An Antiques-Filled Weekend in Saugerties

A quick, last-minute trip to the Hudson Valley over the Memorial Day weekend unexpectedly turned into a bit of an antiques fest. First we hiked the quick, 20-minute trail out to the Saugerties Lighthouse through wetlands at low tide, where wild yellow irises and honeysuckle were in bloom.

The 1869 landmark sits on its own little island in the middle of the Hudson. Originally lit by oil, it was restored in the 1990s and, now lit by electricity, is still functioning. The house, which is used as a bed and breakfast, is open for tours from noon to 3. We were too early to see inside, but we walked around to the back, where there is a deck over the water for picnics.

We spent the afternoon checking out downtown Saugerties, which was designated a National Historic Business District in 1982. Worth a special trip if you need early 20th century lighting or bathroom fixtures is the unusually well organized Fed-On Lights. We were pretty excited to score a medicine cabinet for $145. It’s exactly the size we need and hangs outside the wall.

We also caught the tail end of the Rhinebeck Antiques Fair. If you are looking for old paintings, country furniture and American textiles such as quilts and hand woven coverlets, this is the place to go. The several hundred dealers also showcased antique Victorian jewelry, books, pottery and glass, and lots of other things. There were a wide range of prices, and we came home with a matted 1894 print of three birds’ eggs for $38.

Click through to the jump for more photos of downtown Saugerties. Anyone else have a favorite historic site or antique resource in the area?