19albanypresident

Albany's Place in History
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Prior to 1600s the “North River” (called “Hudson River” by Dutch) & adjoining lands were exclusive homes to several Native American tribes,

particularly Mohicans & Mohawks of the Iroquois Nation, and Algonquins
Henry Hudson dropped anchor off present day Albany He claimed it for The Netherlands
1614 Fort Nassau, a wooden stockade with moat on an island in the River was an early Dutch settlement for trading with Native Americans
1624 Fort Orange built - a 2nd much larger settlement on the main land,
1652 Beverwijck (Albany) - the community that surrounded Fort Orange
1664 When England took over New Amsterdam (now NYC) they also got the whole Hudson River Valley, renaming Beverwijck, Albany
1676 Fort Frederick replaced Fort Orange Dutch was still the prominent spoken language along the river valley for 125 yrs., into 1780s.
1686 Albany, received its Dongan Charter (a few months before NYC), makes it the longest running municipal government in Western Hemisphere.
1700's Albany became the crossroads between the New England Colonies & the mid Atlantic & the Southern colonies.
1807 Robert Fulton's steamboat Clermont leaves New York harbor for a trip up the Hudson River to Albany, It was carrying paying passengers,
1825 Erie Canal OPENS
1826 Mohawk & Hudson Railroad, first railroad in US that went only ~ 17 mi. from Albany to Schenectady
5 Govenors who became President: Martin Van Buren, 1x -1837; Grover Cleveland, 2x -1885 & 1893; Theodore Roosevelt, 2x -1901; & Franklin D Roosevelt, 4x -1933
6 Governors who became Vice President: George Clinton, 1804; Daniel Tompkins, 1816; Martin Van Buren, 1832; Levi Morton, 1888; Theodore Roosevelt, 1900; Nelson Rockefeller, 1974.
Much of this over 400 year old community has been retained in both old & new construction, public & private buildings’

Highlights on the Walk

The Start Point for this walk will be in the downtown area, Corning Preserve, on the shore of the Hudson River.
There will be two walk distances, 5K rated 2A (one significant hill taken in stages; on pavement);
and 10K rated 3A (one hill same as 5K and modest 2nd hill; both on pavement).
Both groups will follow the same route for about the first half then 5Kers split-off.

1609 - Hudson River – English explorer, Henry Hudson, sailing his “Half Moon” ship under Dutch flag, dropped anchor off present day Albany
Great Seal of Albany – Statue depicts the city’s Native American & Dutch history & their beaver fur trading.
1656 First Dutch Reformed Church
1882 - Albany City Hall –60-Carillion bells in clock tower that play at noon.
Gen. Phillip Schuyler Statue – Father-in-law of Alexander Hamilton, was Commander of the Northern District during
Revolutionary War.
1813 - Old Albany Academy - now Albany Board. of Education, was private boys’ Academy, attended by Herman Melville (Moby Dick),
& Joseph Henry.
Peace Pole – Several located within the Capital City, but one will be a Check Point.
1912 - NYS Education Building – Considered one of 12 most beautiful buildings in World. Best known for its expansive 660’ frontage with 36 Corinthian columns,
the longest colonnade in the US & possibly World
Started 1865 NYS Capitol Building – took 30 yrs, & cost $25 M. One of eight State Capitols without a dome.
Gen. Phillip Sheridan Statue – one of the most famous Union generals of the Civil War
Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza – Built between 1965 and 1976.
10k walkers will go through some of the historic district above the capitol and into Washington Park to see the flowers around the Moses statue.
1914 - Delaware & Hudson Railroad Building – This is now headquarters for the State University of New York, the largest university system in the US.
The largest working weather vane in North America atop the 13-story center tower. The vane is in the shape of Hudson’s ship, “The Half Moon”, and is 8’ tall.