West Point Foundry
MID HUDSON
http://www.scenichudson.org/parks/westpointfoundrypreserve
Cold Spring, NY
Hours: The West Point Foundry Preserve is open dawn to dusk, Sunday though Saturday. The Foundry School Museum is open Saturday and Sunday from 2-5 pm and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10am-4pm. Admission to the preserve is free to both. The Foundry Office is being restored.
Call 845-265-4010 for more information.
Phone: 845-473-4440
Historical Description:
Located in Cold Spring, Putnam County, the ruins of the West Point Foundry are surrounded by serene wetlands along the eastern shore of the Hudson River. The Foundry was originally founded by President James Madison in 1812 as one of four weapons foundries. It served a huge historical significance by producing the Parrott gun during the Civil War which helped the Union reach victory over the Confederacy. Today, the grounds of the foundry are owned by Scenic Hudson. The 87 acres of land are adjacent to a 0.7-acre Foundry Dock Park, historic chapel of Our Lady, the Cold Spring Railroad Station, and the Foundry School Museum of the Putnam County Historical Society. The grounds can be explored through a two mile hike which will take lead past the foundry ruins including a boring mill, blast furnace, and the casting house.
The Site:
The first building that will be seen along the walk is the Carpenter Shop - only the walls are still standing. Just past the Carpenter Shop is the building dating back to 1865 in which The Office was located. This is a two-story brick building, the only structure along the hike that still has its roof intact. Reaching the top of a ravine you will come upon the Patterson house, a mansion built by Hudson River School artist Thomas Rossiter in the 1860's. Still a private residence, the house is located directly north of the Boscobel Restoration, which offers hikers a fabulous view of Constitution Marsh. In order to see all the foundry ruins and explore the wetlands, allow at least one to two hours. You may also view a video about the history of the West Point Foundry at the Foundry School Museum (PCHS&FSM). To learn more about the PCHS&FSM, visit their website at: http://www.pchs-fsm.or g/, or call 845-265-4010.
Directions:
By car: Traveling south on Route 9D from the Route 301/9D intersection: proceed 0.3 miles and bear right at the fork onto Chestnut Street. Parking can be found along the road near the trail head where Chestnut Street meets Route 9D. By train: Take Metro-North to the Cold Spring Railroad Station, use the underpass to cross under the tracks and into the village proper. Walk up Main Street to Kemble Ave. Turn right on Kemlbel and walk to the end, there will be a gate there for the Preserve.
