Windows on History
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EXPLORING THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA Windows on History A rail journey through the Hudson River Valley, between New York City and Albany, is more than a trip from point A to point B. It’s a voyage through a landscape rich in history and beauty. Just look out the window… Na lley tion Va al r H e e v r i i t R a g n e o A s r d e u a H Na lley tion Va al r H e e v r i i t R a g n e o A s r d e u a H W ELCOME TO THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY! RAVELING THROUGH THIS HISTORIC REGION, you will discover the people, places, and events that formed our national identity, and led Congress to designate the Hudson River Valley as a National Heritage Area in 1996. The Hudson River has also been designated one of our country’s Great American Rivers. TAs you journey between New York’s Pennsylvania station and the Albany- Rensselaer station, this guide will interpret the sites and features that you see out your train window, including historic sites that span three centuries of our nation’s history. You will also learn about the communities and cultural resources that are located only a short journey from the various This project was made station stops. possible through a partnership between the We invite you to explore the four million acres Hudson River Valley that make up the Hudson Valley and discover its National Heritage Area rich scenic, historic, cultural, and recreational and I Love NY. Also, resources. Meander the hills traversed by Native Americans in the valley special thanks to Hudson created by what they called he Mahicanituck, or "river that flows both Valley Tourism. ways." Discover old steamboat ports and villages, where stone houses Reprinted with permission and churches built in the 1600s and 1700s by Dutch, English and Huguenot by Hudson River Valley settlers still exist today. Visit stately mansions and National Heritage Area. estates built for some of the most powerful families in our nation’s history, including the Livingstons, Published by Vanderbilts, Roosevelts, and Rockefellers. Stroll Martinelli Custom Publishing through beautiful and historic landscapes and gardens with breathtaking views and scenic vistas. 2 | WINDOWS ON HISTORY Amtrak.com Na Empire State Trail lley tion Va al r H e e Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is v r i i t creating the Empire State Trail R a g which, when completed in n e o 2020, will create a 750-mile A s r d trail bike and walking pathway e u a H from New York City to Canada Welcome to the and from Albany to Buffalo. Once complete, the Empire State Trail will attract more hikers, bikers, and cross country skiers than ever before Hudson River and provide access to destinations, heritage areas, and historic sites and districts. P H The Trail will drive economic OPR growth and boost tourism in NYS Valley! F communities along its route. O The Empire State Trail will rtesy OU connect the Hudson River C O T Valley Greenway Trail and the O H P Erie Canalway Trail, creating the largest state multi-use trail in the nation. raveLING THROUGH THIS HISTORIC REGION, you will discover Follow trails through the Catskills that lead to the See: hudsongreenway.ny.gov/ the people, places, and events that formed our national identity, landscapes which inspired the famed Hudson River Trailsandscenicbyways/EST.aspx and led Congress to designate the Hudson River Valley as a Painters. Trace the footprint of innovation and National Heritage Area in 1996. The Hudson River has also industry that earned New York its nickname the been designated one of our country’s Great American Rivers. “Empire State”. Immerse yourself in the settings of TAs you journey between New York’s Pennsylvania station and the Albany- legends and stories by Washington Irving, James Rensselaer station, this guide will interpret the sites and features that you see Fenimore Cooper and other Knickerbocker writers. Hike the peaks and out your train window, including historic sites that span three centuries of mountains of our state parks or walk along riverside trails of the Hudson our nation’s history. You will also learn about the communities and cultural River Valley Greenway Trail System. Kayak through the magnificent landscape resources that are located only a short journey from on the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail. Enjoy a wine tasting at the oldest the various station stops. continually operating winery in America or sample one of the newer Vintners’ varieties. The Hudson River Valley is truly a four-season destination and we We invite you to explore the four million acres encourage you to take advantage of all we have to offer. This project was made that make up the Hudson Valley and discover its possible through a rich scenic, historic, cultural, and recreational We hope you enjoy your journey and we are pleased to be your guide. We partnership between resources. Discover old steamboat ports and villages, where stone houses encourage you to learn more about our natural and cultural resources and the Hudson River and churches built in the 1600s and 1700s by Dutch, English and Huguenot explore the Hudson River Valley. For more information regarding the Hudson Valley National settlers still exist today. Visit stately mansions and River Valley National Heritage Area and its resources or to order themed Heritage Area and estates built for some of the most powerful families brochures, please visit hudsonrivervalley.com or call (518) 473-3835. I Love NY. Also, in our nation’s history, including the Livingstons, special thanks to Hudson Valley Vanderbilts, Roosevelts, and Rockefellers. Stroll Bon Voyage! Tourism. through beautiful and historic landscapes and gardens with breathtaking views and scenic vistas. 2 | WINDOWS ON HISTORY Amtrak.com New York By Rail WINDOWS ON HISTOry | 3 VISITING Crailo State Historic Site This is the northern end of the rail trip. The navigable 9 1/2 Riverside Avenue waters of the Hudson continue above Albany and Rensselaer, NY 518-463-8738 Rensselaer to Troy and Waterford, where the Ten Broeck Mansion Champlain Canal provides passage to the north and 9 Ten Broeck Place Albany, NY the Erie Canal provides passage to the west. The Approx. 25 minuTes 518-436-9826 Champlain Canal follows the Hudson as far north as Schuyler Mansion State Great 3 ADIRONDACK P ARK 9 Historic Site Fort Edward, 193 miles above the Battery in New York City. Beyond Troy, the Sacandaga 30 Lake 87 32 Catherine Street Victory l 29 n Kil Hudson is no longer tidal, and continues its 315-mile course as a much smaller SARATOGA 29 atte Albany, NY SPRINGS B 518-434-0834 22 river to its source at Lake Tear of the Clouds on the flank of Mt. Marcy in the 4 9 32 e k Adirondacks, New York’s highest mountain. a Cambridge L a g Ballston o t Spa a Saratoga r a National S Historical Park R sic iver oo Bennington 4 H Battlefield Round 67 Lake Mechanicville O l 9 d ENSSELAER TO UDSON C R H h a y m a p w l Papscanee Island h a t i r n o 7 M C Open Space Institute N o a 90 h n Erie Canal a 4 a 212-290-8200 w l Lock 2 Park & k 87 H R Visitors Center o osiny.org i o s ic SCHEN Schodack Island / Hudson n River Island State Parks Sharon Springs 30 1 Schodack Way 20 88 Schodack Landing, NY 20 2 518-732-0187 Hudson Athens Lighthouse Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society Cobleskill Schoharie Post Office Box 145 John Boy E 30 88 145 Thach Athens, NY St 518-828-5294 P hudsonathenslighthouse.org 443 Middleburgh P Long ath 85 145 ek re C Rensselaerville 30 RANG 85 Dor PITTSFIELD NEW 20 C Catsk 23 ill C Schoharie Durham re e Reservoir 145 k Lenox h rain traffic has been coming to the city of Rensselaer (previously named Grand Gorge Long Pat Greenbush) since the early 1850s when the Hudson River Railroad served NI Zadock Pratt 90 Museum 7 customers traveling be-tween New York City and the Capital District. The Prattsville Windham 23 O Rensselaer Station you see today replaced an older station on the site and Stockbridge Twas built in 2002. The large waiting room windows provide panoramic views of the 30 296 23A MASS. City of Albany, which has been the capital of New York State since 1797. The most S eye-catching feature you see on the landscape is the Empire State Plaza, a complex N Great I Hunter Kaaterskill Barrington of several state government buildings built between 1965 and 1978. However, the A Falls Tannersville 57 42 T Plaza also contains a variety of other features including: The Egg, an egg-shaped N 28 U concert hall; the Cultural Education Center, housing the State Museum, Library and Fleischmans Margaretville O 214 Archives; and Corning Tower, the tallest building in the state outside of New York City. 30 Mk 87 y e a e 9G Lake r w C k r Taghkanic s a 4 | WINDOWS ON HISTORY Amtrak.com u State Park P 7 p Phoenicia e o Clermont t c a Taconic t E 212 SAUGERTIES S n Kill c se L Tivoli i an n J 212 OPUS 40 o c 22 L a ff Woodstock T li CATSKILL Roe I State Canaan Annandale- 9W 44 K on-Hudson Montgomery 82 P ARK Place 44 S Red Hook 28 32 T Old Rhinebeck Park Aerodome 199 Hudson River 199 Pine A Maritime Museum 199 Plains Millerton C Ashokan Senate House & Reservoir 28A Historic Area Rhinecliff Station Hurley KINGSTON RHINEBECK g 87 Wilderstein k Lon e e r 9 C Ulster 9G r e County g Courthouse Staatsburgh in Delaware and p 82 209 (Mills Mansion) p Hudson Canal 9W a Neversink Museum Mills Norrie W Reservoir Amenia State Park The Institute for Vanderbilt Rondout Ecosystem 44 Cornwall N Mohonk Preserve High Falls Mansion Franklin D.