A Half-Century of Rockland History, 1965-2015, is Explored in New Historical Society of Rockland County Exhibition and Programs

Press Release

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the charter that formed the Historical Society of Rockland County. To mark of this important milestone, we asked members to share their thoughts on the county’s most formative events of the past 50 years.

Their responses have inspired “A Half-Century of History, 1965-2015: Events That Shaped Our Community.” This special exhibition opens Sunday, April 19, 2015, at 12 p.m. at the HSRC’s History Center Galleries, 20 Zukor Road, New City. Admission is free. (Donations are greatly appreciated!) The exhibition will be open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. through November 1.

“A Half-Century of History” explores seminal events in Rockland County and changes to its landscape, demographics, government, and more using items from the HSRC’s permanent collection and on loan from members, friends, and supporters of the Society. We thank our members for their feedback and input. In addition, the exhibition looks at the HSRC’s history as a consolidation of two previous Rockland institutions—the Tappan Zee Historical Society and the Rockland County Society—that executed a merger on September 2, 1965.

A Golden Anniversary Lecture Series will be held in conjunction with the exhibition featuring:

• “How Cartoonists Responded to 9/11,” a lecture by Kent Worcester, on Thursday, April 23. This lecture has been made possible by a grant from the New York Council on the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

• “The Brinks Robbery: The Impact on Rockland County,” a lecture by Bob Baird, on Thursday, May 28.

• “The County Executive and How Governing Changed in Rockland County” (working title), by the Hon. Veronica DeMeo Boesch, on Thursday, June 25.

Additional lectures in July, September, and October will be announced. The April–June lectures will start sharply at 7:15 p.m. in the History Center’s lower-level Community Room. Admission is free, but seating is limited, and advance registration is required. To register, go to the HSRC’s website at www.rocklandhistory.org or call the office at 845-634-9629.

In addition to “A Half-Century of History,” the History Center Galleries will remount the popular “Rockland Voices: Highlights from the Permanent Collection of the HSRC.” This semi-permanent exhibition illustrates Rockland’s rich history through collections highlights that explore five key themes:

• The Lenape
• The Dutch
• Treason of the Revolution
• Slavery
• The Nyack Turnpike

“Rockland Voices” has been made possible by a grant from the Sterling Bank Charitable Foundation.

Admission to “Rockland Voices” is also free of charge and will be open Wednesdays through Sundays, 12-4 p.m., from April 19 through November 1, 2015.