Mountain Top Historical Society
The Mountain Top Historical Society (MTHS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1973, committed to discovering, preserving, interpreting, and sharing the rich and unique history of the Mountain Top region in Greene County, NY. Through a wide range of programs and activities, MTHS promotes a deeper understanding and appreciation of the area's history, geology, literature, culture, and folklore.
Open Year-Round!
The Mountain Top Historical Society campus at the top of Kaaterskill Clove in Haines Falls is open year-round to the public. Our campus includes a fully restored 1913 Ulster & Delaware train station, Hudson River School Art Trail interpretative display, pond, flat walking paths, adjoining picturesque Aaron Haines Family cemetery, Kaaterskill Rail Trail (KRT) parking and trailhead. We maintain a Visitors’ Center with trail information and displays from Memorial Day Weekend through mid-November.
Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest updates
The Mountain Top Historical Society is dedicated to discovering and preserving the unique and rich history of the Catskill High Peaks.
Good to Know
Address
5132 Route 23A Haines Falls
NY 12436
Price
$
Phone
518-589-6657
- Activity Level
- Active
- Duration
- 1-3 hours
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Mountain Top Historical Society Events
September 2026
Sep 19, 2026
MTHS 14th Annual Catskills Post Card Show
Mountain Top Historical Society | 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station
Step into the past at the14th Annual Post Card Show at the Mountain Top Historical Society on Saturday, September 19. Held inside the historic 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station in Haines Falls from 10am-3pm, this annual event brings together local collectors and vendors offering vintage postcards and other historical treasures. Visitors can browse postcards featuring the Great Northern Catskills and surrounding communities, connect with local collectors, and shop for unique pieces of regional history. The Mountain Top Historical Society will also offer ephemera from its own attic collection for sale. Admission is $3.
Sep 26, 2026
Closing 250th celebration: The Hudson River School of Art, The Catskills, and the American Identity
Mountain Top Historical Society
The talk will explore how American identity took shape in the Catskill Mountains following the Revolution, using the Hudson River School of Art as a lens to examine the Catskills’ emergence as a center of industry, leisure, and the nation’s first distinct artistic tradition. The lecture will be followed by a visit to the top of Haines Falls, a site captured in Hudson River School paintings, where the landscape and historic bridge offer insight into the formation of the country and its changing relationship with the natural world. Starts at 11 am
Sep 26, 2026
Plein Air Painting: A Great Northern Catskills Art Experience In Partnership With Thomas Cole
Mountain Top Historical Society
Artists of all ages and skill levels are invited to paint outdoors in the Great Northern Catskills during this plein air painting event at the Mountain Top Historical Society in Haines Falls, presented in partnership with the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Set up your easel and capture the beauty of the historic campus, featuring a pond, woodlands, historic buildings, a red barn and Ice Age erratic rocks. Artists should bring their own supplies, while a children’s table will offer watercolor palettes and brushes. At 2 p.m., participants are invited to showcase their paintings in the historic 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station. The day also includes a special 11 a.m. presentation by Greene County Historian Jonathan Palmer, exploring the Hudson River School of Art, the Catskills and American identity. MORE INFO
October 2026
Oct 10, 2026
The Railroading History of Kaaterskill Junction: A Hike with Paul LaPierre
4282 Rt 214, Hunter
Join the Mountain Top Historical Society for a history hike exploring the former Stony Clove and Catskill Mountain Railroad, which once traveled from Phoenicia to the Junction before splitting onto the Hunter and Tannersville branches. Led by Paul LaPierre of the Empire State Railway Museum, the hike follows old railroad beds and includes stops at the Junction, the remains of the Electric Light Dam Bridge over Schoharie Creek, and the new Hunter Branch Rail Trail pedestrian bridge. The 4-mile hike is considered moderate due to its length and terrain. Bring water and snacks. 10 am-2 pm
Oct 11, 2026
7th Annual Reading of Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle
Mountain Top Historical Society | 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station
Join the Mountain Top Historical Society for its annual community reading of Washington Irving’s classic tale, Rip Van Winkle. Hear the story of Rip’s legendary journey into the Catskill Mountains with his faithful dog, Wolf, while enjoying a visit from Catskill artist Matt Bua and his Traveling Rip Exhibit. Ol’ Rip himself will also make an appearance. Families and children are welcome, and attendees are encouraged to dress as Rip Van Winkle, Dame Van Winkle, the Bowling Dutchmen, or Wolf. 2-3:30 pm Free
Oct 23, 2026
The Spruce Woods and Its Folklore, Part One: A talk by Patti and Ricky Brooks
Mountain Top Historical Society | 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station
Join the Brooks for a look at life in the upper East Kill Valley during the 19th century, as portrayed by Ricky’s mother, Doris West Brooks, in her acclaimed book, The Old Eagle Nester. Blending mystery with a sly sense of humor, Brooks’ stories offer a compelling portrait of life in the remote Spruce Woods near Colgate Lake. The talk will feature antique maps, deeds, survey instruments, and chains used during the settlement of the East Kill Valley wilderness. Participants are encouraged to read the book before the talk. 7 pm Free, but space is limited.
Oct 24, 2026
The Spruce Woods Part Two: A hike with Patti and Ricky Brooks
Mountain Top Historical Society | 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station
Join the Mountain Top Historical Society and the Brooks for an interactive hike through the upper East Kill Valley, the remote setting that inspired the stories in Doris West Brooks’ acclaimed book, The Old Eagle Nester. Blending mystery and sly humor, Brooks’ stories offer a compelling portrait of 19th-century life in and around the Spruce Woods near Colgate Lake. Participants are encouraged to read the book before the hike. The hike is moderate due to its length and rough terrain. Bring water and snacks and wear bright clothing. 9am – 3pm Meet at the Mountain Top Historical Society, 5132 Route 23A in Haines Falls, to carpool to the trailhead.
