About the Quitman House

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In 1798, the Palatine congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Peter the Apostle in Rhinebeck, NY, constructed the Quitman House building to serve as a parsonage for Reverend Frederick H. Quitman. This residence complemented the 'Stone Church', which had been built in 1786 on land acquired from Gilbert Livingston. Both structures were positioned at the crest of a hill on the west side of the 'King's Highway' (Rte 9), surrounded by the congregation's 18th-century farms. Frederick Quitman, originally from Germany, served the Rhinebeck pastorate from February 1798 until declining health led to his retirement in 1828. The Quitman House housed St. Peter's pastors until 1929, when it transitioned to a rental property due to a decrease in church membership. This continued until 1974, when six concerned members of the Rhinebeck Historical Society intervened to save the building from demolition. In 1975, the historical significance of the 'Stone Church' complex, including the Quitman House, was recognized when it was listed on the NY State and National Registers of Historic Places as part of the ongoing Rhinebeck Preservation efforts.

The restoration of the Quitman House building is a 30-year tale of dedication and hard work by committed volunteers and the support of the community. This effort has culminated in the creation of an active Rhinebeck Preservation initiative, providing a home for the Museum of Rhinebeck History within the Quitman House, while also overseeing the restoration and preservation of the nearby German Palatine Farmstead.

We are extremely honored to house the Museum of Rhinebeck History within the Quitman House building, located at 7015 Rte 9, Rhinebeck, NY. Please visit their website to view their hours of operation and find more information: www.rhinebeckmuseum.com. Additionally, our space accommodates the Hudson River Heritage organization (www.hudsonriverheritage.org) and the not-for-profit business, Joy of Learning Collaborative (www.joyoflearningcollaborative.org), along with a site property manager dedicated to Rhinebeck Preservation.