If you’ve ever driven along 9G in the Hudson Valley and wondered about the grand estates tucked away near the river, Clermont State Historic Site is one you don’t want to miss. This riverside historic site has seen seven generations of Livingstons, Revolutionary War drama, and even has connections to George Washington, as well as the Declaration of Independence. Wow!

Clermont, NY

Exploring Clermont State Historic Site

Family History
Clermont was home to seven generations of the Livingston family, beginning in 1668 when Robert Livingston (1654–1728), a Scottish immigrant, was granted 160,000 acres—making him one of New York’s largest landowners.

His son Robert of Clermont (1688–1775) inherited 13,000 acres and, around 1730, built a large stone and brick Georgian house. By the 1740s, he renamed the estate “Clare Mount,” meaning “clear mountain.” He also added to the family’s holdings by purchasing 500,000 acres of the Great Hardenbergh Patent.

The next generation, Robert Livingston (1718–1775), was born at Clermont and married Margaret Beekman, who inherited 240,000 additional acres. During the Revolutionary War, the British burned the mansion in 1777, forcing Margaret to flee. She returned after the war and rebuilt the home in 1783, creating the estate we can still visit today.

Her son, Robert R. Livingston (1746–1813), played a key role in early American history—helping draft the Declaration of Independence (though he didn’t sign it), administering George Washington’s oath of office, and later negotiating the Louisiana Purchase while serving as minister to France under Thomas Jefferson. After returning home, he built a French-inspired mansion in 1793, which he named New Clermont (later known as Arryl House).

His daughter Elizabeth married her cousin Edward P. Livingston and inherited “Old Clermont”. While his daughter Margaret Maria, married her cousin Robert Livingston and inherited “New Clermont”. The family line continued a few more generations, with the property owned by the Livingstons expanding, contracting and merging through these generations.

However, maintaining the estate became costly, and most of it was sold to New York State in 1962. It opened to the public in 1976, but Honoria Livingston lived on the estate in Sylvan Cottage until 2000. The remaining land surrounding the cottages was gifted to New York State upon her death. Today, visitors can explore the mansion, grounds, buildings and ruins.

Walking the Grounds
Clermont is a great mix of history and scenery. There’s a wide mowed lawn perfect for a picnic with sweeping views of the Hudson River. While the site map shows many trails, only a few are marked, so plan for more wandering than hiking.

South of the parking lot, you’ll find the ruins of the Arryl House (New Clermont), which burned in 1909, along with wooded paths. 

Most of the estate lies north of the lot—follow the blue signs to the Visitor Center, open Thursday through Sunday, 11am–4pm. Inside you’ll find a 15-minute introductory film and small exhibits about the Livingston family and the estate’s history.

If the mansion is open, don’t miss the tour! For $10 (adults) or $8 (seniors), you’ll explore two floors and numerous rooms over the course of an hour. It’s one of the best house tours we’ve been on—beautifully detailed with furniture and belongings from the Livingston family and rich with stories.

Afterward, stroll the grounds to see other historic structures, garden areas, and ruins. I especially loved the striking Red Barn. With so much to explore, you can easily spend half a day here. If the weather’s nice, bring along a picnic since there’s no food available on-site.

Dining Nearby: The Red Hook Diner

Since Clermont itself doesn’t have restaurants, you’ll need to head south to Red Hook or north to Germantown. We discovered The Red Hook Diner, about 18 minutes away, and highly recommend it—especially for breakfast. Your coffee cup will stay full, and your belly will be completely satisfied!

Thank you for exploring Clermont with me! 😄

It turned out to be such a fun mix of history, scenery, and peaceful Hudson River views. I loved learning about the Livingstons’ role in shaping early America while also just enjoying the gardens, buildings, ruins, and trails. It’s the kind of place where you can step back in time while slowing down and soaking in the surroundings.

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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