Sparkill Creek cuts through the north end of the Hudson Palisades, providing easy access to the fertile valley of the unnavigable upper Hackensack River. "Tappan Landing," "Tappan Slote," or "Taulman Landing," as the little port was called, thus became the original port for southern Orange County.

The valley in the Palisades created by the creek also provided a way for the Erie Railroad to easily reach the Hudson, and the railroad built a long pier in 1839 as its principal terminal. The pier and the nearby mountains suggested a new name for the community, which was incorporated as a village in 1850. The pier was a major embarkation point for World War II troops traveling from Camp Shanks to the European Theater.

The rail branch was abandoned in the 1970s as a result of railroad consolidation. Late in the 20th century, Piermont became a modest tourist attraction for day-trippers from New York City, particularly those bicycling on Bike Route 9.

• Dederer Stone House or Stonehurst
• Haddock?s Hall - 300 Ferdon Avenue
• Onderdonk House - 758 Piermont Avenue
• Piermont - Formerly Tappan Landing. Tappan Slote ("Slote" is Dutch for "ditch," referring to cut passage through marshy mouth of Sparkill Creek: "kill" is Dutch for "creek"). Served as eastern terminus of New York & Erie Railroad, completed from here to Dunkirk, New York in 1851, then the longest trunk line in U.S. Still remaining is 4000-ft.-long pier into Hudson River once used for loading and unloading trains and boats. One can walk, or drive with a pass, to end of it. Tallman Mountain State Park to the south. A backer and first president of railroad, Eleazar Lord, built a stone mansion. "The Cedars." now called "The Castle," on mountainside overlooking Piermont. Private residence.
• The Piermont Historical Society
• Rockland Road Bridge - between Piermont & Ferdon Avenue
• Sneden House - 38 Paradise Avenue
• Sparkill Creek Drawbridge - Bridge Street

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