Since 1988, the highly acclaimed Hudson Valley Shakespeare has performed under their open-air Theater Tent on Boscobel’s Great Lawn – with Boscobel’s stunning vista of the Hudson River Valley as the backdrop.
“Theatergoers picnic on the lawn, admiring the river and the mountains beyond. And when the performance begins, much more often than not, the cast makes its entrance, in resplendent or witty costumes, striding across that lawn. The characters, seen against an expanse of seemingly untouched nature, create a powerful illusion of transport back to the play’s historical period, just as much as (maybe even more than) big-budget movie scenes.”
– Anita Gates, The New York Times
The House that was Saved
The mission of Boscobel House and Gardens is to engage diverse audiences in the Hudson Valley’s ongoing, dynamic exchange between design, history, and nature.
Built between 1804 and 1808, Boscobel was originally the dream house of wealthy Loyalists. By the 1950s, after falling into disrepair, it was demolished. Preservationists saved as many architectural fragments as possible and reassembled them fifteen miles north, where the Neoclassical mansion was restored back to—and even beyond—its original grandeur. Boscobel was saved as a beautiful piece of art.
Now an esteemed Historic House Museum containing one of the finest collections of decorative arts from the Federal period, Boscobel offers tours of its Neoclassical mansion and access to 68 acres of grounds, featuring lush gardens and a woodland trail. Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Boscobel directly overlooks Constitution Marsh toward the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, showcasing dramatic views of the Hudson River.
Open Wednesday through Monday from mid-April to December, Boscobel hosts lively events, innovative exhibitions, talks by the world’s top design experts, and engaging programs and activities for families. Children are always welcome.
For more information, please visit Boscobel.org.