Partying Like it is 1849 at the Kearney House
About this Session
At the Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey, the Public History Department is responsible for maintenance and programming at the Kearney House (c. 1760). For close to 30 years, we have interpreted this site as a dockside tavern during the 1840's, and we would like to share some of the tips and tricks we have learned when creating programs. Our most successful events are candlelit Tavern Nights, where visitors have a chance to see the Kearney House come to life, complete with music and merriment. These material touches, we find, make for an immersive and educational experience.
Eric Nelsen | Head of Public History Department | Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey | enelsen@njpalisades.org | Eric oversees the park's historic Kearney House, where he's helped to develop a unique "living history" program based on the house's role as a nineteenth-century Hudson River tavern and homestead. In the office, he supervises park publications, brochures, and interpretive signs.
Francesca Costa | Public Historian | Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey | fcosta@njpalisades.org | For the last 6 years, Francesca has worked alongside Eric and assisted with research and interpretation of the Palisades. She has spearheaded new efforts to transcribe and digitize historic materials for the public, and manages an Interpretive Ranger Program.
HDMI Cable and projector required
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