of how the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve came to be, one has to look at what was going on in the Adirondacks and in the State Capitol during the 1700's and 1800's.
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The Catskill Park History, from an Ulster County Perspective
(borrowing freely from Norm VanValkenburgh's History of the Catskill Forest Preserve), edited by Helen K. Chase
Ulster County, and particularly one resident, had a significant role in the creation of the Forest Preserve within the Catskills. It was not intended by any design of the State of New York that a part of the Forest Preserve would come into being within Ulster County. This was an act precipitated by Cornelius A. J. Hardenbergh, who was an avowed opponent of taxes.--> Read More
The Governor's Proclamation:
George E. Pataki,
Governor of the State of New York, has proclaimed 2004 as the year
of The Catskill Park Centennial
in "recognition of its significance to this State and Nation, and with
respect for its glorious past, as we hail a new century of celebration of
the Park, its people, communities and setting of such unsurpassed beauty".
--> Read
the full proclamation or Download the pdf file (60Kb)
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC
PLACES Sites listed below are found within or adjacent to the Catskill
Park
Ulster County Locations:
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Greene County Locations:
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Ashokan-Turnwood Covered
Bridge 477 Beaverkill
Road, Olivebridge
Historic Significance:
Event,Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Nelson
Tompkins Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Engineering,
Transportation Period of Significance: 1875-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Transportation,
Road-related
Current Function: Transportation,
Road-related
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All Souls Church
Rt. 23-C
North of Tannersville, Tannersville
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or
engineer: George
Agnew Reid
Architectural Style: Late Gothic
Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture,
Art, Entertainment, Recreation
Period of Significance:
1875-1924
Owner:
Private
Historic Function: Recreation, Culture,
Religion, Auditorium, Religious
Structure
Current Function: Religion, Religious
Structure |
Balsam Lake Mtn Fire Observation
Station
Balsam
Lake Mountain, Hardenburgh
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer: Aermotor
Corporation
Architectural Style: No Style
Listed
Area of
Significance:
Conservation, Entertainment, Recreation,
Engineering, Archite
cture
Period of Significance:
1900-1974
Owner:
State
Historic Function: Government, Fire
Station
Current Function: Vacant/Not in
Use
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Centre
Presbyterian Church
Main and
Church Streets, Windham
Historic Significance:
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Unknown
Architectural Style: Federal, Greek
Revival
Area of Significance:
Architecture
Period of Significance:
1825-1849
Owner:
Private
Historic Function: Religion, Religious
Structure Current Function: Vacant/Not in
Use
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Beaverkill Valley Inn (The Bonnie
View) Beaverkill Road, Lew Beach Historic Significance:
Event Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Aermotor Corporation Architectural Style:
No Style Listed Area of Significance:
Entertainment/Recreation Period of
Significance:
1875-1899 Owner:
Private Historic Function:
Domestic, Hotel, Secondary Structure Current Function:
Domestic, Hotel, Secondary Structure
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Elka Park Historic District
Town Center, Hunter Historic
Significance:
Architecture/Engineering, Event Architect, builder, or engineer:
Unknown Architectural Style:
Queen Anne, Shingle Style, Stick/Eastlake Area
of Significance:
Community Planning and Development, Architecture Period of
Significance:
1875-1949 Owner:
Private Historic Function:
Domestic, Health Care, Resort, Secondary Structure, Single Dwelling Current Function:
Domestic, Landscape, Forest, Secondary Structure, Single
Dwelling
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Emile Brunel Studio and Sculpture
Garden (Totem Indian Trading Post)
NYS Rt. 28, Boiceville Historic
Significance:
Architecture/Engineering, Event Architect, builder, or engineer:
Emile Brunel Architectural Style:
Bungalow/Craftsman Area of
Significance:
Architecture, Entertainment/ Recreation, Art Period of Significance:
1925-1949 Owner:
Private Historic Function:
Commerce/Trade, Recreation, Culture, Outdoor Recreation, Specialty Store, Work of Art (Sculpture, Carving, Rock Art) Current Function: Domestic,
Recreation, Culture, Outdoor Recreation, Single Dwelling, Work of
Art (Sculpture, Carving, Rock Art)
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Harry Fischel House
(Fairlawn) 6302 Main
Street, Hunter
Historic Significance:
Person, Architecture/ Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: >Architectural Style:
Queen Anne, Greek Revival Area of
Significance:
Architecture, Social History Period of Significance:
1825-1949 Owner:
Private Historic Function:
Domestic, Single Dwelling Current Function:
Domestic, Hotel
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Byrdcliffe
Historic District
West of
Woodstock at Glasco Turnpike and Larks Nest Road,
Woodstock
Historic
Significance:
Person, Event, Architecture/ Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer: Ralph
Radcliffe Whitehead, et al.
Architectural
Style: Other,
Stick/Eastlake
Area of
Significance: Art,
Conservation, Performing Arts, Community Planning and Development, Architecture,
Education
Period of
Significance:
1900-1949
Owner: Private Historic
Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic,
Education, Recreation, Culture, Business, Education-related Housing,
School, Single Dwelling, Theater Current Function: Domestic, Education, School,
Single Dwelling
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Hunter Mountain Fire
Tower
Hunter Mountain,
Town of Hunter
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Architecture,
Entertainment/Recreation, Conservation
Period of Significance: 1900-1949
Owner: State
Historic Function: Other, Recreation,
Culture, Outdoor Recreation Current
Function:
Recreation,
Culture, Vacant/Not in Use, Outdoor Recreation
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Zen Mountain
Monastery
(Camp
Wapanachki)
Old St. Rt. 28
at junction with Miller Rd,
Mt.
Tremper
Historic Significance:
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer: V. L. S.
Haffner
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance:
Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Domestic, Landscape,
Religion, Camp, Forest, Religious Structure Current
Function: Landscape, Religion, Forest,
Religious Structure
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Hunter
Synagogue
Main Street,
Hunter
Historic Significance:
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder,
or engineer:
Architectural Style: Queen Anne
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Religion, Religious
Structure
Current Function: Religion,
Religious Structure
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Common School No.
10
Northside of
Upper Cherrytown Rd, Accord
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or
engineer: Horace
Dymond
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance:
Architecture, Education
Period of Significance: 1850-1874
Owner: Local Government
Historic Function: Domestic, Education,
School, Secondary Structure Current Function: Government
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IOOF
Hall (Lockwood Lodge
No. 653)
6325 Main
Street, Hunter
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Architectural Style: Queen Anne
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Social, Meeting
Hall Current
Function:
Commerce,Trade,
Specialty Store
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Coykendall
Lodge
Off Alder Lake Road,
Hardenbergh
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
(blank)
Architectural Style: Bungalow/Craftsman, Shingle
Style
Area of Significance:
Architecture
Period of Significance: 1875-1899
Owner: State
Historic Function: Domestic, Single
Dwelling Current
Function: Vacant/Not in Use
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Jewett Presbyterian
Church Complex
Church Street,
Jewett
Historic Significance:
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer:
(blank)
Architectural Style: Greek Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1825-1849
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Religion, Religious
Structure Current
Function:
Religion,
Religious Structure
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District School No.
14
Academy Street,
South of junction with Birch Creek Rd, Pine Hill
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Architectural Style: Colonial Revival
Area of Significance: Education,
Architecture
Period of Significance: 1825-1849
Owner: Local Government
Historic Function: Education,
School Current
Function: Education, School
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Frank D. Layman
Memorial
Near Kaateskill
Falls, Hunter
Historic Significance:
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Architectural Style:
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: State/Local
Government
Historic Function: Recreation, Culture,
Monument/ Marker Current
Function:
Recreation,
Culture, Monument/ Marker
|
Elm Street Stone
Arch Bridge
Elm Street, over Alton
Creek, Pine Hill
Historic Significance:
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer: Matthew
Thompson
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Engineering
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Local Government
Historic Function: Transportation,
Road-related Current
Function: Transportation,
Road-related
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Lexington
House
NYS Rt. 42,
Lexington
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or engineer:
Jerome
Campbell
Architectural Style: Italianate,
Stick/Eastlake
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1875-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Domestic, Hotel,
Secondary Structure Current
Function:
Vacant/Not
in Use, Work in Progress
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Grant Mills Covered
Bridge
Mill Brook Road,
over the Mill Brook
Hardenburgh
Historic Significance:
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer: Orrin B.
Marks, Edgar Marks
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Transportation,
Engineering
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Local Government
Historic Function: Transportation, Road-related Current
Function: Vacant/Not in Use
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Onteora Park
Historic District
Onteora Club
Property, Hunter
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or engineer:
Architectural Style:
Area of Significance: Community Planning and
Development, Social History, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1875-1974
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Meeting Hall, Multiple
Dwelling, Outdoor Recreation, Religious Structure, Single
Dwelling Current
Function:
Domestic,
Recreation, Culture, Religion, Social, Ceremonial Site, Meeting
Hall, Outdoor Recreation, Religious Structure, Single
Dwelling
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Sullivan County Locations:
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Delaware County
Locations:
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Aqudas Achim
Synagogue
Rock Avenue, Livingston
Manor
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or
engineer: Izzy
Brooks
Architectural Style: Late 19th & 20th
Century Revivals
Area of Significance: Architecture, Social
History
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Religion, Religious
Structure
Current Function: Religion, Religious
Structure
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Congregation B’nai
Israel Synagogue
Wagner Avenue,
Fleischmanns
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer:
Crosby and
Kelly
Architectural Style:
Area of Significance: Architecture, Social
History
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Religion, Religious
Structure Current
Function:
Religion,
Religious Structure
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Dundas
Castle (Craig-E-Clair)
Berry Brook
Road, Roscoe
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
(blank)
Architectural Style: Late 19th & 20th
Century Revivals
Area of Significance: Social History,
Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Domestic, Camp,
Secondary Structure, Single Dwelling Current
Function: Vacant/Not in Use
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District 10
School
NYS Rt. 28,
South of Margaretville
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Education,
Arthitecture
Period of Significance: 1850-1874
Owner: Local Government
Historic Function: Education,
School Current
Function:
Recreation,
Culture, Museum
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Grahamsville
Historic District
NYS Rt. 55,
Grahamsville
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Unknown
Architectural Style: Gothic Revival, Italianate,
Greek Revival
Area of Significance: Landscape Architecture,
Industry
Period of Significance: 1800-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Domestic, Religion,
Religious Structure, Secondary Structure, Single Dwelling
Current Function: Domestic,
Religion, Religious Structure, Secondary Structure, Single
Dwelling
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Downsville Covered
Bridge
Bridge Street,
Downsville
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer:
Robert
Murray
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Engineering,
Transportation
Period of Significance: 1850-1874
Owner: Local Government
Historic Function: Transportation,
Road-related Current
Function:
Transportation,
Road-related
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Levitz Family
Farm
395 Beaver Dam
Road, Grahamsville
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Agriculture, Architecture,
Social History
Period of Significance: 1900-1974
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Agriculture/Subsistence,
Domestic, Agricultural Fields, Agricultural Outbuildings, Animal
Facility, Processing, Single Dwelling Current
Function:
Agriculture/Subsistence,
Domestic, Agricultural Fields, Agricultural Outbuildings, Animal
Facility, Single Dwelling
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Pakatakan Artists
Colony Historic District
NYS Rt. 28 at junction
with Dry Brook Rd,
Arkville
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or engineer:
Unknown
Architectural Style: Shingle Style
Area of Significance: Art,
Architecture
Period of Significance: 1875-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Domestic, Hotel, Single
Dwelling Current
Function:
Domestic,
Vacant/Not in Use, Single Dwelling
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Rockland Mill
Complex
Palen Place,
Rockland
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Unknown
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Commerce, Industry,
Architecture
Period of Significance: 1850-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Agriculture/Subsistence,
Industry/Processing/Extraction, Domestic, Manufacturing Facility,
Single Dwelling Current
Function:
Domestic,
Vacant/Not in Use
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Skene Memorial
Library
Main Street, Old
NYS Rt. 28, Fleischmanns
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or engineer:
H. G. Emory, M. L.
Crosby, Kelly
Architectural Style: Shingle Style
Area of Significance: Social History,
Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Local Government
Historic Function: Education,
Library Current
Function:
Education,
Library
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Roscoe Presbyterian
Church
and Westfield Flats
Cemetery
Old NYS Rt. 17,
Roscoe
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or
engineer:
Architectural Style: Late Victorian
Area of Significance: Exploration/Settlement,
Architecture, Social History
Period of Significance: 1800-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Funerary, Religion,
Cemetery, Religious Structure Current
Function: Funerary,
Religion, Cemetery, Religious Structure
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Van Benschoten House
and Guest House
Margaretville Mountain
Road, Margaretville
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering,
Event
Architect, builder, or engineer:
Architectural Style: Queen Anne
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/
Recreation
Period of Significance: 1850-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Domestic, Hotel, Single
Dwelling Current
Function: Domestic,
Hotel, Single Dwelling
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