The Hudson Valley is more than just scenic vistas — it is a birthplace of American history. From Native Americans to the Gilded Age, history has unfolded all along the Hudson River.
Local historian and occasional New York Almanack contributor A.J. Schenkman traces the histories of one of America’s most historic regions in A History Lover’s Guide to the Hudson Valley (History Press, 2026).
Among the historical sites featured are:
Newburgh, location of General George Washington’s longest-held headquarters during the Revolutionary War;
Kingston, the former Dutch colonial town which served as New York State’s very first capital;
Hyde Park, home to the the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the nation’s first presidential library as well as the Vanderbilt Mansion;
Tarrytown, site of Kykuit, the famous historic estate of the Rockefeller family;
Peekskill, the railroad depot where President-elect Abraham Lincoln famously stopped to give a speech en route to his inauguration;
Hudson, home to Olana, the Persian-inspired estate and artistic masterpiece of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church; and
Saratoga, where pivotal battles that turned the tide of the American Revolution.
A.J. Schenkman is a historian, educator, and author. He specializes in uncovering the human stories of American history, particularly within the Hudson Valley.
His previous books Wicked Ulster County and Murder and Mayhem in Ulster County, as well as broader historical investigations such as Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York and Hispanic Americans in the Civil War.
In addition to his adult non-fiction books, he has also authored a children’s book, Franklin’s Trees, which explores FDR’s passion for conservation.
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