The Department of History operates under laws of both New York State and Dutchess County.  The Historian acts as a supervisor of all municipal historians in the County and holds meetings to coordinate the work of those historians.  He submits yearly reports to the State.  The Historian researches and writes about the County's history and represents Dutchess County at workshops, meetings, and presentations at the local, state, as well as national level.

The History Department works to help make Dutchess a true destination for both research and exploration of our history.  Its mission is to:

• Research, discover, and preserve the history of Dutchess County;
• Pass that knowledge on to the next generation;
• Preserve the artifacts of our history;
• Help cities, towns, and villages in Dutchess County to preserve their past;
• Help celebrate our wonderful past by planning events and celebrations for the future.