Our Story
Decades of dedication to conserving and protecting Cragsmoor's natural beauty — rooted in community and commitment to the land.
Who We Are
The Cragsmoor Land Trust was originally established as the Cragsmoor Conservancy, Inc., in partnership with the Cragsmoor Association — created as the legal entity capable of taking title to property and establishing conservation easements to protect undeveloped Cragsmoor property in perpetuity. We received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in March 2003.
Cragsmoor is the only residential community located directly on the Shawangunk Ridge — designated by NYS DEC as a Significant Biodiversity Area and by The Nature Conservancy as a priority landscape for conservation programs. Our hamlet of 433 residents sits at 1,864 feet elevation within the 3,620-acre Cragsmoor Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996.
Operating in Ulster County, we focus on forests and wildlife habitat. We adopted the 2017 Land Trust Standards and Practices and have been an Alliance member since 2006.
History & Heritage
The Conservancy sponsored archaeological investigations in Cragsmoor, including excavation of the Peter P. Brown House Site — the mid-19th century home of a settler who became a favorite subject of American genre painter Edward Lamson Henry.
Brown's farmhouse was subsequently occupied by members of the famed Cragsmoor Arts Colony, including one of its founders, Frederick Dellenbaugh. The Conservancy published a monograph titled "The Peter P. Brown House Site, Cragsmoor, New York — Historical and Archaeological Findings" containing newly discovered information on the history of Cragsmoor and its arts colony.
In Partnership With
Providing expertise, funding, and support that amplifies our ability to protect Cragsmoor's landscapes permanently.
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