Located in the 329-year-old village of New Paltz (founded in 1677 by French Huguenots), the contemporary buildings of the landscaped campus are a fitting contrast to the historic structures of the community and the farmlands and vineyards beyond. Nestled between the historic Hudson River to the east and the majestic Shawangunk Mountains to the west, New Paltz provides some of the most breathtakingly beautiful countryside on the east coast. The community is surrounded by the fertile farmlands of the Wallkill River Valley and hill upon hill of apple orchards and vineyards, making the region one of the prime apple-growing and winemaking areas in New York State.
New Paltz is an aesthetic blend of commerce and natural beauty and is great for hiking and biking or just strolling along its many quiet tree-lined streets. Restaurants, retail shops, and professional offices intermingle with historic stone houses built in the 17th and 18th centuries.
New Paltz is most famous for Huguenot Street, the oldest street in America, where visitors are welcome to tour the original stone houses, gaining a glimpse of 17th-century colonial life.
The local terrain -- from underground caverns to mountain peaks -- is perfect for on-site study in geology. New York City, an educational gold mine, is less than a two-hour drive, and benefits business, political science, communication, international relations, and fine and performing arts students with voluminous offerings: the UN, network studies, national publications, Wall Street, Broadway, museums and galleries, -- to scratch only the surface.
Regional beauty is but one reason to consider attending New Paltz. The region itself abounds in educational experiences. History students, for example, would be hard-pressed to find a more suitable location for exploring America's past. The nation's oldest street with its original houses is just blocks from campus and ancient Native American artifacts abound. Former US presidents' homes, as well as Kingston's historic Rondout district, become natural labs for history and anthropology students. Political science majors are just a short drive away from the state capital and internships in state government. An abundance of health care agencies offer beneficial observation experience to students with ambitions for medical or allied health careers.
