Peekskill Museum Herrick House

The Herrick House has been Peekskill’s historical museum for local artifacts since 1946. This Queen Anne style Victorian house of 1877 was designed by noted architect William Rutherford Mead, friend and former classmate of the resident, Dwight Herrick. Mead went on to form the prestigious American architectural firm McKim, Mead and White. The interior has two staircases, and each room has a uniquely designed fireplace. An authentic Revolutionary War cannon is mounted on the front lawn. An inscription on its base describes the attack of September 21, 1780, on the British ship “Vulture” that involved the Benedict Arnold treachery and John Jacob Peterson, a soldier of African descent. The museum is staffed by dedicated local guides.