Child looking at map - history scavenger hunts

On foot · County in New York

History Scavenger Hunts in Orange County, NY

Turn nearby markers into a hunt: find the sign, answer one question from its story, and collect the stop before moving on to the next.

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Photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Orange County is one of 62 counties in New York. The roadside signs most drivers never slow down for are the cheapest day out in the country, and each one has a longer story behind it than the plaque has room for.

Boy standing while reading map - history scavenger hunts — Photo: JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Two girls look through binoculars on a tripod - history scavenger hunts — Photo: Anna Khromova on Unsplash

A young boy holding a piece of paper with a picture on it - history scavenger hunts — Photo: Gabriel Dalton on Unsplash

On the record near Orange County, NY

The 12 nearest

553 listed historic sites on the record within 30 miles of Orange County, NY. 132 listed sites carry Orange County as their county.

Bull Stone House1.3 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Campbell Hall · listed 1974National Register of Historic Places
Blooming Grove Church2.7 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Blooming Grove · listed 1996National Register of Historic Places
Moffat Library3.9 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Washingtonville · listed 1994National Register of Historic Places
Hawkins, Jacob & Caroline, House4.0 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Campbell Hall · listed 2019National Register of Historic Places
1841 Goshen Courthouse4.3 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Goshen · listed 1975National Register of Historic Places
US Post Office--Goshen4.5 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Goshen · listed 1989National Register of Historic Places
Olivet Chapel4.6 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Goshen · listed 2010National Register of Historic Places
Wisner, George T., House4.8 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Goshen · listed 2005National Register of Historic Places
Everett--Bradner House4.8 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Goshen · listed 2004National Register of Historic Places
First Presbyterian Church of Chester4.8 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Chester · listed 1998National Register of Historic Places
Yelverton Inn and Store4.9 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Chester · listed 1980National Register of Historic Places
Blake, John, House5.3 miles from the center of Orange County · Building · Maybrook · listed 1984National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Orange County, NY. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

Scavenger Hunts in Orange County, step by step

1
Set the area and the list of markers to find
2
Split into teams or go solo, with the map open
3
Find each marker and answer one question from its story
4
Photograph the marker to prove the find
5
Count the badges and pick a harder hunt for next time

What people in Orange County, NY ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Orange County, NY?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

How close does a site have to be to show up here?

The list is sorted by straight-line distance from the center of Orange County, NY and covers sites out to about sixty miles. Most people find several within a short drive, and in older towns a few within walking distance.

Can I visit the sites that are private homes?

You can see them from the street, which is how most listed houses are meant to be enjoyed. Please do not walk onto the property or knock unless the site is open to visitors.

How a visit works in Orange County

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Orange County, NY the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.
Step 2
Read the story
The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.
Step 3
Get there under your own power
Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Orange County, NY are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.
Step 4
Collect it and come back
Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.