Tuthilltown Gristmill

Tuthilltown Gristmill is a three-story wooden frame building set on a fieldstone foundation along Shawangunk stream, with a gabled roof topped by a clerestory monitor. The structure retains the original mill machinery and demonstrates how water power was harnessed to turn the millstones.

Selah Tuthill built the mill in 1788 at just 18 years old on Shawangunk Kill, establishing a vital commercial center for the Town of Gardiner. The building stood as a working mill for more than two centuries, serving multiple generations of farmers.

For generations, local farmers brought their grain here to be milled, making it a gathering place woven into the community's routine. This role gave the mill deep roots in how people worked and lived together in the region.

The site now operates as a distillery open to visitors, with tours and tastings available along with a shop selling locally made spirits. Plan to spend a few hours to fully explore the building and surrounding grounds at a comfortable pace.

The building preserves four original sets of millstones still visible inside, powered by a Pelton turbine and fed through a concrete headrace system. This water-powered setup represents a clever engineering solution from the 1800s that allowed the miller to grind vast quantities of grain efficiently.