Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Bard College

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
–Not graded
History · Bard College

Bard College dates to 1860, and 90% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1895 on.

1860founded
0on the National Register
90%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Bard College began

When was Bard College founded?

1860

Bard College dates its founding to 1860 (Wikidata). Its post office opened in 1864.

2020 census: 358166 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1864.The full story ↓

What stands out about Bard College’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Bard College are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18955 editions of the USGS map, 1895 to 1997. Watch Bard College change.Old housesHalf of Bard College’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Bard College’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Bard College’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Bard College on the map, 1895 to 1997

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Bard College. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Bard College on the 1895 USGS mapBard College on the 1934 USGS mapBard College on the 1941 USGS mapBard College on the 1963 USGS mapBard College on the 1997 USGS map1895Catskill sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Bard College.

The story

How Bard College came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Bard College.

Read it all →

During much of the nineteenth century, the land since owned by Bard was mainly composed of several country estates. These estates were called Blithewood, Bartlett, Sands and Ward Manor/Almont.

In 1853, John Bard and Margaret Bard purchased a part of the Blithewood estate and renamed it Annandale. John Bard was the grandson of Samuel Bard, a prominent doctor, a founder of Columbia University's medical school, and physician to George Washington. John Bard was also the nephew of John McVickar, a professor at Columbia University. The family had strong connections with the Episcopal Church.

ChaptersOrigins and early years20th century growth and secularization21st centuryCollege leaders

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Bard College, decade by decade

Today1 recent
Harveyfite2024Harveyfite
Famous people

Famous people close to Bard College

Nobody well known was born in Bard College itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Peter BogdanovichAmerican film director · b. 1939
R
Rufus WainwrightAmerican-Canadian singer-songwriter and composer · b. 1973
Irving FisherAmerican economist and statistician · b. 1867
Joseph MazzelloAmerican actor · b. 1983
John GloverAmerican actor · b. 1944
Edward LivingstonAmerican jurist and statesman · b. 1764

Questions about Bard College’s history

What year was Bard College founded?

In 1860, according to Wikidata. Bard College’s post office opened in 1864.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (1), Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.