Celestia is a religious community founded in the 1850's by millennialists.   In the 1860's Peter Armstrong, the community's founder, deeded the land to God, but God paid no taxes and the land was put up for sale by the county. The Armstrong family repurchased the land at a tax sale in the 1870's. By the time Peter Armstrong died in 1887 the community had mostly been abandoned. 

A more detailed history of Celestia is available by clicking here.  

WALKING TOUR of CELESTIA

Celestia is located 1 1/2 miles west of Laporte on State Route 42 and can be visited year round.  

Click here to download the walking tour of Celestia.

GPS COORDINATES for CELESTIA:

N 41.42297 - W 076.52448.

These roadside co-ordinates indicate where the visitor would turn just before the state historic sign about Celestia when traveling south on Rt. 42, and then to make a right turn into the parking area.

PLEASE be ever mindful that you, the visitor, are parking on private property and treat it as such. Helping to respect the grounds will enable us all to preserve history for those of the future. So, please tread carefully, and lightly, so as not to disturb what you are about to see.

Once out of your car, after walking a short distance south, you will be standing at the entrance of Celestia, which is now the historic ruins of one man's dream towards salvation. This area has been marked to follow the Museum's Celestia brochure, which explains each location of the town's remaining foundations and to also coincide with the painting, which hangs in the Museum, that depicts the town.

The Celestia site is maintained by the Sullivan County Historical Society for you to enjoy this era of history.