National Register Listings in
Rensselaer County, New York

Adams-Myers-Bryan Farmstead Aiken House Albany Avenue Historic District Auclair-Button Farmstead Baum-Wallis Farmstead Bennington Battlefield Beverwyck Manor Blink Bonnie Breese-Reynolds House Brownell-Cornell-Gibbs Farmstead Burden Ironworks Office Building Bussey, Esek, Firehouse Cannon Building Cannon-Brownell-Herrington Farmstead Carner, John Jr., House Cartin-Snyder-Overacker Farmstead Central Troy Historic District Chapel and Cultural Center Chatham Street Row Church of the Holy Cross Church Street Historic District Clark-Dearstyne-Miller Inn Coletti-Rowland-Agan Farmstead Connors, William, Paint Manufacturing Company Building Cornell-Manchester Farmstead Craver Farmstead Defreest Homestead Delaney Hotel Dickinson Hill Fire Tower District No. 6 Schoolhouse District School No. 3 Earl, Gardner, Memorial Chapel and Crematorium East Nassau Central School Elmbrook Farm Estabrook Octagon House Fifth Avenue-Fulton Street Historic District Fire Alarm, Telegraph and Police Signaling Building Fort Crailo Fox, Albert R., House Garfield School Glenwood Grand Street Historic District Halford-Hayner Farmstead Harder Manufacturing Company-Albany Woolen Company Inc. Building Hart-Cluett Mansion Haskell School Hoosick Falls Armory Hoosick Falls Historic District Howard-Odmin-Sherman Farmstead Ilium Building International Shirt and Collar Company Irwin, W.P., Bank Building Knickerbocker Mansion Koon, Henry, House Lansingburgh Academy Lansingburgh Village Burial Ground Marsh-Link-Pollock Farm McCarthy Building Mechanicville Hydroelectric Plant Melville, Herman, House Methodist Episcopal Church of Lansingburgh Muitzes Kill Historic District Mullany, Kate, House National State Bank Building Newton-Taber-Martin Farm Northern River Street Historic District Oakwood Avenue Presbyterian Church Oakwood Cemetery Old Troy Hospital Osgood, J.C., Firehouse Patroon Agent's House and Office Patten, Jacob H., House Petersburgh United Methodist Church Powers Home Proctor's Theater Public School No. 1 Public School No. 10 Pumpkin House Rensselaer Society of Engineers House River Street Historic District Sand Lake Baptist Church Schodack Landing Historic District Searle, Gardner and Company Cuff and Collar Factory Second Street Historic District Sharpe Homestead and Cemetery Sherman Farm Smith, Henry Tunis, Farm St. Barnabas Epicopal Church St. Mark's Episcopal Church St. Paul's Episcopal Church Complex Staats, Joachim, House and Gerrit Staats Ruin Theta Xi Fraternity Chapter House Thomas-Wiley-Abbott Farmstead Tibbits House Tomhannock Methodist Episcopal Church Trinity Church Lansingburgh Troy Gas Light Company Troy Public Library Troy Savings Bank and Music Hall Troy Waste Manufacturing Company Building United Waste Manufacturing Company Building US Post Office-Hoosick Falls US Post Office-Troy Valley Falls Historic District Van Alen, John Evert, House Van Rensselaer High School Van Zandt, Jacobs and Company Collar and Cuff Factory W. & L. E. Gurley Building Washington Park Historic District Wilbur-Campbell-Stephens Company Cuff and Collar Factory Willard, Emma, School William Barnet & Son Shoddy Mill Winslow Chemical Laboratory
The first capital of the United States was actually located in New York City, from 1785 to 1790. The city also served as the temporary capital while Washington, D.C. was being built.
New York random facts
Rensselaer County is located in the eastern part of the state of New York and has a rich and diverse history that dates back to the early 17th century. Originally inhabited by the Mohican Native American tribe, the land was first explored by European settlers in the early 1600s. The Dutch were the first to establish a permanent settlement called Beverwyck, which served as a trading post along the Hudson River.

In 1664, the British took control of the area and renamed it Albany after the Duke of York and Albany. Rensselaer County was officially established in 1791, named after the influential Dutch landowner, Kiliaen van Rensselaer. The county grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, with the construction of the Erie Canal in the early 19th century, which connected the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, boosting trade and transportation.

During the American Revolution, Rensselaer County played a significant role. The Battle of Bennington, a pivotal event in the war, took place just across the border in present-day Vermont. Several notable figures emerged from the region, including Samuel Wilson, who inspired the national symbol "Uncle Sam," and Emma Willard, a pioneer in women's education.

Today, Rensselaer County is known for its thriving industries, including technology, healthcare, and education. It is home to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, one of the oldest technological universities in the United States. The county also boasts a diverse cultural scene, with numerous museums, parks, and landmarks that showcase its historical significance.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Rensselaer County, New York.

  • 1609 - Henry Hudson explores Hudson River
  • 1624 - Dutch establish Fort Orange
  • 1630 - Patroonship of Rensselaerswyck established
  • 1664 - English take control of Fort Orange
  • 1776 - Battle of Bennington during American Revolution
  • 1791 - Rensselaer County formed from Albany County
  • 1826 - Construction of Erie Canal begins
  • 1857 - Troy becomes a city
  • 1862-1865 - Rensselaer County contributes troops during the Civil War
  • 1898 - Brunswick declared the official name for Brittonkill
  • 1906 - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute becomes a university