MISSION
Haverstraw Riverwide Arts uses art and culture to connect people, transform places, and celebrate the distinctive character of Haverstraw and the Hudson Valley.
For more than 12 years, we have brought artists, residents, visitors, businesses, and community partners together through public art, murals, music, festivals, food, performances, and creative experiences.
We believe that art belongs everywhere and is for everyone. By bringing meaningful arts experiences into public spaces and creating opportunities for people to participate, discover, and connect, we strive to make Haverstraw a more vibrant, inclusive, and culturally rich place to live, work, visit, and create.
VISION
We envision Haverstraw as a thriving cultural destination where art is woven into the everyday experience of the community.
A place where public spaces become canvases for creativity; where artists are valued and supported; where diverse cultures and histories are celebrated; where residents and visitors come together through shared experiences; and where art serves as a catalyst for community pride, economic vitality, and positive change.
We envision a growing network of murals, public art, cultural events, creative spaces, and partnerships that connects Haverstraw to the broader Hudson Valley and establishes the Village as a distinctive destination for arts, culture, and creativity.
OUR COMMITMENT
Haverstraw Riverwide Arts is committed to ensuring that creativity is a visible and vital part of community life.
We will continue to champion artists, create opportunities for participation, activate public spaces, celebrate Haverstraw's diverse cultural heritage, and develop ambitious projects that invite people to see their community—and its possibilities—in new ways.
Art can change how a place looks.
It can change how a place feels.
And it can change how people feel about their place.
The Village of Haverstraw is located at the widest point of the Hudson River 30 miles north of New York City in Rockland County. Here, fine architecture and a walkable street network positions the Village to stand apart from its suburban neighbors as an urban enclave on the Hudson River. This densely populated downtown boasts a rich history and offers a wide array of opportunities for your business to take advantage of an emerging, young and multi-ethnic demographic.
Haverstraw, NY is the last affordable Grand Central-connected, walkable, historic downtown in the region.
A TASTE OF OUR HISTORY
The Town of Haverstraw was founded by Dutch settlers in 1666. The name is derived from the Dutch “haverstroo,” meaning “oat straw,” for sea oats, or marsh reeds that once grew in the area.
Haverstraw Bay is the widest point on the Hudson River, running 3 miles across and 6 miles lengthwise from Croton Point to Stony Point.
An important Revolutionary War beacon was located on High Tor Mountain, signaling the advancement of British ships up the Hudson River.
Benedict Arnold met with British Major John Andre in 1780 on the shores of Haverstraw to plan the capture of West Point.
Haverstraw was once the brick making capital of the world. Most late 19th-early 20th century buildings in New York City were built with Haverstraw brick, including the American Tract Society Building at 150 Nassau Street, completed in 1895 and designated a landmark in 1999.
Babe Ruth played baseball in Haverstraw on Sunday, August 22, 1920, during the filming of the movie Heading Home.
