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Public History

New York State Parks, Historic Sites See Record Attendance in 2022

February 20, 2023 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Niagara Falls State Park (State Parks Photo)There was a record 79.5 million visits to New York State Parks and Historic Sites in 2022, according to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks).

That’s an increase of one million visits from 2021. Attendance at state parks and historic sites has risen nearly 43 percent since 2008. [Read more…] about New York State Parks, Historic Sites See Record Attendance in 2022

Filed Under: History, Nature, Recreation Tagged With: OPRHP, Public History, State Parks

Museums, Historical Societies: Be Prepared for Winter

February 2, 2023 by Erika Sanger Leave a Comment

trees in winter courtesy MANYI admit to being one of those people who perhaps overly prepares for winter in Upstate New York. We have a generator for our 200-year-old home because we live in a place where the power goes out. I have a “winter bag” with blankets, flashlight, water, and granola bars as well as a very large brush and ice scraper in my car.

In the Museum Association of New York office in Troy, we keep extra jackets on hand and cover the windows with plastic to hold back wind blowing off the Hudson River. [Read more…] about Museums, Historical Societies: Be Prepared for Winter

Filed Under: Arts, History, Nature Tagged With: Disaster Management, Municipal Historians, Museum Association of New York, Museums, Public History, winter

Russell Shorto: The Dutch-American Perspective

January 29, 2023 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

Children playing in the churchyard of St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowery, 1994The work that historians do influences their lives, especially if they spend a considerable time in a foreign land that they write about. Slowly, their topic of choice becomes an essential part of their identity. Russell Shorto, a renowned writer of narrative history, writes about his own evolution at the intersection of Dutch-American history.

This essay concerns itself with the intersection of Dutch and American history. Previous posts have explored slavery in New Amsterdam, the naming – and renaming – of that city, and John Adams’ role as unofficial ambassador to the Netherlands during the American war of independence. As I pondered the task of contributing to that lineup, and scrolled through a mental list of possible topics, it occurred to me that, as I have lived at the intersection of Dutch and American history for more than twenty years, my own identity, and its evolution over that time, might be a relevant topic. [Read more…] about Russell Shorto: The Dutch-American Perspective

Filed Under: History, New York City Tagged With: Academia, Dutch History, Henry Hudson, Museums, New Amsterdam, New Netherland, New Netherland Institute, New Netherland Project, New Netherland Research Center, New York City, Public History, Publishing, Writing

NY State, Counties Still Not Fully Engaged With American 250th Anniversary

January 27, 2023 by Bob Cudmore 1 Comment

This week on The Historians Podcast, New York State Historian Devin Lander joins host Bob Cudmore. Lander previews the 250th anniversary of American independence which will be observed from 2025 through 2033.

The state has authorized a commission to oversee events, however some of the 13 appointees to a state commission have not yet been named, and the vast majority of counties in the state have taken no action to remember this important anniversary. [Read more…] about NY State, Counties Still Not Fully Engaged With American 250th Anniversary

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, Events, History Tagged With: America's 250th Anniversary, Dutchess County, Municipal Historians, Orange County, Podcasts, Public History, Saratoga County, State Historian, Tompkins County, Ulster County

250th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemoration Plans

December 29, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

a new york minute in history podcastThe 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is right around the corner. On this episode of A New York Minute In History podcast, NYS Historian Devin Lander and Saratoga County Historian Lauren Roberts discuss how some state agencies and communities are preparing for the big event (from 2025-2033), and how local historians can make the most of the commemoration. [Read more…] about 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemoration Plans

Filed Under: History Tagged With: America's 250th Anniversary, American Revolution, Podcasts, Political History, Public History

Remembering Historian & Historic Preservationist Billy McMillen

December 1, 2022 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Billy McMillen (courtesy Historic Richmond Town)On November 9th noted historian and historic preservationist William “Billy” McMillen of Glenmont, New York, passed away quietly at home at the age of 81. Born on Staten Island, McMillen lived there his entire life until retiring to Glenmont in 2003.

His work at Historic Richmond Town, a site his father helped to found, began in 1963 and he became Supervisor of Restoration in 1967, serving in that position until his retirement.  A master of many trades, he was best known as a tinsmith who helped train many tinsmiths across the country. [Read more…] about Remembering Historian & Historic Preservationist Billy McMillen

Filed Under: Arts, Capital-Saratoga, History, New York City Tagged With: Glenmont, HIstoric Eastfield Village, Historic Preservation, Historic Richmond, Nassau, New York City, Public History, Rensselaer County, Staten Island

The Creation of the Saratoga Battlefield Park: A Short History

October 9, 2022 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

Saratoga Battlefield and Hudson RiverSaturday, October 8th, 1927, was a great day for a burglar in Ballston Spa, NY. The Saratogian newspaper announced that “Ballston Spa closed down shop this noon and went to the Saratoga Battlefield celebration. Scores of Ballstonians, many of them taking part in the pageant, went to the historic battlefield this morning, but the great exodus did not take place until early this afternoon. Stores, mills, offices and shops closed at noon and throughout the forenoon there was a hustle and bustle of people getting ready to go to the celebration.” [Read more…] about The Creation of the Saratoga Battlefield Park: A Short History

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Al Smith, American Revolution, Battle of Saratoga, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mechanicville, Military History, National Park Service, Public History, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga County History Roundtable, Saratoga National Historical Park, Schuylerville

Albany’s Historic Cherry Hill to Redesign Museum’s Core Tour

September 23, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Minnie Knapp c 1880Historic Cherry Hill in Albany‘s South End has announced that the museum has received two competitive federal planning grants for a large, multi-year reinterpretation project.

Entitled We Carry It Within Us: Reinterpretation at Historic Cherry Hill, the project was awarded $48,165 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and a $50,000 Inspire! Grant for Small Museums from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

With these grants, Historic Cherry Hill is now expected to complete plans for a new tour and orientation exhibit which incorporates new research and scholarship on underrepresented narratives at Cherry Hill. [Read more…] about Albany’s Historic Cherry Hill to Redesign Museum’s Core Tour

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Albany, Black History, diversity, Grants, Historic Cherry Hill, Public History

Despite Elise Stefanik’s Claims, NYS Gun Law Doesn’t Prohibit Historical Events

September 20, 2022 by Anthony F. Hall 3 Comments

Living historians firing blanks at a historical re-enactment in Lake George Battlefield ParkNew York’s new gun law, which bans weapons from “sensitive locations” such as parks and museums, will have no effect on musket demonstrations, including at Fort William Henry or re-enactments in Lake George Battlefield Park, according to Warren County Sheriff James La Farr.

“It is not within the spirit of the law to prohibit those activities,” LaFarr said.  The re-enactors’ muskets and cannon fire only blanks.

Fort Ticonderoga, which is located in Essex County, is also unaffected by the new law, says its president and CEO, Beth Hill. “We do not plan to change our operations or special events,” she said. [Read more…] about Despite Elise Stefanik’s Claims, NYS Gun Law Doesn’t Prohibit Historical Events

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Recreation Tagged With: Adirondacks, Crime and Justice, Dan Stec, Elise Stefanik, Forest Preserve, Fort Ticonderoga, Fort William Henry, hunting, Kathy Hochul, Lake Champlain, Lake George, Lake George Battlefield Park, Matt Simpson, politics, Public History, Warren County

The 25th Annual NYS History Month Presents Challenges, Opportunities

September 19, 2022 by Bruce Dearstyne 1 Comment

new york state history monthNext month, October, is New York State History Month. As usual, the State Museum is planning several activities and offers suggestions for commemorations. Other public history organizations are gearing up for events to “celebrate the history of New York State and recognize the contributions of state and local historians,” in the words of Section 52.02 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law, which established State History Month by statute. [Read more…] about The 25th Annual NYS History Month Presents Challenges, Opportunities

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: New York State History Month, Public History

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