The Borscht Belt Historic Marker Project
About the Project
The mission of The Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project is to interpret and designate places important to the Borscht Belt’s vibrant history and to consider its impact on American Jewish life, the legacy of the Catskills, New York State history, American culture and entertainment, and the ways in which the era’s rich history is enduringly present and woven into the very fiber of the region. Whether on or near sites of significant events or historic properties the Marker Project’s efforts strive towards selecting locations significant to the local, state, and national history in towns and villages scattered across the Sullivan and Ulster County landscape.
As of our inception in 2022, there are no historical markers dedicated to the Borscht Belt era in either Sullivan or Ulster County. This large-scale interpretive marker-system will be easily accessible to the public, benefit the communities they are placed in by sparking interest in local history, and educate citizens and visitors alike about the events that have shaped our past. Our goal is to create a comprehensive marker system and self-guided audio driving tour that traverses the region along with an array of public programming and educational materials.
More than just roadside historical markers, The Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project is a multi-faceted effort with both short-and-long-term additional goals that combine other mediums – the creation of an app for a self-guided audio driving tour, a series of exhibitions and public programs such as film screenings, literary, comedic and musical events which aim to expand upon the marker experience, curricula for students and the local Orthodox community – all in attempt to further history, education, and dialogue about the Borscht Belt via an array of formats.
When complete, the permanent marker trail combined with its audio tour and compendium programming will encourage people to venture out into landscape and visit the various towns that comprised the era. Juxtaposed with the Catskill’s natural beauty, the driving tour will be inclusive of all the various towns and villages where documented hotel and bungalow colonies once existed. In this sense the project aims to be a fun, educational endeavor that encourages the experience of physical place while also promoting economic development and tourism throughout the region.
