The National Society of the Colonial Dames in the State of New York was the former owners of Van Cortlandt House, and still help to manage the house. Bess Fuchs is the former chair of the Van Cortlandt Committee, which’s role was primarily to fundraise for the house museum. She speaks about the National Society of the Colonial Dames mission nationally, as well as the educational focus of the local society. She describes the relationship between the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Historic House Trust, and the Van Cortlandt House Museum management. More broadly, she shares her thoughts on how historic house museums’ programming has changed over the years.