Cold Spring

Cold Spring is a small historic village situated directly on the east bank of the Hudson, in the heart of the Hudson Highlands. Its center, dominated by Main Street, slopes down toward the river and retains an outstanding collection of buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The village was officially incorporated in 1846 and was designated a Historic District at the federal level in 1973.

The history of Cold Spring is closely tied to the West Point Foundry, established in 1818 and which became one of the United States’ major industrial sites in the 19th century. The foundry produced, among other things, the famous Parrott cannons and drew workers, businesses, and new construction around the village. Today, the remnants of this industry can be explored at the West Point Foundry Preserve.

For visitors arriving by water, the village has a small waterfront with Dockside Park and the Cold Spring Pier, at the end of West Street. The pier offers clear views of the Hudson and the surrounding mountains, while Main Street, just behind it, brings together shops, restaurants, cafés, and antique dealers.

Cold Spring is also a popular starting point for exploring the trails of the Hudson Highlands, notably around Bull Hill and the former facilities of the West Point Foundry. With its well-preserved architecture, direct river access, and surrounding mountains, the village has a particularly distinctive character among the small communities of the Hudson.