The Beat

Saturday, January 31, 2-3pm

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (1/15/26) — Not only a fashionable “Queen of Gilded Age High Society,” Ruth Livingston Mills, who lived at Staatsburgh, was also rather athletic and loved to ice skate!  And she was in good company, as her family, friends and servants also enjoyed gliding across the Hudson River near the mansion. Staatsburgh State Historic Site invites children to a Victorian skating party craft program, to make a diorama of their own imagined skating event. …

To Celebrate Chinese American Historymakers at the Semiquincentennial

New York, N.Y. (January 14, 2026) – In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, MOCA will dedicate 2026 to celebrating the enduring contributions of Chinese Americans. Through special exhibitions, public programs, performances, and storytelling, MOCA will be honoring Chinese American historymakers not included on the official list created for the National Garden of American Heroes in Washington, D.C. The MOCA Luminaries for America250 span historical eras and pursuits, but they are all individuals who are deserving of recognition for upholding and embodying American ideals of equality, fairness, inclusivity, hard work, civility and creativity.

Utica, N.Y. – Don’t miss an exclusive screening of Hidden History Unlocked at the Oneida County History Center, Saturday, January 24, at 2:00 p.m. This captivating new film unveils a rare and haunting glimpse into one of America’s oldest asylums, nestled in the historic town of Utica. Established in 1843, this facility was the first in New York State devoted to the care of the mentally ill during a time when understanding mental health was still in its infancy. The imposing structure, known as "Old Main," stood as a silent witness to countless stories until its doors closed in 1978.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — Coinciding with the United States of America’s national celebration of the 250^th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will mark the occasion with a special exhibition, Racing at the Dawn of the United States. The exhibition opens Saturday, Jan. 10 in the Museum’s Link Gallery.

A Revolutionary 250th Celebration – Saturday, June 6, 2026, Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park (Upper Park)

Carmel, NY – Step back in time and witness history come alive at Putnam County Heroes Battle the Redcoats on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park. This extraordinary event, presented in celebration of America’s 250th Revolutionary anniversary, promises an unforgettable experience for all ages.

Ticonderoga, N.Y. - Step off the pages of history and onto the frozen ground of 1776! Fort Ticonderoga invites the public and media to its gripping, one-day Winter Quarters living history event, "Supplying our Army in Canada," on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

This immersive REAL TIME REVOLUTION® experience thrusts visitors into the precarious first winter of the Revolutionary War. While General Henry Knox was famously dragging cannon toward Boston, Fort Ticonderoga was operating as a critical, frozen lifeline—a desperate supply depot for the beleaguered American forces clinging tenuously to the Siege of Quebec.

Lake George, NY – Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance member and historian Mark Silo kicks off the organization’s 2026 programming with his presentation, “Sir William, Where Exactly Were Your Lines?”, on Saturday, January 17, 11 AM at the Holiday Inn Resort Lake George.

Utica, N.Y. – The Frankfort United N-Trak (FUNTRAK) Model Railroad Club returns to the Oneida County History Center for its annual holiday exhibition. Come aboard and enjoy the club's model trains and talk rail history with fellow enthusiasts of all ages. The model trains will be displayed in the main gallery on Tuesday, Dec. 23, Friday, Dec. 26, and Saturday, Dec. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is family-friendly, accessible, and open to the public.

Albany, NY – New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the 250^th Knox Regional Commemoration are hosting events marking the 250^th anniversary of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery in December 2025 and January 2026.