A new grant of $558,232 from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation will go towards the restoration of the historic Matthewis Persen House Museum in Kingston, New York. What is considered to be one of Americas oldest existing residential structures was first constructed by Dutch colonists in 1661 and survived the British Armys burning of the town during the Revolutionary War prior to its turn as a site of refuge for escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad. Preservationists will replace its wood shingle roof and make other exterior repairs to preserve the buildings "historic character." (h/t Hyperallergic)