Events

Wilderstein Historic Site is once again emphasizing the “fun” in fundraiser with its annual benefit on Saturday, June 21 beginning at 5:00 PM.  This festive summer solstice party will feature cocktails and a silent auction at Wilderstein followed by dinners at private venues.
 
While at Wilderstein, guests will have the opportunity to mingle with friends on the site’s romantic pleasure grounds overlooking the Hudson River, see restoration work in process on the library ceiling in the Wilderstein mansion, and check out Wilderstein’s 2008 exhibition, “Art Of, For & By Women.”  Certain to be of great interest that evening, the unique exhibit allows visitors to experience over 200 years of artwork created of, for, and by Wilderstein women whose social, cultural, and economic contributions have had a huge impact on the history of the Hudson Valley.
 
The summer solstice has long been celebrated by many cultures and peoples.  Solstice comes from the Latin words sol meaning sun and sistere meaning to cause to stand still.  As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.   The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer.  Nature religions, both ancient and modern, hold it in great esteem.  In addition to celebrating life, renewal, and the activities that summer brings, the solstice is also believed to be a magical hour when heaven and Earth are wed.  What better place to be on this evening than in the beautiful surroundings of Wilderstein.
 
Chaired by artist Hunt Slonem, Wilderstein’s celebration of summer will be a most memorable evening for all who attend.  A generous Wilderstein supporter and friend, Hunt Slonem is a well-known painter whose work has been exhibited widely in prestigious galleries and museums internationally.  Event committee members hosting dinners include: J. Winthrop Aldrich & Tracie Rozhon, Steven Connell, Michael DeCola & Jamie Kibel, John Dobkin, Palma Driscoll, Charles Hewett & Charles Olbricht, Geoff Howell, Brian Lange & Matthew Carnicelli, Ramon Lascano, Chris Lipscomb & Monique Segarra, Laura Pensiero, Paul Washington & Stan Sagner, Duane & Linda Watson.
 
For 150 years, Wilderstein was the home of the Suckleys, one of the early settling families of the Hudson Valley.  In the early 1980s, the site was established as a not-for-profit educational institution by Margaret (Daisy) Suckley.  This 40-acre property features a Victorian Queen Anne mansion and carriage house designed by Arnout Cannon Jr., a romantic landscape and gate lodge designed by Calvert Vaux, plus several outbuildings including a potting shed and ice house.  Listed on the Register of Historic Places, Wilderstein is a major feature of the Hudson River Valley National Landmark District, the recently designated NYS Women’s Heritage Trail, and the Hudson River Greenway Trail System.
 
Tickets for this event are $150 per person and all proceeds will support preservation, conservation, and programming at the site.  Wilderstein is located at 330 Morton Road in Rhinebeck.  For more information and reservations, please call 845.876.4818 or visit www.wilderstein.org.