Dutch and Native American in the Hudson Valley
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Map & Guide Series Na lley tion Va al Hudson River Valley r H e e v r i i t R a National Heritage Area, New York g n e Dutch & Native American Heritage o A s r d www.hudsonrivervalley.com e u a in the Hudson River Valley H he cultural heritage of the Hudson River Valley reaches back at least 10,000 years to the indigenous peoples who hunted, migrated, and settled through- Tout the region. These Native communities maintained spiritual traditions honoring the natural environment and used the rivers to build a far-reaching and vibrant trade economy. When Dutch explorers arrived in the 17th century, they saw opportunities in the valley’s rich natural resources and existing trade networks and began building permanent settlements, founding the Dutch colony of New Netherland. Today the cultural influences of the Native American and Dutch communities remain. Setting precedents for federalist government, a free trade economy, cultural and ethnic diversity, and religious tolerance, the philosophies of Edward Moran. 1892. Henrik Hudson Entering New York these societies laid foundations for the political and cultural development of the Harbor, September 11, 1609. Courtesy of the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA United States and continue to shape the heritage of the Hudson River Valley today. Indigenous Peoples of the Hudson Valley New Netherland Beverwijck (loosely translated as Beaver attracted farmers who encroached on Prior to European arrival, the Hudson Confederacy (also known as the In 1609, Henry Hudson sailed into District), which was subsequently land used by the Esopus Indians. The River Valley was home to many Native Iroquois), whose structure inspired the what is now called the Hudson River renamed Albany. Peach Tree War, other regional conflicts American societies—from the Munsee United States’ federalist government Valley. Exploring for the Dutch East between Europeans and Native Peoples, Indians of the lower valley (also known system. India Company, his Half Moon crew In the 1620’s, the Dutch West India and the Esopus Wars led the Dutch to as Lenape), to the Mohicans and traded with Lenape and Mohawk Company began “purchasing” land from build a defensive stockade around their Mohawks of the upper valley. Trade with the Dutch gave Native villages. Although they failed to discover the Native peoples for Dutch landowners town in 1658. The Uptown Stockade Americans access to fabrics, glass beads, a northwest passage to Asia, Hudson called patroons. The first was Kilaen District in Kingston is the largest Early Dutch settlers, about one-half of and steel tools, but exposed them to returned to Amsterdam to report of Van Rensselaer’s estate. Granted in 1629, remaining early Dutch settlement in whom were not ethnically Dutch, decimating diseases. As the Dutch beautiful land, rich in resources, and Rensselaerswijck encompassed the New York State. learned important survival techniques colony grew, so did conflicts. Many navigable by “as fine a river as can be land surrounding Albany. Crailo State from Native Americans, and adapted tribes were forced to migrate west. found.” Historic Site, the family home until When English ships seized New many of their diplomatic, cultural, and 1924, is now a museum, the interpretive Amsterdam in 1664, Dutch governor social practices. Manhattan retains the Today, New York State is home to Dutch traders soon dominated the focus of which is the Dutch culture of Peter Stuyvesant oversaw New Munsee Indian name Mannahatta, eight federally-recognized tribes and economy. At Fort Orange (1624), the upper Hudson Valley. Netherland’s peaceful transition to “the island of many hills.” The Mohawk over 220,000 people who identify as Mohawk and Mohican trappers served become the Province of New York. Indians were the easternmost branch of American Indian or Alaska Native. as an important source for beaver Goods from Beverwijck were transported The terms of surrender allowed Dutch the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee pelts, which were then in high demand south to other Dutch settlements, inhabitants to continue their way of life, Henry Hudson’s Half Moon, 1609 in Europe. The trade was so critical including Esopus and New Amsterdam. which flourished during the course of Library of Congress that the northern outpost was called Esopus, later renamed Kingston, the 18th-century. The Jean Hasbrouck House on Historic Hudson Highlands State Park Eleanor and Franklin at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Crailo State Historic Site, Rensselaer, NY Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY Hyde Park, NY Harmony with Nature Cultural & Political Influences From 1883 to 1916, the Mohonk The Van Schaick Mansion (1735) Harriman State Park, Sloatsburg, NY Mountain House was the site of the served as military headquarters for the Known for its breathtaking scenery, the In the 17th-century, Dutch society was annual Lake Mohonk Conference of English during the French and Indian Hudson Valley’s landscape was largely the most progressive in Europe, so New Friends of the Indian, where leaders War, and the Continental Army during shaped by its indigenous communities. Netherland also embraced modern ideas discussed ways to make Native Peoples the American Revolution. Using controlled burning, Munsee and like ethnic diversity, religious freedom, adopt European ways and culture. Mohican tribes cleared woodland to and free trade when applied to other create crop fields. These sustainable Europeans. Dutch, Munsee, Mohican, practices provided open meadows and Mohawk, African, and other European Mohonk Mountain House, Lake Mohonk, NY, 1905 views that inspired Hudson River people lived within the same region. Library of Congress School painters. The relationships between these groups ranged from cooperative trade, to For a glimpse of the valley as it appeared exploitive slavery, and outright warfare. in its more natural state during the 18th-century, one can hike the trails of Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, Harriman State Park, and Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park. The Dutch left their mark through distinctive architecture. Original farm- houses like the Bronck Museum (1663 & 1738), the Luykas Van Alen House (1737), the Madam Brett Park and The Roosevelts, who trace their ancestry Visit the Home of President Franklin Homestead (1709), and the Jacob to the earliest Dutch immigrants, became D. Roosevelt National Historic Site Blauvelt House (1832) preserve one of America’s most influential in Hyde Park to learn how FDR features like gambrel roofs, overhanging political families. Theodore Roosevelt, expanded the National Park Service to eaves, and compact layout designs. the 26th U.S. President, was the first to protect historic sites, including nearby prioritize protecting the country’s Vanderbilt Mansion (1899.) A lifelong natural resources. As governor of New resident of the Hudson Valley, Roosevelt York, he founded the Palisades Interstate incorporated Dutch style into his Daniel Ninham, a sachem, or chief, of Parks Commission, an organization that family’s home Springwood (1915), his the Wappinger Indians, was an maintains Bear Mountain and Storm retreat Top Cottage (1937), and his wife 18th-century political hero. Indian Field King Mountain State Parks. Eleanor’s retreat Val-Kill (1924). in Van Cortlandt Park honors him and other Stockbridge Munsee Bear Mountain State Park Pool, 1935 Mohican warriors who died fighting in Below: View from Bear Mountain State Park the 1778 Battle of Kingsbridge. Ninham memorials throughout the region include Ninham Mountain State Forest and Ninham Mountain Fire Tower. Luykas Van Alen House, Kinderhook, NY Jacob Blauvelt House, New City, NY Ongoing Cultural and Environmental Advocacy Seasonal festivals, museum exhibits, and The Redhawk Native American Arts commemorative events celebrate the Council (www.redhawkcouncil.org/) Native American and Dutch influences hosts programs year-round to educate that still shape the Hudson River Valley. people on the history of indigenous peoples in the U.S. and celebrates active The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a Native communities. reconstruction of an 18th-century Dutch sloop-rigged sailing ship, was launched The annual Albany Tulip Festival in 1969 through a campaign for stronger takes place in Albany’s Washington Park environmental protection that was every May to observe the city’s rich spearheaded by legendary folk musician Dutch heritage. Pete Seeger. It’s now a traveling museum with a home port at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston. 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