Discover Catskills’ museums & libraries
Sullivan County’s story runs deep—rooted in artistry, community and a reverence for the land. Beyond its scenic drives and blue point-of-interest plaques (there are a lot of them), a network of museums and libraries keeps those stories alive, inviting visitors to step inside and stay awhile.
You’ll learn a lot about those stories just by being here, wandering through the area’s museums, historical centers and public libraries where knowledgeable locals will be more than happy to chat about the past.
Sullivan County Historical Society (Hurleyville)
A good place to start is the Sullivan County Historical Society in Hurleyville. The on-site museum and research room offers a broad stroke of the Catskills’ storied past with detailed exhibits and a timeline that traces the county’s roots from indigenous life to the summer ‘69. Exhibits trace the county’s evolution through artifacts, photos and a Woodstock retrospective that still hums with energy.
Fort Delaware Museum (Narrowsburg)
Step into 1755 and meet the Connecticut settlers who braved the wilderness to establish Cushetunk, the first permanent European settlement in the Upper Delaware Valley. The living-history fort offers costumed interpreters, workshops and riverside views that make the past feel tangible.
Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum (Livingston Manor)
Fly fishing isn’t just a sport here—it’s a way of life. The museum’s forested grounds and Heritage Craft Center celebrate the art of bamboo rod making, the culture of conservation and the legends of the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. Bring your curiosity—and maybe your waders.
Take a look. It’s in a book.
The county’s public libraries are portals to local lore. From the 1906 Mamakating Library in Wurtsboro to the Livingston Manor–Roscoe and Western Sullivan Public Libraries, each collection offers maps, journals and history books curated by neighbors who know these stories by heart.
Other museums and cultural stops
To enrich your exploration, don’t miss these cultured places:
- Time and the Valleys Museum (Grahamsville): Chronicles water, farming and the creation of New York City’s reservoirs.
- The Catskill Art Society (CAS) Arts Center (Livingston Manor): Contemporary art exhibitions in a restored 1920s building.
- Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (Narrowsburg): Gallery, performance space and community arts hub housed in a historic Main Street building.
- Nesin Cultural Arts (Monticello): Home to visual and performing arts programs nurturing Sullivan’s next generation of creatives.
- Bethel Woods Museum (Bethel): World-class exhibits that honor the 1969 Woodstock Festival and the era’s cultural revolution at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
