We invite HCM and VRGC members to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar while getting a first look at this rare holiday display celebrating holiday movies!

Not sure if you’re membership is up to date? Reach out to Amanda at airwin@hartcluett.org or at 518-272-7232 × 115

A festive evening for all ages! Enjoy children’s holiday book readings under the tree, a fun scavenger hunt, and a visit from Santa Claus. Free admission.

Take in a candlelit tour of the Greens Show accompanied by a live holiday performance from the Musicians of Ma’alwyck. Light refreshments will be served.
Tickets: $50 (advance purchase required, this event sells out!)

Purchase tickets HERE

Behind the Lens: A Cinematic Journey with Hollywood Photographer Philip V. Caruso
Step into the world behind the camera with Philip V. Caruso, a Rensselaer County resident and veteran still photographer whose work has helped shape the visual legacy of more than 70 major film and television productions. Caruso will reveal what it's like to experience movie magic in real time—from working alongside director Martin Scorsese on The Age of Innocence (filmed in part in Troy), to capturing iconic moments in motion for some of Hollywood’s biggest sets.

Tickets: $15 (limited seating

Purchase tickets HERE

Private guided tours of the Greens Show can be arranged. To schedule, contact Anna at adoren@hartcluett.org or 518-272-7232 x111

The possibility of forming a garden club in Troy was initially discussed at a gathering of “garden-minded gals" in October 1952. Several of these women continued to meet and were joined by additional women through the spring and summer of 1953. On September 17, 1953 they adopted a constitution and officially became known as the Van Rensselaer Garden Club.

Meeting minutes began in November 18, 1954. It was reported that at this time the club joined the Federated Garden Clubs of New York, and then after research and discussion several years later, a vote was held to become unaffiliated. Archival records show much information and details on joining in 1962/3, but no decisions were seemingly made.

The best known project then, as it is today, is the Greens Show.

Initially it was held in cooperation with the Junior Museum and Birchkill. We have held one every year since 1956 with the exception of year 2000 when our "Holiday in Washington Park" was held at 200 Washington Park. In 2020, due to the Covid pandemic, only the façade at the Hart Cluett Museum was decorated.

Over the years the Van Rensselaer Garden Club has regularly reached out into the Troy community. Past projects included restoration of grounds of the old Marshall Sanitarium, a Litter Bag Campaign, maintaining gardens at the Troy Public Library and RCHS, and support of a 4-H group with Rensselaer County Extension Service.

More recently we have supported Rensselaer County ARC with prep-ping, planting, and cleaning up their gardens and the 112th Street

Memorial Garden. Additionally, flower shows, House and Garden Tours and a summer garden Open House have been held.

In the early years meetings were held in member's homes. Other meeting places have been Tamarac Plaza, Pruyn House, RCCA, Emma Willard School, Troy Masonic Community Center, RPI Neuman Chapel, and then, in 1991, our more permanent home became RCHS.

In 2020, with Covid restrictions in effect, we began meeting at the Shriner's Facility and expanded our outreach through ZOOM.

In 2022, we became incorporated and our new name is the Van Rensselaer Garden Club Inc. We are now a tax-exempt organization as well.

Information for this brief history was collected from the VRGC records stored at HCM.