Kent Historic Sites & Landmarks

Chuang Yen Monastery
Route 301
Kent, NY 10512
845.225.1819
The Chuang Yen Monastery is one of the Country's newest wonders. It is the largest Buddhist monastery in the eastern United States. It houses the Woo-Ju Library, the only library in the US specializing in the Buddhist religion.

Chuang Yen is also home to the largest indoor statue of Buddha in Europe and the Americas. Kuan-Yin Hall houses a colored porcelain statue of Kuan-Yin Bodhisattva which dates from the Ming Dynasty. It is the largest colored porcelain statue of Kuasn-Yin in the world. Ongoing Monastery programs in English are held on Sundays in the Tai-Hsu Hall:

Morning Meditation: 9:30 - 10:30am
Book Discussion Group: 10:30am - noon
Vegetaria lunch served (Sunday only): Noon - 1:00pm

Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Route 301, Park Office 1/2 mile west on the Taconic Parkway
Kent, NY 10512
845.225.7207
The largest park in Putnam County, Fahnestock Park is 10,000 acres of relaxing activities and natural wonder.

Anglers can fish for bass, perch, sunfish, pickerel and trout in three ponds and two lakes. State fishing licenses are required. Boats are allowed with a park permit or may be rented at Canopus Lake.

Camping season runs from May through October. Each site generally includes a picnic table, fireplace or grill. Flush toilets and showers are nearby. Camp permits entitle individuals to free use of swimming facilities.

The Nature Center features family film nights, children's puppetry, musical concerts and interpretive programs throughout the summer. There are also marked hiking, biking and horseback trails.

Canopus Beach is the pride of the park. Picnic groves, a concession stand, locker rooms, showers and toilet facilities are available. No pets are allowed. In winter the park is open for cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating and sledding. Skis, snowshoes and skates are available for rent on weekends. There is a warming lodge with rest rooms, food service and parking for cars and buses.

Kent Baptist Church
Farmers Mills Road
Kent, NY 10512
The church was established in 1782, one of the earliest in the area. The present structure dates from 1908. Its cemetery is behind the church and just up the hill, east of the church, is the Mead Cemetery, both with mostly 19th-century graves.

Kent Historical Society One Room School House
Farmer Mills Road
Kent, NY 10512

Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park
Gipsy Trail Road (off Route 301)
Kent, NY 10512
845.225.3650

Stone Chamber
Route 301
Kent, NY
This stone chamber is one of more than 100 in the County. Some believe them to be ceremonial temples dating back to the Druids. Others believe that they are root cellars built by settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. We know for a fact that farmers used them for food storage for their families and their animals.