AS LINDENWALD GROWS, TOURISM GROWS

Mike McCagg

ccSCOOP News

08-18-09 – 4:30 p.m. - An ambitious plan to increase the size of the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site nearly tenfold has just begun, but tourists aren't waiting for the expansion to visit the Kinderhook historic site. A midafternoon tour of Lindenwald on a hot and steamy Saturday attracted fourteen tourists willing to endure 90-degree temperatures and oppressive humidity to view the home of the eighth president of the United States—an indication of the renewed drawing power of the site. Following at the heels of the tourists was a group of kids who came to participate in the Junior Ranger Program which the site sponsors annually. Instead of jumping into a pool, the children were jumping into history, learning about Van Buren as well as the work of National Park Service Rangers.

The Martin Van Buren Historic Site, located on Route 9H, was the home to President Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States and the first president to be born a U.S. citizen. Van Buren purchased the site in 1839—in the middle of his presidency—and spent his retirement there. The site, which comprised 220 acres in Van Buren’s time, is now only about 39 acres, but the passage of federal legislation earlier this year will enable the site to grow to approximately 300 acres, Historic Site Superintendent Daniel J. Dattilio said on Friday. Congress approved the expansion of Lindenwald in March 2009, setting the process in motion.

The expansion will be achieved through a public/private partnership, with the federal government acquiring some land and other tracts being preserved for the historic site's protection through conservation easements by Open Space Institute. In the last decade, Open Space Institute has protected 732 acres in the immediate vicinity of Lindenwald.

“It’s a mixed bag,” explained Dattilio. “Some of [the land] will remain under private ownership, and some will be owned by the park service.” “Martin Van Buren didn't like big government,” Dattilio went on to say, “so I think that is reflective of his beliefs. I think he would be very pleased.” Dattilio said he expects the first phase of the expansion to be complete by May 2010 with the acquisition of a conservation easement for the Roxbury Farm land that adjoins the historic site on its south side. The easement will include the historic farm cottage—one of three remaining structures from Martin Van Buren’s time on the estate—and will also permit the future development of a trail on the west side of 9H—on the same side of the road as the mansion itself.

“Part of a justification for the adjustment of the boundary was that it would provide further access to the public and that includes a one- to two-mile trail and access to the farmland that Van Buren maintained when he owned the then 220-acre estate,” Dattilio said.

Several trails already exist near the historic site. The trails, located on the opposite side of Route 9H, are on land that is owned and managed by Friends of Lindenwald.

The easement, acquired by Open Space Institute, will be given to the historic site, said the OSI representative Katie Stone. “Our mission is to protect open spaces of recreational, historic, and archaeological value,” she said. “This is a perfect match to our mission.” 

Dattilio praised the attention paid to the historic site’s expansion, as well as other initiatives, for inspiring a dramatic increase in tourism to the historic site. So far in 2009, 7,859 visitors have toured the Martin Van Buren Historic Site, a 24 percent increase over last year.

Dattilio also credited the Quadricentennial Celebration with drawing attention to the Hudson Valley and Lindenwald and cited events held annually at the site as contributing to the increase in visitors. Among those events is the Harvest Days celebration, which this year will take place on September 26. In the past two years, Harvest Days has attracted more than 2,000 visitors each year.

The Junior Ranger Program, which was held at Lindenwald last Saturday, also contributes to the increased interest in the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site. The program, which is part of the National Park Service’s interpretation and education initiative, strives to create interest among children and their parents in the historic site

Dattilio concludes, “It’s a combination of events and activities” that is behind the increased interest in the site.