Did you know that the first Post Office in Westchester County was in Peekskill in 1791? Did you know that the current Peekskill Post Office, built between 1930-1931 was the model that other post offices throughout the country were built after the Great Depression? 

Did you also know the birthplace of the American Circus, a cemetery dating to the Revolutionary War, two different balancing rocks, and a tavern visited by General George Washington are just a few of the hundred or so places that families can discover this summer using the Westchester County Historical Society’s (WCHS) 150th Anniversary History Hunt on their mobile app on their phones or tablets.

Westchester County Historical Society’s (WCHS) 150th Anniversary History Hunt

Beginning July 1st, families can register to participate in the free history hunt program that allows them to sample over 300 years of Westchester history by visiting up to 90 historic sites in 32 different Westchester communities. There are “challenges” at each site. Most often, challenges require taking and uploading pictures to the WCHS History Hunt mobile app. Everyone who uploads photos is eligible for a prize, and families who visit all of the sites will receive free tickets to some of Westchester’s best activities. Special prizes will be awarded for the first families to finish and the account with the most creative site images. The Family History Hunt runs from July 1st through September 10. To register and download the app, visit the Westchester County Historical Society Family History Hunt webpage and scan the QR code. Once the app is downloaded and registered, individuals can start finding and scavenging all over Westchester, including locally here in Peekskill and Cortlandt.

The WCHS History Hunt mobile app, designed by Ossining-based Otocast, provides GPS-guided directions to the places. It then gives a description, images, and an audio recording with a brief background. As proof of visiting the site, participants are given a simple task, often asking for an easily-uploaded photograph to be taken. Don’t wait though, the History Hunt will conclude on September 8th. Prizes will be presented in the fall to families or groups who complete the entire hunt and/or have highly creative entries. Gifts will include complimentary “tickets” to family-friendly Westchester museums, restaurants and amusements.

“Our county’s dedicated historians and historical societies have helped us assemble a fabulous array of places to see and history to be experienced,” said Barbara Davis, WCHS Co-Director and History Hunt coordinator. “We are so fortunate to have such a remarkable, diverse heritage. This is a delicious way to sample it.”

The Westchester County Historical Society is the eleventh oldest county historical society in America, WCHS is primarily a library and research center. The non-profit organization is located in the Westchester County Records Center in Elmsford, where the county’s public records and archives are also housed. Documents, maps, photographs, manuscripts, books and other materials have been collected since the inception of WCHS, the only history organization that is steward of materials representing all of Westchester. The collection of over a half million materials are preserved in 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, temperature controlled vaults, on shelves equivalent to the length of 215 football fields. WCHS continues to add new materials to the library by gift, purchase, and long-term loan. For more information, contact Barbara Davis, WCHS Co-director, at (914) 231-1437 or [email protected]. You can also visit the Westchester County Historical Society on Facebook and Instagram. 

The Peekskill History App

While scavenging in Peekskill for the Westchester County Historical Society, don’t forget to download the Peekskill History app available on Apple and Android and learn a lot more about our local neighborhoods, buildings and events that took place right here in this small city we call home. As the years have continued on from the original creation of the app, many more locations and local communities have been added to the app. Use both apps in conjunction with each other and learn about Peekskill and Westchester all summer long. To learn more about the Peekskill History app and how it was created, take a look at the Peekskill Herald article from 2022 entitled: Tour Peekskill Past and Present using Smart Technology.

Visit the Peekskill Herald Events Calendar Features and the Peekskill Herald Event Calendar to see more local events.

If you would like to have your event publicized and advertised for free, please add your event to the Peekskill Herald Event Calendar. You may even get to become a highlighted featured event of the week. Do you like what you see? Click here to subscribe for free to the Peekskill Herald. Do you really like what you see and want to support local thriving journalism? Click here to donate and become a member of the Peekskill Herald. The Peekskill Herald is a 501c3 charitable organization and all donations are tax-deductible.