Gomez Foundation for Mill House

Gomez Mill House, continuously lived in for 285 years, is the oldest surviving Jewish homestead in North America. Inscribed in the National Register of Historic Places, the property consists of the six-room, two story House and several out buildings: the Mill, the Ice House, the Root Cellar and what is now called the Visitor's Center. Our mission is to preserve and maintain this historic landmark and to fulfill our New York State educational mandate to share this history with the public. In 1979, descendants of Luis Moses Gomez, a Spanish Jew, joined by descendants of other owners and friends, formed the Gomez Foundation for Mill House with the desire to increase the appreciation of all the families', occupations and histories the House has contained. All visitors view a 20 minute film about the history of the House and its owners. The Foundation also funds field trips by local Newburgh and surrounding Hudson Valley elementary students as part of the American History curriculum. We also present a wide variety of activities and special events in conjunction with our exhibition program. The acclaimed "Sundays at Mill House" lectures, film presentations, and craft workshops are designed to enhance the story of the contributions of the House's former occupants and the contexts in which they lived and worked. All of the museum's programs are geared towards the multicultural, multigenerational history of its owners. Every visitor leaves Gomez Mill House with an appreciation of American society as a social tapestry in which members of different religious, ethnic groups and classes have contributed to the development of America and the American Experience.