Images of Hart Cluett Museum
Hart Cluett Museum and its collection
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The Rensselaer County Historical Society (RCHS) is a non-profit organization that operates as a museum and promotes the study of the history of Rensselaer County, New York. Founded in 1927, the society initially operated out of a single room in the Troy Public Library, collecting manuscripts and published materials related to the county's history. Today, it is located in the Central Troy Historic District in Troy, NY, and offers public programs from its location at 57 Second Street.
The Hart-Cluett Mansion
In 1952, the Hart-Cluett Mansion, built in 1827, was handed over to the Rensselaer County Historical Society by Mrs. Cluett. The mansion now serves as a historic house museum and a repository for the county's historical artifacts and archival materials. Over the years, the society has carefully acquired fine and decorative arts as well as period furnishings to fill the fourteen rooms of the mansion.
The Museum Collections
The Rensselaer County Historical Society is the primary collecting institution in Rensselaer County. Its museum collections contain approximately 60,000 objects that range from fine to domestic arts. These items represent the history of Troy, the largest urban center in the county, and Rensselaer County at large. They include information about the city's families and buildings, and reflect the area's significant contributions to the growth of the United States in the 19th century.
ENRensselaer County Historical Society
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