Explore Catskills’ historic sites
You can get to know a place best by rolling down a backroad. Each curve reveals another glimpse of history—an old barn leaning against time, a covered bridge stretching across quiet water, or a field framed by ancient stone walls. Many of these landmarks bear blue markers telling their tales; others simply invite you to linger long enough to listen.
A bridge with a murderous past
In Kenoza Lake, the Stone Arch Bridge Park offers more than a postcard view. Built by Swiss immigrants in 1882, the graceful three-arched bridge spans the East Branch of Callicoon Creek. The 20-acre park is free to visit and ideal for picnicking or fishing—but locals will tell you it also hides a darker story from the past, a mystery still whispered beneath the arches.
Travel the Borscht Belt
Once the heart of mid-century summer escapes, Sullivan County was home to the famed Borscht Belt. In its heyday, more than 500 resorts and 50,000 bungalows drew vacationers seeking fresh air and acceptance. Today, 14 historic markers tell this story across a “roadmap of revival,” with plans to grow to 20 markers by 2027. Visitors can follow the trail and its audio tour to trace a cultural legacy of laughter, resilience and reinvention.
A Story of Coal & Lumbermen
The Delaware & Hudson Canal Interpretive Center in Summitville tells of a time when coal, timber and grit powered the region. Two restored canal buildings display artifacts, maps and photos from the 19th-century trade route that stretched 108 miles and featured 108 locks. Near Barryville, the Roebling Aqueduct, engineered by the same mind behind the Brooklyn Bridge, still stands as a remarkable feat: a water-filled bridge suspended over the Delaware to keep canal boats clear of the lumbermen below.
Other historic highlights in Sullivan County
To truly grasp the depth of Sullivan’s past, add these must-see stops to your Catskills itinerary:
- Bethel Woods Arts Center (Bethel): Standing on the very grounds where half a million people gathered for Woodstock in 1969, Bethel Woods is both a world-class performance venue and a living museum of music, art and culture.
- The Minisink Battleground Park (Barryville): Site of a Revolutionary War clash, featuring interpretive trails and monuments shaded by towering pines.
- The Ethelbert B. Crawford House (Monticello): Built in 1915, this architectural gem offers rotating historical exhibits and genealogical resources.
