Historical Markers in
Schenectady County, New York

10th Ward War Memorial 12th Ward World War II Memorial 1418 Union 1832-1838 A Former Lake A Notable Home Abraham Glen House 1730 Alan Fairbanks Albany Path Ska-Nek-Ta-De ALCo Site ALCo's Legacy ALCo's Legacy Alplaus Arendt Van Curler Baptist Church Beukendaal. 1748 Bradt House ca 1786 ca 1850 Canal Aqueduct Casey Jones Cement Mill Christ Episcopal Church Christman Sanctuary Christman Sanctuary Circa 1824 Clench's Tavern Commemorating Massacre County Line Meeting House Cur Non? Dewitt Clinton Duanesburg Reformed Presbyterian Church Dutch Church Early Frontier Early Smithy Eatons Corners Post Office & Store Edison and Steinmetz Edith M. Boldebuck Ellis Hospital Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 23 Enlarged Lock 23 Esperance Witch Fall Tree Kill First Church in Glenville First Mill Free Masonry Freemasonry Friends Meeting House Frost Homestead Gateway Landing GE Realty Plot General Electric Building 32 George S. Haswell III George Westinghouse Glen-Sanders House, 1713 Great Lot 92 Historic Vale Cemetery / Founders & Builders Hoffmans Ferry Home of Aaron Dickinson Home of Jimmy Carter Home of William North Hotel Van Curler Ignacy Jan Paderewski In Commemoration Issac J. Truax Tavern James Duane Jan Mabee House John Brown Hiking Trails and Mohawk River State Park John Glen House 1740 John Howard Payne Johnson Hall – 1763 Joseph C. Yates Josias Swart Homestead Kinaquariones Lock 25 M-7 Day Maalwyck Michael Righter Mohawk Turnpike Mother Of Fraternities Nott Memorial Nott Terrace High School Oldest House Original Site of the African Church Plotter Kill Aqueduct Pre-Columbian Cemetery Primitive Path Primitive Path Pulaski Raymond F. Loucks Rest Here for the Night Revolutionary Hospital & Continental Barracks Ride of Symon Schermerhoorn Robert Allen Deitcher Robert Sanders House 1750 Sacandaga Road Sacandaga Road Schenectady Schenectady Schenectady Schenectady Schenectady 27th Division World War I Memorial Schenectady ALCO War Memorial Schenectady County Veterans Memorial Schenectady Police Department Schenectady's Little Italy Second Ward Second World War Memorial Seeley House Sherburne Tannery Site of a Tavern Site of Queen's Fort Site of the Home of Charles Proteus Steinmetz South Gate of Stockade South Shore Road Southwest Corner of Stockade Spanish American War Memorial St. George's Church 1762 Stevens House 1693 Stockade Historic District Streamliners The American Locomotive Company The Beukendaal Battle The Camp The Ferry Road Bridge & Its Surroundings… A Brief History The Historic Rexford Aqueduct The King's Highway The King’s Highway The King’s Highway The King’s Highway The King’s Highway The King’s Highway The King’s Highway The Movable Dam at Lock 8 The RS-3 Diesel-Electric Locomotive The Site of Schenectady The “Works” Thomas Edison Arrived at Schenectady Toll House Tory Tree Site Town of Duanesburg Truax Burial Grounds Union College Vale Cemetery Vale Cemetery Van Vleck Home Vedder Family Cemetery Vedder Tavern Walnut Grove Welcome to the Colonie Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Path West College Whipple Bowstring Truss William North Wolf Hollow Wolf Hollow World War II Yates Farm Yates House "Big Boy" "Jupiter"
The Empire State Building, which was completed in 1931, was built during the Great Depression and was funded entirely by private investors. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest building in the world.
New York random facts
Schenectady County, located in eastern New York, has a rich and diverse history that dates back to the early 17th century. The region was originally inhabited by the Mohawk Native American tribe, who established settlements along the Mohawk River. European contact began in the early 1600s, when Dutch traders from the Netherlands began to explore the area. In 1661, a Dutch settlement was established, which later became the city of Schenectady.

In the late 17th century, Schenectady became an important center for fur trade and played a significant role in the colonial economy. However, the settlement was not without its hardships. In 1690, during the French and Indian War, the community was attacked and partially destroyed by a French and Native American force. This event, known as the Schenectady Massacre, resulted in the deaths of numerous residents and marked a devastating chapter in the region's history.

Schenectady County continued to grow throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The area became known for its manufacturing industry, particularly in the production of brooms, locomotives, and electrical equipment. The establishment of General Electric in the late 19th century brought significant economic growth to the region and solidified Schenectady's reputation as an industrial powerhouse.

In the 20th century, Schenectady County experienced both successes and challenges. The decline of the manufacturing industry had a significant impact on the local economy, but efforts to diversify and revitalize the region have been ongoing. Today, Schenectady County is home to a vibrant community with a mix of urban and suburban areas, and it continues to be a cultural and economic hub in eastern New York.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Schenectady County, New York.

  • 1661: Dutch explorer Arent van Curler settles in the area that would become Schenectady County.
  • 1684: Schenectady is officially incorporated as a town.
  • 1690: Schenectady is attacked and burned during the Schenectady Massacre by French and Native American forces.
  • 1772: Schenectady becomes a city.
  • 1808: The Erie Canal is completed, bringing economic growth and prosperity to Schenectady County.
  • 1828: Union College is founded in Schenectady.
  • 1886: General Electric is established in Schenectady, becoming a major employer and shaping the county's industrial development.
  • 1938: The Great Flood of 1938 devastates Schenectady County, causing significant damage and loss of life.
  • 1959: Construction of the New York State Thruway through Schenectady County begins.
  • 1978: Proctor's Theater in Schenectady undergoes restoration and reopens as a performing arts center.
  • 1990s: Schenectady County experiences economic revitalization, focusing on technology and research industries.