Kingston is some 20 miles away from the Hudson River. It became a desired vacation destination in the 1800s and early 1900's, when many New York City natives would travel up the Hudson to seek cooler temperatures in the summer months in the Catskills. The city of Kingston dates back to the arrival of the Dutch in 1652. Kingston was also notable as being the first capital of New York in 1777, only to be burned by the British at the Battles of Saratoga. After the Revolutionary War, the capital was moved north to Albany in 1797 and the rest as they say is history. You can see that history today in structures like The Hoffman House, a Dutch Colonial style stone house built about 1679 and the Senate House, built in 1676 and where the newly declared independent colony has its first organized State Senate in 1777. The Hudson River Maritime Museum preserves the area’s the maritime history and its collection of paintings, prints, photographs and vessel blueprints.
Four neighborhoods within the City of Kingston are designated as Historic Districts. The Stockade National Historic District is the site of the original village of Kingston, fortified by a 14-foot high stockade fence. The waterfront community of Rondout –West Strand National Historic District offers walking tours on the last Saturday of the month, May-October, by the Friends of Historic Kingston. The Fair Street Historic District became Kingston’s mercantile center in the 19th century and is filled with the large homes of affluent businessmen. Chestnut Street Historic District has numerous examples of various architectural styles and is listed on the National, State and Local Registers of Historic Places. After pulling out all the stops in this historic city, you’ll have a convenient location to rest and recharge when you stay at one of our Choice Hotels in Kingston, NY. Book a room online now!