On August 13th, 1689, New York Governor Leisler wrote “Scharachtoge [Saratoga]…there are six or seven families all or most rank French papists that have their relations at Canada and I suppose settled there for some bad designe and are lesser to be trusted there in conjunctione of tyme than ever before the bad creatures amongst us gives me great occupatione.” [Read more…] about When Saratoga Was An American Frontier
History
Historic Preservation Funding Available
The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Preservation League of New York State have announced that applications are now available to eligible municipalities and nonprofit organizations to compete for 2020 Technical Assistance Grants (TAG). [Read more…] about Historic Preservation Funding Available
Outdoor Tours of Wilderstein Historic Site Available
The Wilderstein Historic Site, on the Hudson River in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, NY, has announced they will offer guided outdoor tours on Saturdays and Sundays starting August 15th. [Read more…] about Outdoor Tours of Wilderstein Historic Site Available
The Armory Show: An Arsenal of Creative Freedom
The year was 1911, a new decade had just started. In spite of sharp social divisions and mass immigration, New York was bustling. The scientific revolution was making an impact, radically altering the nineteenth century vision of the world.
New technology changed the face of the metropolis. The Woolworth Building had been completed, making it the tallest building in town. Electric trains pulled out of the Grand Central Terminal; in the streets horse-drawn carriages were being replaced by automobiles.
It was a period of unbridled patriotism; a golden age for producers of flags and buntings (in April 1908 Emma Goldman had given her fiery San Francisco lecture on the ‘menace’ of patriotism).
New York was waking-up and starting to fulfill its potential. It was a place of new developments and initiatives. Modern was the buzzword. That year a group of artists came together aiming to organize a grand exhibition that would reflect this new confidence. [Read more…] about The Armory Show: An Arsenal of Creative Freedom
The Ballston Terminal Railroad: A Short History
The Ballston Terminal Railroad in Saratoga County, NY, opened on August 6, 1898.
At 4:05 pm, the George West made its inaugural run from the Village of Ballston Spa to the Pioneer Mill in West Milton. This was a six mile trip. On the return trip to Ballston Spa, the trolley stopped at the Power House in Factory Village to allow the company to review the machinery. Then everyone boarded again to arrive back at Middlebrook Avenue at 5:10 pm. The total round trip took one hour and five minutes. [Read more…] about The Ballston Terminal Railroad: A Short History
New Documentary: Journeys Through the Finger Lakes
The new documentary by WXXI Public Media and the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, Journeys Through the Finger Lakes, celebrates a region deeply rooted in history, agriculture, social change, and sustainability. [Read more…] about New Documentary: Journeys Through the Finger Lakes
Sagamore Hill Increases Access to Park Grounds
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site has increased recreational access, including the opening of the beach and outdoor programming. Park rangers remain on duty and normal regulations apply. [Read more…] about Sagamore Hill Increases Access to Park Grounds
Frick Collection Reopening in 2021 at ‘Frick Madison’
The Frick Collection has announced that it is set to reopen to the public in early 2021 in the former site of the Whitney Museum of American Art at 945 Madison Avenue.
The temporary location, called Frick Madison, will house the Frick’s collections, programs, and staff during the renovation and expansion of its historic buildings at 1 East 70th Street. [Read more…] about Frick Collection Reopening in 2021 at ‘Frick Madison’
Fresh Air Schools: Teaching Outdoors For Public Health
As autumn approaches, schools are thinking about ways to keep students safe by maximizing time outdoors. The concept of outside instruction is not new.
Leading up to the Second World War, open air schools were built in the United States and Europe to protect children from tuberculosis.
In Saranac Lake, in the heart of the Adirondacks, where temperatures in the winter tend to stay well below freezing, some children attended unheated, open air classrooms. [Read more…] about Fresh Air Schools: Teaching Outdoors For Public Health
Schuyler Mansion Reopens for Reserved Tours
Schuyler Mansion, located at 32 Catherine Street in Albany’s historic South End, was the 18th century home of Revolutionary War Major-General Philip Schuyler (1733–1804) and his family.
The Mansion has reopened to the public, by reservation only. All tours will be an Open House (self-guided) format, directed by staff, and limited to 10 people max. [Read more…] about Schuyler Mansion Reopens for Reserved Tours