Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Clermont State Historic Site

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Clermont State Historic Site

Tours of the House and the Visitor Center are temporarily suspended during restoration. The grounds remain open. Please check the calendar for upcoming tours and events.

Address
One Clermont Avenue
Germantown, NY 12526
Latitude 42.085087
Longitude -73.911835

Clermont State Historic Site was the Hudson River seat of New York's politically and socially prominent Livingston Family. Seven successive generations of the family left their imprint on the site's architecture, room interiors and landscape. Robert R. Livingston, Jr. was Clermont's most notable resident. His accomplishments include: drafting the Declaration of Independence, serving as first U.S. Minister of Foreign Affairs, administering the oath of office to George Washington, negotiating the Louisiana Purchase and developing steamboat technology with Robert Fulton.

Today, Clermont appears much as it did in the early 20th century, when it was the home of the property's last two generations: Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Livingston and their daughters, Honoria and Janet. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973, Clermont is also an anchor in the 1990 Hudson River National Landmark District.

Don't miss these popular destinations and attractions within or near Clermont State Historic Site:

  • Gift Shop - located in the Visitor's Center, find historic items for everyone on your list.
  • Visitors Center - view exhibits about Clermont and the Livingstons
  • The Four Gardens of Clermont
    • South Spring Garden - gorgeous views of the Hudson River
    • Cutting Garden - once provided cut flowers for vases in the house
    • Walled Garden - influenced by gardens in Florence, Italy
    • Wilderness Garden - connects the Upper Garden with the Walled Garden, the centerpiece is the fishpond.

Hours of Operation

  • Guided House Tours
    Hours TBD

  • Visitor Center
    Hours TBD

    For more information or to schedule a group tour, please call (518) 537- 4240.

  • Gardens & Grounds: Open year-round 8:30 am to sunset.

Fees & Rates

Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.

The easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80- and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.

  • Vehicle Use Fee
  • $5

    Collected weekends and holidays between April 1st - October 31st from 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m., and for special events.

  • Admission/House Tours
  • $7 - adult
    $6 - Seniors/students over 12
    Free - Children under 12

    Please inquire for group & school group rates.
  • Educational Programs
  • $2/student on-site
    $50/class off-site
  • Electric Service for Parties
  • $15
  • Lawn Rentals for Parties
  • Arryl Lawn: $600
    Southwest Lawn: $2,200
  • Photography
  • $35
  • Picnicking - Group Picnics
  • $40 - permit
    $50 - over 75 persons
    $100 - over 100 people
  • Weddings
  • $200

Maps

Digital Maps

New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.

The name Clermont derives from the French "clair montagne" for "clear mountain" inspired by the view of the Catskill Mountains across the Hudson River from the estate.

The estate was established by Robert Livingston following the death of his father, the first Lord of Livingston Manor, in 1728; while most of the manor was inherited by the eldest son Philip Livingston, 13,000 acres (5,300 ha) in the southwest corner, later named Clermont, was willed to Robert.

In October 1777, British Major General John Vaughan, who led a raiding party up the Hudson River, came to Clermont and burned Livingston's home because of his prominent role in the American Revolution. Margaret Beekman Livingston rebuilt the family home between 1779 and 1782. Her son Robert R. Livingston became the estate's most prominent resident, serving as a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase. He was also a partner with Robert Fulton, creating the first commercially successful steamboat, the North River of Clermont, commonly called the Clermont, which stopped at the house on its inaugural trip.

 

Guided House Tours

April 12-October 31
Wednesdays - Sundays, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm (last tour at 4:00 pm)

November 1 - December 16
Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm (last tour at 3:00pm)

For more information or to schedule a group tour, please call (518) 537-4240

Visitor Center:
Wednesday - Sunday, 10:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. April 12-October 31 (including Monday Holidays)
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., November 1 through December 16
January - April: Special programming and group tours by appointment only.

Gardens & Grounds: Open year-round, 8:30am to sunset

Vehicle Use Fee - Pay Stations: Collected 4/1-10/31, weekends and holidays

 

In the spring, the Chancellor's Sheep and Wool Showcase kicks off the open season. Make a connection with Clermont's agrarian history through herding, shearing, spinning, and knitting demonstrations. Meet sheep and other wool-bearing animals while you shop local vendors and fiber artists. Music, crafts, and food make this a wonderful event for the whole family.

What better place to celebrate Independence Day than the home of a Founding Father? Home to one of the five drafters of the Declaration of Independence, Clermont hosts an all-day Fourth of July celebration with reenactors, historic crafts and demos, and live music.

October brings Legends by Candlelight, Clermont's popular Halloween program.! Tour the house by candlelight and meet 250 years of residents. Enjoy hot cider in the Visitors Center, roast marshmallows by the bon fire, and be dazzled by hundreds of jack-o-lanterns carved by local school kids.

Clermont's tour season ends with a month of holiday events and parties in December. Bring the kids for holidays stories, enjoy a nighttime tour with costumed interpreters, or take in the sights at your own pace during the free holiday open house.

Clermont hosts dozens of events, lectures, performances, camps, and demonstrations every year. Check our Facebook page for more!

Deer, archery only. Limited and controlled hunt from November 1, 2017 through November 30, 2017. Special permit required - by lottery. Orientation session required; strict boundary limits. Call site for details: (518) 537-4240.

Sat 08 Apr
Crafty Kids Welcome Spring!
Saturday, April 8, 2023 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Clermont State Historic Site
Crafty Kids welcomes spring with an arts and crafts day in our newly renovated Visitors Center! Enjoy a snack as you paint a mini birdhouse, make paper flowers, or let your imagination run wild! Light instruction is offered, creativity is encouraged. Please note: The cost of the event is $5 per person. This is a children's program; all children must be accompanied by an adult and all adults must be accompanied by a child. Space is limited. Those wishing to attend must register in advance at https://www.friendsofclermont.org/events.
Sat 15 Apr
Poetic Story Hour
Saturday, April 15, 2023 02:00 PM
Clermont State Historic Site
Spring is now here, what a wonderful time! We love it so much, it just makes us rhyme! So come and enjoy some stories with us! And if some are quite silly, well, don't make a fuss! This is a children's program; all children must be accompanied by an adult and all adults must be accompanied by a child. Space is limited. Those wishing to attend must register in advance at https://www.friendsofclermont.org/events.
Sun 23 Apr
Livingstons in the Fight for Women’s Rights
Sunday, April 23, 2023 02:00 PM
Clermont State Historic Site
While we know little about the feelings of the Livingstons who lived at Clermont about the topic of women's rights, there were several Livingston descendants who played a major role in the suffrage movement, both in New York State, and nationally. Learn more about Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Elizabeth Smith Miller, and Anne Fitzhugh Miller, and their tireless work for women's rights. The lecture will be presented by Ashley Hopkins Benton. Ms. Hopkins-Benton is a Senior Historian and Curator of Social History at the New York State Museum, where she focuses on women's history, LGBTQ+ history, immigration, sculpture, and toys. She is the author of Breathing Life Into Stone: The Sculpture of Henry DiSpirito, and co-author of Votes for Women: Celebrating New York's Suffrage Centennial and Enterprising Waters: The History and Art of New York's Erie Canal. Hopkins-Benton holds her MA in history museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and her BA in art education and studio art from SUNY Potsdam. This lecture is free, but space is extremely limited. Those wishing to attend must register in advance at https://www.friendsofclermont.org/events.
Sat 29 Apr
The Sheep and Wool Showcase
Saturday, April 29, 2023 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Clermont State Historic Site
The Sheep & Wool Showcase is a family festival that celebrates historic fiber arts, culture, and craft. We host a shopping concourse featuring skilled artisans and local craftspeople. The Showcase is a great place to support small businesses! As the first of the wool festival season, we are the place to get over your cabin fever with brilliantly colored yarns, roving, and hand-woven scarves. Craft guilds will demonstrate spinning and weaving throughout the day. Herding and sheep shearing—using three different historic techniques form the centerpiece of the action. Find crafts for kids, 18th century reenactors, and live traditional music all in one beautiful location! The admission fee is $10/vehicle.

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Amenities Information

  • Amenities
  • Demonstrations (Accessible)
  • Equestrian Trails
  • Gift Shop (Accessible)
  • Hiking
  • Picnic Area (Accessible)
  • Snowshoeing/X-Country Skiing
  • Tours
  • Visitor Center (Accessible)