The Kearney House

Name: The Kearney House
Address: Alpine Boat Basin in Palisades Interstate Park, Alpine, NJ, 07620, US
Telephone: +12017681360
Rating: 4.7

Home
United States
Alpine, NJ
The Kearney House

The Kearney House is a living history museum in the Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey. Stop by the tavern for a visit!

We bring a 19th-century family-run Hudson River tavern back to life, a place where the crews of sloops and the local folks gather to swap tales and jokes, eat and drink, maybe sing a song or two. We are open to tour weekend and holiday afternoons, 12-5, from May through October (admission is free), and we host special evening events as well, such as our classic "Punch & Pie" nights. Our little staff also leads guided "history hikes" in the park and other activities throughout the year.

02/20/2025

A common myth we hear from park visitors is that one individual made our park. These generalizations often conceal a far richer story when you look closer!

While financial contributions from JP Morgan, John D. Rockefeller Sr., and Jr. (a generation later) helped ensure the Palisades would be conserved forever, often forgotten are the networks of ordinary citizens involved with this massive undertaking.

We are grateful to the statesmen who signed the Palisades Interstate Park Commission into existence, including Governors Theodore Roosevelt and Foster Voorhees. We also celebrate the New Jersey Federation of Women's Clubs, one of the groups which put pressure on the government to act, and who remain close to this day. Another important "cog" in this story are the Commissioners appointed by both states, who were able to negotiate with quarries and other land developers under the leadership of George Perkins. As JP Morgan's right-hand man, Perkins was able to convince him and other investors to contribute to a fund provided by both states.

George Perkins passed away in 1920, leaving behind a unique collection of parks beloved by millions of park visitors. One of Perkins' successors would be Laurence S. Rockefeller, who served as President of the PIPC from 1970-1977, continuing his family's legacy of involvement with the park and proving no individual can take all the credit for such an incredible land preservation project.

To learn more about some of the myths from our Park's origins, check out an upcoming virtual lecture: https://southorangetownlibraries.librarycalendar.com/event/oft-repeated-anecdote-truth-and-fiction-about-palisades-interstate-park-virtual-30135

To learn how to visit The Perkins Memorial Tower at Bear Mountain State Park, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/bearmountain/

01/14/2025

Our Historic Palisader of the day is Harry Houdini, the famous illusionist and stunt performer. In 1922, he dangled off the edge of High Tom's (near present-day Rockefeller Lookout).

Though many trace the origin of the term "Cliffhanger" to the movie scene in the 1930's, it is possible the term actually originated in the 1870's and predates the use of the Palisades as a setting in silent films. Regardless, our park was a common backdrop in early movies and often became a place for jaw-dropping acrobatic stunts by professionals like Harry Houdini.

Magicians only, please do not attempt any stunts from the silent film era!

12/19/2024

Do you remember America's Bicentennial? We want to hear about it!🗽🇺🇸

The Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey would like to create a collection of memories about the Bicentennial as we prepare for America's 250th Anniversary.

If you have a story to tell, please contact us at (201) 768-1360 or email [email protected]

12/13/2024

Meet President Rutherford B. Hayes, a Historic Palisader whose influence extended to the entire union! 🇺🇸

He was friends with prominent journalist (and fellow Ohioan) Charles Nordhoff. It seems he saw the beauty in the Palisades because he would go on to purchase land of his own on the cliff tops after his visit.

12/04/2024

Sometimes, we can solve mysteries. In other cases, we find far more interesting twists than the answer to our original questions!

Read about how Park Historians worked together with Oscar Wilde researchers in our latest Cliff Notes Article "A Wilde Story" (2024): https://www.njpalisades.org/wildeStory.html

12/02/2024

We had a wonderful Autumn season full of programs! We thank all our visitors who stopped by and made it a special time. Here's to a long winter's rest and another great year.

11/15/2024

In the shadow of the Palisades, Margaret Corbin manned a cannon at Fort Washington where she was severely wounded. After the war, she was incredibly close with her fellow veterans in the Corps of Invalids and stayed near West Point for the rest of her life. She is the first woman to receive a US army pension.

Upon her death, she was buried in the Highlands around West Point, later re-interred with military honors within the cemetery on the grounds. In 2017, it was discovered that the remains were not Captain Molly!

Even with mysteries left to solve, her memory lives on in illustrations and monuments celebrating her life and service.

10/25/2024

Our newest Historic Palisaders are an eccentric scientist and his wife, an eclectic art collector! The Burnetts loved their estate along the cliffs just south of the Women's Federation Monument, where they had a laboratory that has sparked rumors ever since. Parts of their vast estate were a bomb shelter, Hindu temple, and swimming pool shaped like a winding snake.

Unfortunately, they had to leave their beloved home due to the construction of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. After their death, most of Mrs. Burnett's prized collection went to the The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York where it can be viewed on display and in digital collections. Her husband Dr. Burnett (a famed Osteopath) donated to the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine upon his death only a few years later.

10/10/2024

Down by The Kearney House garden, we have a big harvest even this late in the year! Organic, historic, and delicious

😋 🌶️ 🍓

09/10/2024

Meet a Historic Palisader with style!

Oscar Wilde stopped at countless resorts on his Grand American Tour in 1882. From two newspaper articles at the time, we have reason to believe he paid a visit to the Palisades Mountain House along the Palisades!

Though his life was filled with tragedy and discrimination due to his homosexuality, Oscar Wilde was unapologetically himself.

We are grateful to Rosalie at the Johnson Public Library for their assistance, and John Cooper from the UK's Oscar Wilde Society for his correspondence.

For more information on the Grand Tour of 1882, visit: https://www.oscarwildeinamerica.org/

🌈📚🖋️🛎️🚂

08/26/2024

From the Palisades in 1825, you could have witnessed a large collection of boats sailing past, carrying Governor Dewitt Clinton and other officials and celebrators. This entourage made up the "Wedding of the Waters" which was a massive celebration of the completion of the Erie Canal.

Water from Lake Erie was poured into the Atlantic Ocean to symbolize the merging of these bodies of water.

The Erie Canal impacted every person living along the Palisades, and this would have been an exciting year!

08/05/2024

Meet Pearl White, one of the original movie stars! 🎥

Starting with a career in the circus, she became incredibly famous during her time playing the titular character of Pauline in "Perils of Pauline." Though she was great in silent film, she didn't make the transition to "talkies" and instead retired to Paris.

08/03/2024

Come on out for an Afternoon with a Ranger: Cape Fly Away Hike 🥾

Interpretive Ranger Clare Daughtrey will lead a guided hike on Sat. August 3rd at 2pm-4pm

Meet at Alpine Picnic Area near the Kearney House, the hike will be about 3 miles round trip, drizzle or shine! (Metered parking in effect)

07/18/2024

🎵 Start spreading the news...🎵 Our latest Historic Palisader was none other than Frank Sinatra!

Ol' Blue Eyes performed at the Riviera, a famed night club perched right on top of the Palisades in Fort Lee, New Jersey. It wasn't his only performance along the Palisades, he also got his start at the Rustic Cabin in Englewood Cliffs.

The Riviera boasted beautiful views of the Hudson and a chance to see some of the "greats" of their era perform. Today, you can hike along the Long Path, though it is difficult to imagine the same area of woods as a bustling night club!

🎵 🎙️ 💰 🏙️ 🌉

06/27/2024

Last week was Juneteenth, celebrating the liberation of thousands of enslaved workers in Texas during 1865. Most people consider this the end of slavery within the United States, but New Jersey did not legally end slavery for its last estimated 16 enslaved workers until January 23rd, 1866.

Catherine Brown lived a majority of her life along the Palisades at Huyler's Landing with her siblings. She would have been around 23 years old when the last enslaved New Jersians were emancipated. Along the river, there were more opportunities for Black Americans to be employed. Thomas Brown, Catherine's brother, became a boatman on this busy scene, where Black men could become captains.

06/06/2024

Meet a Historic Palisader whose name has shaped the Palisades and surrounding towns since 1776!

Though Charles Lee was not present at Fort Lee, soldiers named the location after him due to his success elsewhere. Previously a British Officer, Gen. Lee was a rival to George Washington, often criticizing his military choices.

He remained controversial especially later on in the war.

For more information on the Palisades during the American Revolution, please visit our Visitor Center at Fort Lee Historic Park!

05/12/2024

Our latest Historic Palisader is Reverend William "Billy" Thompson (1814-188?). You might be familiar with his wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson from a previous post.

The Thompsons lived for decades along the Palisades in a Freedmen community known as Skunk Hollow. Unfortunately not many photographs of this time and place survive, but we have learned a lot from census records and oral histories, as well as speaking with descendants.

If you would like to learn more about Skunk Hollow, we are hosting a lecture tomorrow at the Closter Nature Center. See you there!

04/28/2024

Stop down by The Kearney House today to celebrate our season's opening!

We will be serving switchel (the Gatorade of the 1800's) from 1-4. See you there!

Address

Alpine Boat Basin In Palisades Interstate Park
Alpine, NJ
07620

Telephone

+12017681360

Website

http://www.njpalisades.org/kearney.html

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Kearney House posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to The Kearney House:

Videos

Snow-melt filling the brook by the Kearney House…

View from the porch on a winter day.

Warm and rainy Christmas Eve.

Heating the hot water for dishes at the tavern.

View from the porch: an afternoon squall on the river.