Welcome!
Our museum is open for the season – Sundays 2:00 PM – 4:00PM
Thank You for your continued support!
The museum is located at 1003 River Road, Selkirk.
Upcoming Speaker Series
Echoes Along the Erie: Canal History Through Story and Song
Presenter: Donna Trunzo
Date & Time: Tuesday October 20th – 7PM
Location: Bethlehem Public Library
Step back in time to explore the vibrant culture and history of the Erie Canal. In this engaging presentation, Donna Trunzo weaves historical lore, personal stories, and traditional folk music to bring the canal era to life.
Highlights include:
- Life on the Towpath: Real stories of canal drivers, packet boat passengers, and local communities.
- Songs of the Waterway: Traditional folk music used to document the hardships, humor, and daily routine of canal life.
- Regional Legacy: How “Grand Erie” transformed New York State’s economy and culture.
About the Presenter: Donna Trunzo is an educator and performer dedicated to preserving New York’s regional heritage through interactive history and music programs.
Space is limited. Click here to register.
BHA Member Autumn Social, Storytelling & Puzzle Sale
Date & Time: Sunday, October 18, 2026 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Cedar Hill Schoolhouse Museum (1003 River Road, Selkirk)
Join fellow members and friends for our annual autumn gathering and an afternoon of storytelling, cider and doughnuts, puzzles and historic exhibits.
Program Schedule & Storytelling with Susan Leath:
Depending on the weather, storytelling will take place outside, in the carriage house, or inside the schoolhouse:
- 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM: Welcome, Cider & Doughnuts
- 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM: Storytelling Session 1 — Local Bethlehem Stories with BHA Historian Susan Leath
- 2:45 PM – 3:15 PM: Cider & Doughnuts, Socializing & Exhibit Viewing
- 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM: Storytelling Session 2 (Repeat presentation)
- 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM: Refreshments & Wrap-Up
Special Puzzle Sale: Browse a large selection of donated White Mountain Puzzles on display and available for purchase to benefit BHA programs and museum maintenance.
November Out and About Excursions
Please visit our ‘Out and About’ page for more information on Out and About excursions scheduled for November.
Exhibits Update
Our new exhibit Remembering Revolution: Bethlehem 1776*1976*2026 looks back from our country’s 250th anniversary year to explore the stories of Bethlehem’s Revolutionary War Veterans and local celebrations of the U.S. Bicentennial Year.
More Exhibits
Fun and Frolic: Sport, Recreation, Competition and Community
Be sure to visit the museum to take in our new Fun and Frolic exhibit. Over the years Bethlehem
residents have enjoyed all kinds of sport and recreational activities. The exhibit highlights just a
few including sledding, skating, golf, baseball and bowling.
Also, be sure to visit our many exhibits on display:
Dear Maria…Voices from the Mid-Nineteenth Century
Three Farms Dairy
Bethlehem’s One Room Schools
Rivers, Roads and Rails
Dr. Babcock’s Apothecary Cabinet
Native American Connections – the Mohican People
And other items of interest to Bethlehem history.
Call for Objects: Upcoming Hudson River Exhibit (“Big Wall”)
Our Exhibits Team is hard at work preparing a major new exhibit on the Hudson River, set to open on the museum’s “Big Wall” in early 2027. We are seeking historic artifacts or detailed replica models to illustrate local river life, including:
Ship & Boat Models: Day liners, schooners, river sloops, or half-hull wall models.
Early Aviation: A c.1908 bi-wing airplane model (illustrating Glenn Curtiss’s historic Hudson River flight).
River Wildlife: A mounted Hudson River fish (such as a sturgeon or striped bass).
If you have items or family artifacts you would be willing to lend or donate, please contact Exhibits Chair Susan Leath at 518-209-5855 or SusanLeath2011@gmail.com
Now Live!
The Bethlehem Oral History Project website is online
A great opportunity to explore our town’s rich history and learn more about the neighbors who helped shape Bethlehem. This project is a joint effort between the Historian’s office, the BHA and the Bethlehem Public Library.
Membership Renewal 2026-2027
Renew online with Zeffy!
Scan the QR Code below to renew online or Click Here:
Renew your 2026-27 membership today!
$20 Individual
$30 Family
Above and beyond donations always appreciated!
Please Note: When paying, Zeffy will suggest a Donation for their Services. You can click “other” and change this to $0 or any comfortable amount. We do encourage a donation to Zeffy since Zeffy does not charge us fees and we pay NO costs for their service.
Offering Artifacts & Items to the Museum Collection
Do you have local historical objects, family heirlooms, vintage photographs, or documents related to Bethlehem’s past that you would like to offer to the museum? We have created a dedicated email address specifically to handle inquiries and intake for physical donations to our collection.
If you have items you would like to offer or discuss with our Museum Collections team, please reach out directly to donations@bethlehemhistorical.org.
(Note: For financial contributions, sponsorships, or membership renewals, please continue using our online Zeffy portal or mailing a check).