The Board of Trustees is eyeing critical upgrades to the Cambridge Historical Society and Museum’s much-loved and even more well-worn, time-and-weather-battered facilities, in time for the August 2029 Centennial Celebration

As the year progresses, stay tuned for announcements, fun community events, gatherings, and opportunities to participate and help with the Historical Society and Museum’s highly-anticipated ambitious 2026-2029 Capital Fundraising and Museum Operations Campaign. All funds raised will be dedicated to making much-needed repairs and significant physical, equipment, and facilities improvements and modernization to the home and grounds of Cambridge’s only historic museum.

As everyone local knows, the ‘25-’26 Winter in Cambridge was particularly frigid and seemingly relentless. Board Trustees discovered early in the new year that Old Man Winter had played havoc on the museum’s aged pipes and heating system. We were most fortunate to realize that the museum’s fabulous collection of historical artifacts was unharmed. Nonetheless, the knocked-out heating system proved to be only the latest in a series of assaults to an exceptional building and grounds that have endured the ravages of time and use for over a hundred and fifty years.

Assessing the immediate winter damage brought into clear focus fundamental needs that must be addressed to secure the future of the building and the continued operation and enjoyment of the museum and historical society by the local community and visitors who travel here specifically to learn about and experience the history that happened—and continues to happen—in Cambridge and Southern Washington County. In the months to come, the Board will be announcing specific improvement needs and goals and funding targets that the Board has worked with experts in their fields to identify as critical for the preservation, continued enjoyment, and safe use of the museum, for the protection and preservation of our incredible local collection, and for the ability of our all-volunteer crew to continue to bring history to life in our historically-rich and relevant area in eastern New York.

We will share more details and opportunities for community involvement in repairing and modernizing our 19th Century facilities and for celebrating the priceless community legacy that created the Cambridge Historical Society and Museum and which it continues to embody today.