New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site preserves the Continental Army’s final winter encampment, in New Windsor, New York. You can walk the historic grounds, see reconstructed and preserved structures, and learn about the people who lived there during the Revolutionary War.
- Location: 374 Temple Hill Road (Route 300), New Windsor, NY 12553; the site shares its location with the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
- Grounds: Open year-round from dawn to dusk.
- Exhibits: Visitor-center exhibits are open year-round Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, 1–5 p.m.
- Living history: Costumed demonstrations run seasonally from mid-April through October 31.
Why the Cantonment Was Established
The Continental Army moved to New Windsor in October 1782 to establish winter quarters. By late December, soldiers had built nearly 600 log huts, and about 7,500 soldiers and 500 women and children were encamped there.
The Cantonment was also the setting for a consequential moment in the war’s final chapter. On April 19, 1783, Washington issued cease-fire orders at the site, ending the eight-year War of Independence. Those events give the grounds a clear historical arc: an encampment built for winter, followed by orders marking the end of the fighting.
General Henry Knox’s New Windsor Artillery Park stood nearby in 1780–81. The visitor-center exhibits cover both the people at the Cantonment and the artillery park, helping connect the site’s military history with the lives of those who stayed there.
What to See at the Historic Site
The historic grounds include a reconstructed Temple of Virtue and the Mountainville Hut, an example of original 18th-century American timber construction.
The Temple of Virtue served as both a chapel and an office. The Mountainville Hut offers a different view of the structures associated with the encampment. Together, they give you a way to consider the practical and communal sides of life at the Cantonment, alongside the stories presented in the visitor-center exhibits.
Seasonal costumed living-history demonstrations add activities such as musket drills, blacksmithing and military medicine. The site also offers tours, re-enactments, costumed interpreters and a picnic area. Demonstration schedules vary during the season, with additional demonstrations in July and August.
Planning Your Visit
The Cantonment is at 374 Temple Hill Road (Route 300), about three miles south of the intersection of I-87 and I-84. The site is about 4.3 miles from The Crossroads Hotel - Newburgh.
The grounds are open year-round from dawn to dusk. Access is through the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor’s main entrance. From mid-April through October 31, living-history demonstrations are scheduled.
Opening hours
- Wednesday to Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM
- Sunday: 1 PM–5 PM
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
The Palisades Parks Conservancy describes general admission as free. School and group tours cost $5.00 per person; call ahead for details and to schedule. The phone number is (845) 562-7141. The site is closed on holidays except Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. Hours and programs can change, so check the official site before you go.
Other Nearby Revolutionary War History
You can place both sites within the wider local context using a practical guide to Newburgh and New Windsor.
Knox’s Headquarters State Historic Site is a nearby historic property, and the Cantonment’s annual living-history programs are held in cooperation with it. The headquarters offers a point of comparison with the encampment and its artillery history.
For another Revolutionary War site in the area, Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh connects the region’s history to Washington’s time in Newburgh.
FAQs
Where is New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site?
It is at 374 Temple Hill Road (Route 300), New Windsor, NY 12553, and shares its location with the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
What is the Temple of Virtue?
It is a reconstruction of a building that served as a chapel and office at the Cantonment.
Are living-history demonstrations held at the site?
Yes. Seasonal demonstrations include musket drills, blacksmithing and military medicine, with additional demonstrations in July and August.
Is admission free?
General admission is free. School and group tours cost $5.00 per person.