Artists, captains of industry, showmen — all were among the men and women who, from the time of the Civil War through the Great Depression, had unique and often lavish homes built upon the precipices of the New Jersey Palisades.

Through images and narrative presented via Zoom, historical interpreter Eric Nelsen brings the story of the grand estates — and the families and servants who lived at them — to vibrant life.

The Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey is about twelve miles long and half a mile wide, containing 2,500 acres of wild Hudson River shorefront, uplands, and cliffs. It is part of more than 100,000 acres of parks and historic sites that the Palisades Interstate Park Commission manages for New York and New Jersey. 

Eric Nelsen  is a full-time historical interpreter at the Park. He oversees the park’s historic Kearney House, where he’s helped to develop a unique “living history” program based on the house’s role as a nineteenth century Hudson River tavern and homestead. 

Registration is required and registrants will be emailed the link to join the Zoom chat room the day before the event.

This program is made possible by the Friends of the Livingston Public Library.