Kingston

Watch the video: Explore Uptown Kingston

No visit to Ulster County would be complete without a visit to Kingston, on the banks of the Hudson River. Kingston is situated at the point where the Rondout Creek and the Hudson River meet, in the shadows of the scenic Catskill Mountains. In 1609 when Henry Hudson sailed north on the river, the site and its natural beauty must have been appealing, because seven years later, the Dutch established a trading post here and Kingston welcomed the first visitors.

As the first capitol of New York State, Kingston IS American history: Stone houses; bluestone walkways; the original NY Senate House, with accompanying stockade for scofflaws and a waterfront reflecting the vibrancy of the city’s port heritage. The first permanent settlement was in 1652 and Governor Stuyvesant ordered the original stockade built in 1658 to protect the settlers from the Indian attacks and massacres that included the burning of the village in 1653.

In 1777, Kingston became the first capital of New York. The senate first met here in a stone house, which today remains a historic site and museum. It was here that Governor George Clinton was inaugurated and is buried in the city’s Old Dutch churchyard.

Today, almost two dozen of the original pre-revolutionary stone houses remain standing and are occupied. These treasures are just part of the magnificent architecture found in this river city. The Rondout is resplendent with its 19th century commercial and residential structures housing a reborn "village" on the waterfront.

The City is a chronology of American architecture spanning four centuries from the early Dutch and English, including Federalist, Georgian, Greek Revival, Victorian, Romanesque, Italianate, Neo-Classical, Art Deco and Contemporary. The blend makes a beautiful landscape for every visitor.
 
While Kingston revels in its place in American history, it is experiencing a current renaissance. In fact, Business Week proclaimed Kingston as one of the ‘Best Places for Artists in America’ in 2007, reflecting affordable studio spaces and a life style that is both relaxed and dynamic.

With population of more than 25,000 Kingston, is able to support a diverse cultural mix of Latino, Mexican, Dutch, German and others who flock to a city filled with restaurants and the arts. The annual, no-holds-barred Artists Soap Box Derby, a gravity-enhanced parade of creativity on wheels, is one of many attractions during the summer, as are the sunset river cruises. For live performance, the Ulster Performing Arts Center attracts an ‘A’ list of performers such as, The Black Crowes, Jackson Browne, YoYo Ma and Lyle Lovett.

Uptown Kingston and the Wall Street area are filled with coffee shops, unique gifts and the old Senate House. During the summer the Farmers Market is a major attraction. After lunch by the river, you can then head off to some of our other special towns , all providing a wonderful getaway.

So pack up the family for a ride into our history and a jumping off place for exploring Ulster County.