If you are anything like me, your last trip to a "historic site" was in grade school and you were more enthusiastic about missing math than learning about history. In spite of those memories, I decided to visit the John Jay Homestead on Route 22 in Katonah.

I didn't know what to expect when I drove up the long, inviting driveway. What I found was quiet, pastoral setting that I had essentially to myself. I was able to freely explore the grounds and try to capture images that would be difficult with a crowd. The buildings on the grounds are in various states of restoration ranging from ruin to rebuilt. The architecture offers up shapes and textures nicely balancing the surrounding green space. Light and dark, big and small, angles and curves all make for interesting images.

When I was through, I stopped in the office to inquire about the facility. While class trips are a mainstay, most visitors are, like myself, just looking for a quiet place that allows a moment of reflection. Landscape painters frequent the gardens to try to capture graceful vistas in the light  of mornings and late afternoons.

We are fortunate to have history all around us and we often take it for granted as adults. The Jay Homestead requires no effort to visit, no planning, and demands no adherence to a timetable other than your own.