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Historic Sites in New York
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Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site
Battle between the British forces of General John Burgoyne and
Colonel Friedrich Baum against the American forces under
Brigadier General John Stark and Colonel Seth Warner. This
battle was fought in August 1777 in a British effort to capture
American storehouses in Bennington to restock their depleting
provisions. The British forces had underestimated the strength
of their enemy and most of their men were killed or taken
prisoner while the Americans sustained smaller losses. The
British surrendered on October 17, 1777, after two unsuccessful
battles in Saratoga. Additional facilities at the site include
game fields. For information call: (518)279-1155
Crailo State Historic Site
Crailo State Historic Site is a museum of the Dutch in the upper
Hudson Valley. Originally a part of the vast landholding called
the Manor or Patroonship of Rensselaerswyck, the Crailo farm was
named after the Van Rensselaer's estate in the Netherlands,
variously spelled Crayloo or Cralo in the 17th century, and
meaning "crows' wood" in Dutch.
Crailo was probably built in the early 18th century by Hendrick
Van Rensselaer, grandson of the First Patroon. Hendrick died in
1740 and his eldest son, Johannes, inherited Crailo. He
remodeled the house and added an east wing in the Georgian
style, reflecting the increasing influence of the English on the
Albany-area Dutch.
In the late 18th century, Crailo was remodeled in the Federal
style. It served as a boys' boarding school in the 1840s and
later as a church rectory. Each new venture brought more changes
to the structure. In 1924 Crailo was donated to New York State
for development as a museum.
Crailo today tells the story of the early Dutch inhabitants of
the upper Hudson Valley through exhibits highlighting
archeological finds from the Albany Fort Orange excavations,
special programs, and guided tours of the museum. For
information call: (518)463-8738
Johnson Hall State Historic Site
As the largest single landowner and most influential individual
in the settlement of the Mohawk Valley, William Johnson had
prestige and leadership which extended beyond the region. His
genius in dealing and trading with the Indians had a lasting
impact on their relationship with the English, and influenced
England's victory in the struggle for control of North America.
Sir William began plans in February 1763 for a house that would
reflect his position. A Georgian house of wood made to look like
stone, Johnson Hall became the nucleus of a working estate
designed to encourage settlement and further Johnson's control
of his lands. A mill, blacksmith shop, Indian store, barns, and
other necessary buildings were added, as well as housing for
servants.
In 1774, during a tense conference with 600 Indians at Johnson
Hall, Sir William collapsed and died. Upon Sir William's death,
Johnson Hall passed to his son, John. During the American
Revolution, John chose to remain loyal to the Crown and fled to
Canada. Johnson Hall was confiscated in 1779 by the State of New
York as Loyalist property and was subsequently sold at auction.
The house remained a private residence until 1906, when New York
State acquired it as a historic site.
Vistors are encouraged to walk the grounds and gardens and
imagine themselves back in a time when Johnson Hall bustled with
activity as Sir William's home and business headquarters. House
tours are offered. For information call: (518)762-8712
Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site
Considered to be a significant turning point in the War of
Independence, the Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777,
has been described as one of the bloodiest battles of the war. A
monument was dedicated on August 6, 1884, to serve as a memorial
to those who fought so bravely and tenaciously to preserve
freedom. Oriskany Battlefied was designated a New York State
historic site in 1927. In recognition of the site's exceptional
historic value, the battlefield was designated a National
Historic Landmark in 1963. Today, visitors to the battlefield
can walk the site, read a series of interpretive signs, and
visit a historic encampment during a special event.
In August 1777, while the British were attacking Fort Stanwix,
Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer assembled 800 troops,
supported by 60 allied Oneida warriors, and marched from Fort
Dayton to aid in the seige. Upon hearing of Herkimer's advance,
British and Tory troops under Sir John Johnson and Col. John
Butler, and Indian forces led by Mohawk Joseph Brant, set a trap
in a boggy ravine west of Oriskany Creek. As the unsuspecting
American troops crossed the swampy bottom and marched up the
ravine, the British attacked. The patriots fought in brutal
hand-to-hand combat, and in spite of heavy losses, caused the
Seneca and the Mohawks, followed by the British and Tories to
retreat. It was in this battle that General Herkimer received
the wound to his leg which led to his death ten days later. For
information call: (315)768-7224
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
Philip Schuyler (1733-1804), a descendant of Albany's earliest
settlers, chose an 80-acre parcel of farmland just south of the
city of Albany as the site for his home. Completed in 1763 and
built in the elegant Georgian style, Schuyler's mansion evoked
the praise of many travelers who described it in their journals.
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Benedict Arnold were
among Schuyler's visitors. Alexander Hamilton, who married
Schuyler's daughter at the mansion in 1780, stayed at the house
frequently.
Following Schuyler's death in 1804, the mansion was sold and the
land divided and sold to speculators. The house was used as a
private residence by several different families until 1886, when
the mansion became a Roman Catholic orphanage. In 1912 it was
purchased by the State of New York and on October 17, 1917, the
140th anniversary of General Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga, it
was dedicated as a state historic site.
Schuyler Mansion, on its small urban plot, is all that remains
of an estate that once embraced elaborate gardens, orchards,
fields, and numerous farm buildings. Schuyler Mansion is being
restored to the splendour of the 1790s when Philip Schuyler
decorated it in the latest style. The site also offers various
outreach programs to school groups. For information call:
(518)434-0834
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