A journey through history, art, and memory will take place this weekend in Peekskill. The initiative is part of the 16th annual Sacred Sites Open House, a unique opportunity to explore and experience in detail several sacred spaces and historic temples located throughout the state. The event, organized by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, once again includes churches in Peekskill as part of its regional route.
This year’s theme is “Holding Community Memories.” The organization emphasizes how these sites preserve not only their architecture, but also the collective stories passed down through generations. The Peekskill program will begin on Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Visitors will be able to tour the Peekskill Presbyterian Church, located at 705 South Street, until 4 p.m. On the following day, the doors of the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, at 137 North Division Street, will open to the public starting at 12 p.m. The tour there will conclude at 3 p.m
That same day in Cortlandt Manor, the Old St. Peter’s Church, located at the corner of Locust Ave and Oregon Road, will also welcome visitors from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. These buildings, spanning different historical periods and religious traditions, share a central role in the project as guardians of local memory. Their stained glass, woodwork, stone walls, and internal archives function as material records of a living history that remains active within their communities.
The Sacred Sites Open House is part of the cultural preservation work led by the Conservancy. According to program organizers, each participating congregation highlights its history through commemorative plaques, archives, oral histories, and presentations of art and architecture. The central idea is that each site can tell its own story through multiple lenses, not only religious but also cultural and community-based.
In past editions, participation in the program has been strong and widespread. Experiences have included guided tours of historic stained glass windows, access to lesser-known archives, and walks through burial grounds where key figures in local history are interred. This year, an even greater turnout is expected.
In Peekskill, the historical dimension carries added significance this year due to the bicentennial of the Presbyterian church, a milestone that strengthens the connection between the event’s theme and local identity. The concept of “preserving community memories” becomes especially tangible in spaces that have been in continuous use for two centuries, where history is not abstract but lived daily by their congregations.
In addition to its Peekskill sites, the program also encourages visits to the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow and, in Cross River, the Cross River 1791 Baptist Meeting House. For more information about the Open House or other initiatives led by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, an organization dedicated for more than 50 years to the preservation of New York’s architectural heritage, visit its official digital platform.
