Explore 19th-Century Weather Tools at Lindenwald
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site will host a hands-on historical weather station program on Saturday, August 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring antique and replica weather instruments from the 19th century.
Conrad Vispo and Anna Duhon of the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program will lead the outdoor event. Visitors can explore locally used and manufactured instruments, including a replica De Witt Rain Gauge (circa 1830) and thermometers made by the Kendall family of New Lebanon. These tools were part of a larger 19th-century meteorological network across New York State that included sites in Kinderhook, Hudson, New Lebanon, Chatham, and Spencertown.
Visitors will have the opportunity to read current weather conditions using several still-functional instruments and explore how people in Van Buren’s time observed the climate. The display will also feature historical weather maps, a daily almanac compiled from 19th-century observations, and original handwritten records currently being transcribed.
These materials offer a glimpse into the region’s historical weather patterns and how they have shifted over time, shedding light on the broader impacts of climate change at the local level.
Fees
This event is free to attend.
Location
Latitude and Longitude 42.370514, -73.702008
Schedule
Date:
Time:
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Event Type
- Partner Program
- Talk