This stately home, a big yellow clapboard Georgian Colonial that once looked over gentle lands to the edge of the Hudson River, is today in the middle of a bad neighborhood and the din of the highway. But no matter, it still presents an interesting history lesson, told through the story of Catherine Putnam and the Van Rensselaer family, whose descendants occupied the house for 200 years, until 1963. The house is overflowing with original furnishings, documents, and artifacts, and is most interesting for the way organizers present it as a reflection of Albany history. Cherry Hill was closed in April 2009 for restoration; check the website for news of its reopening and for hours and admission prices.