A Hyperlocal Holiday Gift Guide
We had so much fun putting our holiday gift guide together last year, we decided to do it again! For anyone who plans on doing any holiday gift-giving this year, consider this list a handy guide for hyperlocal suggestions. We’ll be focusing on small shops, New York-based artists, nonprofits, museums, and other producers of cool stuff from around the state. Shop small, shop local, and shop early! Like last year, there is bound to be backlog due to supply chain issues and overloaded delivery services (related: did you know the USPS has a pretty good gift shop??). Be kind to yourself and the small businesses who are doing their best.
In addition to all the physical gifts you may be inclined to give, memberships also make great gifts any time of year! Supporting the nonprofits whose work you value most is so important, especially right now. Become a League VIP if you aren’t already, make a gift on someone else’s behalf, and check out our Preservation Colleagues to see who is supporting preservation in your area.
And a note: Nothing here is sponsored, just a good old-fashioned gift guide because who doesn’t love a gift guide? Enjoy!
For the Preservationist Who is Also Really Into Art
Custom House Portrait by Cara Hanley
Reach out about commissions
For anyone who is obsessed with their old house, a custom house portrait will be a guaranteed hit. Albany-based artist Cara Hanley takes commissions, so reach out directly to ask about getting a special someone’s house immortalized in watercolor.
The Met x Harlem Candle Co. Seneca Candle
Buy via The Met Store
The description provided by The Met really says it all, “In celebration of The Met's exhibition, Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room, we welcome you to transcend time and step into Seneca Village. The historic settlement of free, Black tenants flourished just a few hundred yards from the Museum's current site before it was destroyed by the City of New York in 1857 to make space for Central Park. Our SENECA candle evokes an alternate reality in which this vibrant community continues to thrive.”
Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman by Jeffreen M. Hayes
Buy it via Bookshop
Get to know one of the most influential artists of the Harlem Renaissance who you might not have heard of. Augusta Savage was a sculptor working in Harlem who taught a generation of artists through her Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts. This illustrated book by Jeffreen M. Hayes shines a light on a woman who has been overlooked for too long.
On This Site Fine Art Photograph by Jeremy Dennis
Buy it via jeremynative.com
Jeremy Dennis is an artist and a tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton, NY. His project On This Site uses photography and an interactive online map to showcase culturally significant Native American sites on Long Island. One of his prints from this series would be an excellent gift.
Martin House Casement Window Throw
Buy it via The Martin House Museum Store
The beautiful stained glass casement windows of Buffalo’s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Martin House can now keep you cozy thanks to this 100% cotton throw blanket. The nonprofit Martin House Museum has been stewarding this National Historic Landmark, making sure it is preserved and accessible to visitors.
Kodak Tower Print
Buy it via George Eastman Museum
For the photography enthusiasts, this 11x14in. print of the Kodak Tower is sure to please. An icon of the Rochester skyline, the Kodak Tower remains part of the Eastman Kodak Headquarters complex.
For the Preservationist Homebody
Blue & White Teaset
Buy it via Wing on Wo & Co.
Wing on Wo & Co. is the oldest continuously operating store in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The shop “works to breathe new life into cultural craft by reinterpreting tradition through an Asian American lens.” Here you will find an incredible selection of porcelain products. Browse to see all their great offerings, but you really can’t go wrong with a classic tea set.
Dummy Light Enamel Mug
Buy it via Last Outpost
The Last Outpost has immortalized Beacon’s iconic dummy light (IYKYK) with this very cute enamel mug. Now you can celebrate this whimsical bit of Beacon history with every cup of coffee.
Frank Lloyd Wright Guggenheim 2-Sided 500 Piece Puzzle
Buy it via Guggenheim Store
We are of the opinion that jigsaw puzzles are always a safe gift. Even better when they are double-sided and feature one of the most iconic buildings in New York City (one side features an exterior photo and the other features an aerial blueprint).
The Window Sash Bible: a A Guide to Maintaining and Restoring Old Wood Windows by Steve Jordan
Buy it via Bookshop
Empower your homebody friends to DIY their window upkeep. Anyone who lives in an old home is sure to appreciate this book. Wood windows add charm and character to a house, but they do need maintenance to function properly and maintain their inherent sustainability!
MoMA NYC Skyline 2.0 Metal Bookmark
Buy it via MoMA Design Store
This colorful metal bookmark features several iconic NYC buildings, including the Museum of Modern Art — a perfect accessory for the art enthusiast who is also a bookworm.
Harney & Sons Olana Black Currant Tea
Buy it via Olana Museum Store
Harney & Sons is a purveyor of fine teas based in Millerton, NY, who created this special blend just for Olana. This National Historic Landmark in Hudson is one of the most important historic artist homes and studios in the country.
A Gift Certificate to a Local Architectural Salvage Store
Historic Albany Foundation Architectural Parts Warehouse | Significant Elements (Ithaca) | Hudson Valley House Parts (Newburgh) | ReHouse Architectural Salvage and Historic House Parts (Rochester) | Preservation Association of the Southern Tier Salvage Showroom (Binghamton) | Or find one near you!
For anyone fixing up an old house, architectural salvage shops can be a true lifeline to period-appropriate housewares. While we advocate for saving as many buildings as possible, it is inevitable that some will come down — and architectural salvage makes sure historic materials are saved and repurposed, diverting literal tons away from landfills.
For the Preservationist Who Would Rather Be Outside
Cycling the Erie Canal Guidebook
Buy it via Parks & Trails New York
Parks & Trails is a nonprofit that advocates for parks and trails throughout New York State. New and revised this year, this is “a guide to 360 miles of adventure and history along the Erie Canalway Trail.” Consider it indispensable for anyone who has been thinking about doing the Canalway Challenge.
NY State Parks Hoodie
Buy it via NY State Parks
Let your gift recipient rep their favorite NYS park with a cozy hoodie perfect for their outdoor excursions. This hoodie comes in 3 colors with the option of 40 different park names to print on the sleeve. With so many beautiful and historic landscapes to choose from, you really can’t go wrong.
Adirondack Mountain Club Nalgene Bottle
Buy it via Adirondack Mountain Club
For the friend who prefers exploring the Adirondacks, how about pairing a gift membership to ADK along with a water bottle to keep them hydrated on all their hikes?
Yasgur’s Farm Beanie
Buy it via Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Perfect for the outdoor enthusiast who also loves music history. Yasgur’s Farm was the site of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival — the nonprofit Bethel Woods Center for the Arts keeps that history alive.
New York State Canalway Water Trail Waterproof Dry Bag
Buy it via New York State Canal Store
For all the paddlers out there, a drybag is essential. This one supports the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, the nonprofit partner of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. The League’s love of New York’s canals runs deep, so we love a gift that gives back to support this NYS jewel!
Hudson River Maritime Museum Cap
Buy it via Hudson River Maritime Museum (HRMM)
Featuring an embroidered image of Solaris, the Museum's 100% solar-powered tour boat and floating classroom, this cap is a great accessory for all outdoor activities. For a budding boat enthusiast, you can also book tours and take boat building classes with HRMM!
A Guide to Architecture in the Adirondacks by Richard Longstreth
Buy it via Adirondack Architectural Heritage
A comprehensive and easy-to-use guide to the built environment of the Adirondack region. Drawn from years of extensive fieldwork, this book has 450 entries from nearly every Adirondack community.
For the Preservationist Who is in Multiple Book Clubs
A Booklover's Guide to New York by Cleo Le-Tan, illustrated by Pierre Le-Tan
Buy it via Bookshop
When we talk about supporting the small shops that make up so many of our historic downtowns, independent booksellers are a prime example. Shop at your local bookstore when you can, and when you can’t, Bookshop.org is the next best thing. A portion of their sales go to supporting local, independent bookstores — and you can select which one. We think this illustrated guide to NYC's best bookshops, libraries, homes and haunts of world-famous writers, and scenes from literary classics will delight any bookworm. The charming drawings by the famed New Yorker cover artist Pierre Le-Tan makes it especially giftable.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Buy it via Bookshop
In honor of their 40th anniversary, Milkweed Editions reissued Braiding Sweetgrass with a new introduction by the author. The special edition hardcover features an engraving by Tony Drehfal, a bookmark ribbon, and five colored illustrations by artist Nate Christopherson. (This one was a hit in our Preservation Book Club!)
The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt
Buy it via Bookshop
This book is sure to please anyone who is interested in architecture, design, or urban planning. An offshoot of the popular podcast, the 99% Invisible Field Guide is an essential resource for anyone curious about all the things, big and small, that make our cities work.
A Wild Idea: How the Environmental Movement Tamed the Adirondacks by Brad Edmondson
Buy it via Bookshop
Another pick from our Preservation Book Club, A Wild Idea explores the tumultuous origins of the Adirondack Park Agency — and how the creation of a land use agency in the 1970s is still having ramifications today. It’s a great story, and if you need some convincing, we’ll let Brad make the case.
The Collected Works of Jupiter Hammon by Cedrick May (editor)
Buy it via Preservation Long Island
This book offers a complete look at the literary achievements of Jupiter Hammon, one of the founders of African American literature, who became the first African American writer to be published in the present-day United States. Our colleagues at Preservation Long Island have been deeply involved in shining a light on the importance of Jupiter Hammon, who was born into slavery on the Joseph Lloyd Manor, one of PLI’s historic houses.
Wayward by Dana Spiotta
Buy it via Bookshop
A story set in Syracuse about a woman working through a mid-life crisis by rehabbing a historic house. We’ve all been there, right?
For the Preservationist Who Loves a New T-Shirt
Long Sleeve Mill T-Shirt
Buy via Wassaic Project
A 100% cotton unisex tee from our friends at the Wassaic Project in Dutchess County. The shirt features an outline drawing of Maxon Mills, the historic 7-story former granary turned art space. Wassaic Project received a NYSCA-funded PNY grant in 2021 to complete a Building Condition Report for Maxon Mills.
Park Ave. is Porches Baseball Tee
Buy it via Landmark Society of Western New York
Featuring a design by local artist Virginia McDonald, this 3/4 sleeve tee celebrates a defining characteristic of a historic Rochester neighborhood.
Inwood T-Shirt
Buy it via Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
Support the important work being done by the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum and rep NYC's Inwood neighborhood at the same time! This t-shirt features an 1864 map of this beloved piece of Upper Manhattan.
Bridge Logo Crewneck Sweatshirt
Buy it via Walkway Over the Hudson
Originally opened in 1889 as the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge, the reopening of what is now known as the Walkway Over the Hudson was a major preservation victory back in 2009. The walkway welcomes more than 600,000 visitors annually — and provides unbeatable Hudson River views. Rep your Hudson Valley pride with their super-soft pullover, sure to keep you cozy for your next walk across the Walkway.
Erie Canal Museum T-Shirt
Buy it via Erie Canal Museum
The Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse is a great place to learn about Canal history. Opened in 1962, the Museum celebrates and preserves the life of the last remaining weighlock building in America. “This Greek revival building stands as a monument to the Erie Canal’s transformative role in the history of the United States.”
“The Peeling Wallpaper Preservation League” Unisex Ringer Tee
Buy it via Cheap Old Houses
In addition to running one of our favorite Instagram accounts, Cheap Old Houses also makes some of our favorite old house merch. This particular t-shirt speaks to us for obvious reasons.
For the Future Preservationist
A is for Architrave, B is for Balustrade by Cara Macri
Buy it via Bookshop
From Historic Albany Foundation’s Director of Preservation Services Cara Macri, “Find out what escutcheons, jambless fireplaces, and oriel windows are with this clever alphabet book of architectural elements, brightly illustrated for children and parents of all ages to enjoy. Before you know it, you will be looking for fanlights, balusters, and quoins hiding in your neighborhood. All illustrations are details from real buildings in Albany, New York. No building appears twice!”
Upstate Arch Onesie
Buy it via Hamilton & Adams
Instill pride of place from an early age with a classic Upstate onesie. The Kingston-based Hamilton & Adams has all the Upstate merch you might want.
Baby Gift Set-NYC ABCs Baby Book, Metrocard and Taxi Baby Rattles
Buy it via Estella
This locally owned NYC shop specializes in handmade and organic baby toys and clothes. Encourage an appreciation for New York City early on with this gift bundle perfect for anyone with a new baby.
Blockitecture® New York City Collection
Buy it via Areaware
Brooklyn-based Areaware works with independent designers to create objects that are functional and fun. This NYC building block set would be great for kids, or any design lover who is young at heart.
The Great New York Subway Map
Buy it via MoMA Design Store
This illustrated book “introduces young readers to the idea of graphic design as a way to solve problems, such as creating a map that can be understood by New Yorkers and out-of-towners alike.”
Woodstock Kids Tie Dye Tee Shirt
Buy it via Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
You can’t go wrong with tie dye for kids, and this t-shirt with the classic Woodstock Bird on Guitar logo is a fun one.
Shirley Chisholm is a Verb by Veronica Chambers (Author) and Rachelle Baker (Illustrator)
Buy it via Bookshop
Shirley Chisholm is an important figure in New York and American history. The longtime Brooklyn Congresswoman was the first Black woman in Congress. She was also the the first woman and African American to seek the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.
20 Piece Wooden New York Subway Train Set
Buy it via New York Transit Museum Store
A great beginner train set that will be compatible with any other wooden sets. Enthusiasm for preservation and public transit usually go hand in hand, and kids really do love trains.