Overlooking the majestic Hudson River, the Hudson Valley has long been a favoured place to live. From the homes of the early settlers of the seventeenth century to the estates of the landed gentry of the eighteenth century and the baronial mansions of the captains of industry of the nineteenth century, the valley boasts some of the finest houses in America. Historic Houses of the Hudson River Valley is a sumptuous presentation of 33 houses in the region, ranging from the earliest Dutch cottages still extant to the grand Gothic and Italianate revival, stately Georgian, Federal, and beaux-arts country homes of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Historic Houses of the Hudson River Valley features a stunning array of newly photographed homes that date from over three centuries and are distinctive examples of the architecture of the region; from the Dutch vernacular cottage to Georgian country homes and later grand estates. Many, also, are open for visits. The book includes historically significant sites such as the Van Cortlandt House (1748) in the Bronx; the Van Rensselaer House (ca.
1780), the house of famed Hudson River School painter Thomas Cole, and two houses used as headquarters by George Washington during the American Revolution. The result is a book that features a variety of styles ranging from perfect historical reconstructions to eclectic modern country house treatments.