Programs

  • Bannerman Island Education Programs

    The Organization?s ongoing education programs include the following projects: free slide shows with lectures, distribution of literature on Bannerman history, publication of a newsletter, maintenance of a website, a Facebook page, an Instagram page, and newspaper and radio interviews. A Visitor Center/Gallery in Beacon, NY features the work of the Hudson River Valley painters and photographers. Educational material is distributed for free and is also available for sale. Historical artifacts are also on view. Volunteers maintain and make improvements to the gardens on the island, as well as to the trails. Local businesses and the public provide materials for the gardens. Volunteers also assist with the kayak tours and fundraising events. A paid employee provides security and trail maintenance on the island during the May to October period. An annual fundraising event on the island is a gourmet dinner with donated services from the Chef?s Consortium. Theatrical performances and classic movies are also offered occasionally. With permission from NYSOPRHP, the Organization facilitates guided tours on the island for the public. The ?onisland? guided tours are 2 ? hours with a history lecture and question and answer sessions. Once a month, selfguided tours include live performances by local musicians. In 2024 the historical structure ?Stop Rest Bench? was completely restored with approval from State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and dedicated in Memoriam to the Trust?s great friend Eleanor Owen Seeland who lived on the island as a child. A new window was installed at the entrance to the Bannerman Residence in honor of Roberta Atkins Reed and Marguerite Atkins Cassell. A new 30? by 30? outdoor classroom deck was completed along with stair repairs and a new concrete section to the North Trail that included railings. A new 40? x 10? floating dock for the island was installed for the Estuary Steward to land on Bannerman Island. This work was performed with 2024 funding of $107,000 from the Parks and Trails New York (https://ptny.org). The BCT provided a 10% match. 2024 marked the 30 Year Anniversary of the incorporation of the Bannerman's Castle Trust. The Trust celebrated this milestone with the renovation of its Beacon, NY Main Street Gallery, highlighting the history of Bannerman Island, and the Bannerman Castle Trust alongside contemporary and historical artworks. Of note is Frank Bannerman VI's 501 Broadway desk which was gifted to the Trust by the Bannerman-Betts-Colby family, and was fully restored by the Trust in 2024. The desk is currently on display with other Bannerman artifacts in the Bannerman Island Gallery through the end of 2025. The Gallery is located at 150 Main Street, Beacon, NY. In 2024 the Organization continued its popular Bannerman Island Tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May - October 31. BCT presented 2 fundraising dinners, The Titanic Dinner on May 25 and the Chef's Farm to Table Dinner on September 7. Theatrical performances include the musical Always?Patsy Cline, Driving Miss Daisy and Dracula. There were 6 Third Sunday Music Concerts and 9 movies throughout the season.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
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    $666.1K