Get a Glimpse Inside Some of Newburgh's Historic Homes With the Return of the Candlelight Tour

After a pandemic pause, the historic homes of Newburgh will once again be decked for the holidays with the return of the annual Candlelight Tour.

Sponsored by the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, the self-guided Candlelight Tour of Homes features Newburgh spaces both public and private decorated out for the holidays. In addition to historic homes, this year the tour offers the chance to get inside some recently rehabilitated properties and new construction. The exact locations are kept under wraps until ticket buyers pick up their tour booklets on the day of the tour, December 11.

Perched overlooking the Hudson, Newburgh, N.Y., is an architectural treasure of a town. It was strategically important during the Revolutionary War, and Washington’s headquarters is now a New York State Historic Site. The town was a hub of commerce in the early 19th century, its waterfront a stopping point between Manhattan and Albany. Business owners and ship captains built up the small town with mansions and warehouses.

In the 19th century, Newburgh was the center of an architectural scene with a group of designers who would have a lasting impact on the American home — including hometown boy Andrew Jackson Downing, a designer and horticulturalist, along with architects Alexander Jackson Davis, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Clarke Withers.

Newburgh remained a shipping and industrial center through the early 20th century, but by the 1960s changes in transportation and other economic forces hit the city. While urban renewal projects demolished blocks of buildings, the town also worked to document its significant architectural legacy. It established a historic district in 1973, which includes building styles from the 18th to the early 20th century.

The annual candlelight tour begins at one of those historic sites, the Captain David Crawford House. The grand Federal-style mansion was constructed in 1830 and has been the headquarters of the historical society since 1954. When not spruced up in seasonal decor, the house showcases a collection of 19th century furnishings and decorative arts, and hosts exhibits and lectures.

The tour takes place on Sunday, December 11 from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 purchased at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the event page online.

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