Vassar College Visitors Guide
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assar andmarks Designated a National Heritage Area by Congress, the Hudson Valley has more Founded in 1861, Vassar College paintings. Today the collection major historic sites per square is renowned for pioneering achieve- comprises over 20,000 works from mile than any other area in ments in education, for its long ancient Egypt to the present. the United States. Fabulous history of curricular innovation, and mansions of the Gilded Age, for the beauty of its campus. Over The Chapel, completed in 1904, the course of its history, the college is notable for its Norman-style quaint river towns, unparal- has expanded from its original two architecture and its 15 stained- leled hiking and climbing VASSAR glass windows: six from drawings buildings – Main Building and the sites in the Catskills and the Maria Mitchell Observatory, both by John La Farge, four by Robert Visitor’s Guide L. Dodge, and five by Louis Shawangunks, world-class art National Historic Landmarks – to museums – the valley is a na- over 100 academic and residential Comfort Tiffany. buildings designed by some of the The Maria Mitchell tional treasure. Poughkeepsie, most notable architects of their day. Observatory, where prominent Vassar’s hometown, is half way The Vassar Libraries are extraordi- astronomer Maria Mitchell lived, between Albany, the state nary and rank among the very best taught, and conducted research capitol, and New York City. at liberal arts colleges in the U.S. from 1865 to 1888, is now a The Vassar campus comprises The Thompson Memorial Library National Historic Landmark and home to Vassar’s Education over 100 buildings in archi- is one of the most exceptional ex- tectural styles ranging from amples of the collegiate gothic style Department. modernist to collegiate gothic in the country. The massive stained- The Shakespeare Garden was glass window that dominates its planted by students and faculty and 1,000 picturesque acres interior space depicts Elena Lucrezia in 1916 using seeds they obtain- ranging from the sweeping Cornaro Piscopia, the first woman ed from Stratford-upon-Avon. lawns of the main campus to to receive a doctorate (1678). Bridge for Laboratory Sciences, the meadows and woodlands Main Building, designed by James designed by Richard Olcott/ of the Vassar Farm. Main Renwick Jr., encompassed more Ennead Architects, is a state-of- Building, designed by James interior space than any building in the-art teaching and research Renwick Jr., and the Maria the U.S. at the time of its comple- facility that fosters multidisci- tion in 1865. Originally intended to plinary collaboration among Mitchell Observatory are both accommodate residential, aca- the sciences. National Historic Landmarks. demic, and administrative functions under one roof, Main today houses Belle Skinner Hall of Music administrative offices and student houses the Mary Anna Fox residences. The College Center, a Martel Recital Hall, one of the modern addition to Main, houses an best college music libraries in eatery, art gallery, computer store, the country, an electronic music and student organizations. studio, practice rooms equipped with Steinway grand pianos, and The Vogelstein Center for Drama a collection of rare and antique and Film, designed by Cesar Pelli, instruments. replaced Avery Hall, a 19th-century brick building that originally housed Vassar College a riding school and calisthenium. 124 Raymond Avenue In acknowledgement of the histori- Poughkeepsie, New York 12604 cal significance of Avery, the arched Main number 845-437-7000 Charles Herbert Moore, Down Italianate façade was retained and Admission 437-7300 the Hudson to West Point, 1861, incorporated into the new facility. Alumnae House 437-7100 Frances Lehman Loeb Art Athletics 437-7450 Center, Vassar College The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Alumnae/i Affairs Center, designed by Cesar Pelli, and Development 437-5400 includes Vassar’s museum and Financial Aid 437-5320 sculpture garden. Matthew Vassar Safety and Security 437-4221 donated the original collection of 400 works including a significant www.vassar.edu number of Hudson River School Fall 2016 traffic light onto Raymond Ave- Innisfree Garden Hudson Valley Renegades Upstate Films nue. Enter the college through 362 Tyrrel Road, 1500 Route 9D 6415 Montgomery Street the stone archway on the right. hings Millbrook, NY Wappingers Falls, NY Rhinebeck, NY ow From Route 9 Southbound ere to Stay & Eat to 150 acres of gardens, streams, Minor league baseball Foreign, independent, documen- to Exit at Spackenkill Road (Route waterfalls, terraces, walls, rocks, hvrenegades.com tary, and animated films as well 113). Proceed about 0.5 miles on See &Do and plants that merges the 845-838-0094 as lectures by guest filmmakers, Get The Artist’s Palate Alumnae House at Spackenkill Road. Turn left at Frances Lehman Loeb essence of Modernist ideas with Appalachaian Trail scholars, and critics Here the second traffic light onto Wil- 307 Main Street Vassar College Art Center traditional Chinese and Japanese 30 miles of the trail cross the upstatefilms.org Automobile bur Boulevard. Turn right when Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 161 Raymond Avenue 124 Raymond Avenue garden design principles. southeast corner of Dutchess 845-876-2515 Wilbur ends at Hooker Avenue. 845.483.8074 Poughkeepsie, NY 12604 Poughkeepsie, NY From the Taconic State Parkway innisfreegarden.org County. Mid-Hudson Children’s Turn left at first traffic light onto www.theartistspalate.biz 845.437.7100 Vassar’s collection of over 20,000 845-677-8000 www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm Exit at Route 55 westbound. Pro- Raymond Avenue. Enter the col- works spanning the history Museum BC Kitchen alumnaehouse.vassar.edu ceed six miles west to a left turn lege through the stone archway of art from ancient Egypt to Dutchess County Rail Trail 75 N. Water Street 1 Collegeview Avenue Best Western Plus Poughkeepsie, NY onto Route 376 Extension/Van on the right. present-day America, including 13-mile trail from the Walkway Wagner Road (which becomes Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 The Inn & Suites at the Falls A destination for families with an extensive collection of works Over the Hudson in Poughkeep- Raymond Avenue), and proceed Train 845.485.8411 50 Red Oaks Mill Road young children with exhibits from the Hudson River School sie to Hopewell Junction less than 1 mile to Vassar. A Metro-North Commuter Rail- bckitchenbar.com Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 that focus on early literacy, art, fllac.vassar.edu www.co.dutchess.ny.us/Coun- gothic stone archway, the main road connects New York City’s Beech Tree Grill 845.462.5770 and early STEM education 845-437-5632 tyGov/Departments/DPW- entrance, is on the left. Grand Central Terminal with 3 Collegeview Avenue www.bestwesternnewyork.com mhcm.org Franklin D. Roosevelt Home, Parks/17055.htm Poughkeepsie. For timetables, call Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845-471-0589 From the New York State Courtyard by Marriott Presidential Library, and 845-298-4600 800-METRO-INFO or visit their 845.471.7279 Thruway Northbound 2641 South Road Museum Mohonk Preserve Trevor Zoo website. Poughkeepsie is also www.beechtreegrillpk.com Use Exit 17 (Newburgh) and Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 114 Estates Lane 3197 US-44 131 Millbrook School Road served by Amtrak. For schedules, take I-84 eastbound across the Brasserie 292 845.485.6336 Hyde Park, NY Gardiner, NY Millbrook, NY call 800.872.7245 or visit www. Newburgh-Beacon Bridge to Exit 292 Main Street www.poughkeepsiecourtyard.com National Historic Site: Spring- 8,000 acres of cliffs, forests, At the Milbrook School, the zoo amtrak.com. Taxi service is avail- 13 (Route 9 north). Drive 9.5 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 wood, FDR’s lifelong home, fields, ponds, and streams in was founded by Frank Trevor, the able from the Poughkeepsie train Days Inn by Wyndham miles north from the intersec- 845.452.4545 and the presidential library the Shawangunk Mountains school’s first biology teacher, and station to campus. 536 Haight Avenue tion of I-84 and Route 9 to the www.brasserie292.com and museum (operated by the www.mohonkpreserve.org today houses 80 different spe- exit for Spackenkill Road (Route Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 National Archives) 845-255-0919 cies including nine endangered Bus BurgerFi The Frances Lehman Loeb 113). Proceed about 0.5 miles on 845.454.1010 www.nps.gov/hofr/ Art Center contains one of species. Service is available from the Port 60 Raymond Avenue www.daysinn.com 1-800-FDR-VISIT Walkway Over the Hudson trevorzoo.org Spackenkill Road. Turn left at Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 the finest college collections Authority Bus Terminal in New in America. 61 Parker Avenue 845-677-3704 the second traffic light onto Wil- York City via Short Line Bus. 845-473-7200 Hampton Inn & Suites Eleanor Roosevelt National Poughkeepsie, NY bur Boulevard. Turn right when Historic Site (Val-Kill) Poughkeepsie Galleria 800-631-8405 or www.ShortLine- burgerfi.com 2361 South Road Dia: Beacon The longest elevated pedestrian Wilbur ends at Hooker Avenue. 54 Valkill Park Road Bus.com Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 bridge in the world (212 feet tall, 2001 South Road (Route 9) Turn left at first traffic light onto Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NY 3 Beekman Street 845.463.7500 Beacon, NY 1.28 miles long) Poughkeepsie, NY Raymond Avenue. Enter the col- Air Route 9 National Historic Site: Stone Premier shopping destination www.hamptoninn1.hilton.com/ Dia’s collection of art from the walkway.org lege through the stone archway Scheduled passenger service is Hyde Park, NY 12538 Cottage at Val-Kill, the home of with department stores, specialty en_us/hp/index.do 1960s to the present, with major 845-454-9649 on the right. available from Stewart Interna- 845-471-6608 First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt shops, restaurants, and a multi- www.ciachef.edu Holiday Inn Express works by artists such as Andy tional Airport (SWF) in New- www.nps.gov/elro/index.htm Powerhouse Theater plex theater From the New York State Warhol, Richard Serra, and Dan burgh, New York, 35 minutes Shadows on the Hudson 2750 South Road 845-229-9422 124 Raymond Avenue poughkeepsiegalleriamall.com Thruway Southbound Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Flavin from Vassar.