A handful of fascinating creatures once inhabited the Catskill Mountain Region, but have disappeared over the last three centuries. Learn about these animals, their impact on local ecosystems, and their role in indigenous folklore and land use,

Presented by Wild Hudson Valley in collaboration the with Mountain Top Library. This program is part of a full day of events designed for the Mountain Top Day Camp.  ALL are welcome to attend.

Join the Mountain Top Historical Society and the Catskill Mountain Foundation for a special screening of Deep Water: Building the Catskill Water System as part of the Lexington Film Festival! The screening will take place at the historic 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station, 5132 Route 23A, Haines Falls, NY 12436.

This fascinating 45-minute documentary, co-directed by Tobe Carey, chronicles the monumental early 20th-century construction of New York City’s Catskill Water System. Discover the incredible engineering feats, the human stories, and the lasting legacy of this vital infrastructure project that continues to supply water to millions today.

To reserve your tickets please CLICK HERE to bring you to the Catskill Mountain Foundation page.

Get ready to awaken your inner thespian and witness a beloved tale come to life! Join us for the 6th Annual Community Reading of Washington Irving’s timeless classic, Rip Van Winkle, at the historic 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station on the MTHS campus.

Calling all storytellers! Here’s your chance to step into the shoes (or perhaps the slumbering boots) of iconic characters. This is a fantastic opportunity to flex your theatrical muscles in a fun, low-pressure environment. Embrace the colorful language and dramatic moments of Irving’s masterpiece – no memorization required!

Spectators, prepare to be enchanted! Immerse yourselves in the charm and humor of Rip Van Winkle as it unfolds in the unique ambiance of the beautifully preserved train station. It’s a fan-favorite tradition for a reason – a delightful afternoon of community, literature, and a touch of old-world magic.

Mark your calendars and join us for this cherished annual event!

We will start at the Winter Clove Inn in Round Top, NY.  This hike will take us to Rip’s Rock, a stunning lookout of the Hudson Valley and the site where legendary Rip Van Winkle slept for 20 years. Along the way we will pass the Bareback Brook, Daisy Field, pristine forest and Indian Lookout which offers another great view.  After the hike, for those interested, we will stop at Old Factory Brewing Company in Cairo to quench our thirst.

Registration is required. For more information or to register, please email mthsdirector@mths.org or call 518-589-6657.

• Hike Leader: George Hewitt
• Difficulty: moderately challenging (5.1 miles RT with a 1,017’ elevation gain and rocky trails)

Hike along the old, mostly level railroad bed, about 4 miles long, exploring the area around Kaaterskill Junction on State Route 214.  You will be stepping back in time to the days when the Kaaterskill and Stony Clove Railroad came up to the Junction from Phoenicia and then split to the west on the Hunter Branch and headed east on the Tannersville Branch toward the Hotel Kaaterskill. A track plan of the junction and photographs showing the several sidings that served the sorting of freight and passenger cars to the two branches will be provided, supported by rail ties that still remain 84 years after the abandonment of the line in 1940. To the east the hike will visit the remains of the Light Dam Bridge over the Schoharie Creek. A side excursion to the new Hunter Branch Rail Trail pedestrian bridge over a tributary of the Schoharie Creek will be added after returning to our start at the Junction site.

Registration is required. For more information or to register, please email mthsdirector@mths.org or call 518-589-6657.

• Hike Leader:  Paul LaPierre
• Difficulty:  Moderate

The Mountain Top Historical Society of Greene County presents the 13th Annual Postcard Show with John Duda, Saturday, September 20, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at the MTHS’s Ulster & Delaware Train Station, 5132 Route 23A, Haines Falls, NY. 

The MTHS will also be selling ephemera from its attic in a special sale. Vendors contact John Duda at johnalmathduda@gmail.com.

A quick intro to the science of geology and then as we wander round the MTHS campus, Robert Titus will describe how the glaciers rose out of Kaaterskill Clove and overran the site. “We would imagine the ice rising out of the clove and then look at the kame and kettle moraine at the Haines family cemetery. We would also look at the standing stones that litter the vicinity.”  Meet on the MTHS Visitor’s Center porch at 10 AM.  This event will last about 2 hours.  Rain date Saturday, September 13^th.

• Hike Leader: Robert Titus
• Difficulty: Easy (good for families with kids)

Registration is required. For more information or to register, please email mthsdirector@mths.org or call 518-589-6657

Book selection: The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic

“A stirring tale of survival, thanks to man’s best friend.” Honor the 100th anniversary of the epic 1925 Serum Run by which Alaskan sled dogs and their drivers brought diphtheria antitoxin serum to Nome, AK, to suppress a raging epidemic. The heroic 647-mile dash of dog teams across the Alaskan wilderness inspired the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Hike to the Coliseum at Elka Park while discussing the book with author Laney Salisbury of Woodstock. Hikers are encouraged to read the book. Copies can be obtained through local libraries and local book stores. Meet at the MTHS parking lot for carpooling and directions. Bring lunch, snacks, and water. Return at approximately 2:30 P.M.

• Hike Leader:  Adrienne Larys, co-lead by Nancy Allen
• Difficulty:  Moderate

Registration is required. Limited to 12 hikers. For more information or to register, please email mthsdirector@mths.org or call 518-589-6657.

Join us at the MTHS barn (5132 Route 23A, Haines Falls, NY) to celebrate the history of the mountaintop and its legacy of hospitality and community. This is a ticketed event. More details coming soon!