Crailo State Historic Site

Our Trade Days event is coming up in just a few weeks on September 21 & 22! As the excitement builds, we want to highlight some of the amazing performers and historic interpreters who will be featured at this free two day event.

Ian Mumpton has worked at museums and historic sites across the North-East and beyond, engaging folks of all ages and backgrounds as a historian, storyteller, swordsman, and drummer, and is currently the Interpretive Programs Assistant at Johnson Hall State Historic Site. At Trade Days, Ian and the Bad Boys of Beverwijk will be sharing information on the interplay between European, African, and Native American martial arts traditions in colonial New Netherland and New York.

While often thought of as a mercantile culture, the Dutch colonial empire was born out of conflict and quick to adopt and employ martial traditions from around the world in pursuit of independence and trading profits. When European colonists transported their lives and cultures to the Americas, they also brought their fighting traditions with them. Come learn about the martial arts of the 17th century Hudson Valley with the Bad Boys of Beverwijk, and even sign up for a hands-on introduction to cutlass fighting!

For more information on Trade Days, visit our event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/R9JhyuFb4d11hrYT/

Today is , and , so what better opportunity to share a picture from when Crailo was a school!

From 1824 to 1839, Crailo served as the campus for “Van Rensselaer Mansion House”, a boarding school for boys under 14, operated under the direction of Rev. Hiram Worthington Bulkeley. The school closed when Bulkeley opened a new school at Ballston Spa, but reopened in 1843 as the “Mansion Hall School” lead by James T. Foster & Richard L. Loss. One teacher employed by the school was Oliver J. Shaw, Jr., an accomplished composer who lead the instruction of the students in music. In 1848, he wrote a piece titled “Mansion Hall, Waltz Brillante”, which he dedicated to his students at the Mansion Hall School. The cover is shown here, featuring an illustration of Crailo as it appeared in those days.

Image: Illustration of Crailo from the cover of “Mansion Hall, Waltz Brillante”, a piece of music composed by Oliver J. Shaw, c. 1848

Our Trade Days event is coming up in just a few weeks on September 21 & 22! As the excitement builds, we want to highlight some of the amazing performers and historic interpreters who will be featured at this free two-day event.

Steven Woods has shared his passion for historical education and exploration at historic sites around the country since he was fourteen years old. After a six-year enlistment with the USAF and a short stint trading blades, spices, carpets, and gems at the historic Souq Al-Mubarakiya in Kuwait, he returned to the museum field in 2019, and now works in sail-freight revival in the US and internationally. His martial arts training includes French savate and smallsword, bayonet combat (historical and modern), 17th century folk martial traditions, and both sport and classical epee.

Maritime Trade crossing all the world's oceans was a critical part of the 17th century Dutch world. Come explore navigational techniques, seafaring tools, and seafaring skills, as well as the most important 17th century Dutch colonial concern: How to make money doing so!

For more information on Trade Days, visit our event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/R9JhyuFb4d11hrYT/

Our Trade Days event is coming up in just a few weeks on September 21 & 22! As the excitement builds, we want to highlight some of the amazing performers and historic interpreters who will be featured at this free two day event.

Perry Ground is a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. He has been telling stories for over 30 years as a means of educating people about the culture, beliefs and history of the Haudenosaunee. Perry learned many of the stories he shares from elders of Native American communities and feels that practicing and perpetuating the oral traditions of Native people is an important responsibility.

Perry will be presenting Stories from the People of the Longhouse, filled with traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) legends that have been told for hundreds of years. These stories teach about the beliefs, customs and history of the Haudenosaunee people. Storyteller Perry Ground will bring the stories to life through vivid descriptions, his rhythmic voice and a VERY active stage presence. These stories become ‘interactive’ as Perry is known to include audience members in the stories. Elements of traditional Haudenosaunee lifestyle, pieces of historical information and LOTS of humor are woven into each story. Discussion about the Haudenosaunee culture and the art of storytelling is also part of this program. Not just for children, all listeners (young and old), will find this presentation captivating, highly entertaining yet very educational.

For more information on Trade Days, visit our event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/R9JhyuFb4d11hrYT/

"No one wearies of the summer, however long it may seem, before it draws to a close, for in that season man and beast alike enjoy its bounty everywhere."- Adriaen van der Donck, A Description of New Netherland, 1655

Today is !

In the 17th century, literacy rates were on the rise in the Netherlands thanks to a thriving economy and social values which prized education. By 1650, about 50% of Dutch people could read and write- much more than in most places in Europe, which had literacy rates of 20% or less at that time.

We see similar rates of literacy in the colony of New Netherland, which established several schools for that purpose. But still, not everyone had the opportunity to learn these skills.

Susanna Anthony Robberts, a free Black woman, became the guardian of her younger brother Jochem when their parents died. Their parents had been brought to the colony as enslaved workers of the Dutch West India Company in 1627, but had managed to successfully petition for their freedom in 1644.

Susanna was not literate, but clearly understood the value of those skills. In 1661, she apprenticed her brother to a man named Wolfert Webber for a period three years. The contract stipulated that in addition to providing Jochem with on the job training, room, board, and clothing, Webber was to educate Jochem in reading and writing. Susanna signed the contract with her mark, a squiggly line, in the hopes that her brother would one day be able to read, write, and sign his own similar documents.

Images: Archer, Jan de Visscher, after Cornelis Visscher (II), 1650 – 1701
Portrait of a Black Young Woman with Lace Cap and Matching Collar, Wenceslaus Hollar, 1645

Happy !

Image: Kat, Antonio Tempesta, in or before 1650

Can't wait until our Trade Days event, happening September 21st & 22nd? Visit our display at Rensselaer Public Library to learn more about the role of trade in colonial New Netherland!

We're so pleased to be featured in New York By Rail's recent blog post! Check out the link below to read about us and other awesome NY State Parks & Historic Sites locations found near Amtrak stations.🚂🚈🚎

All aboard! Looking to visit our parks and historic sites by train? Many are accessible from, and near, stations along Amtrak’s Empire service line. Check out spots the writers at New York By Rail suggest and have featured in a recent blog post! https://ow.ly/XnSk50Thmxf

Featured in this post:
🚂 Staatsburgh State Historic Site
🚂 Crailo State Historic Site
🚂 Saratoga Spa State Park
🚂 Green Lakes State Park
🚂 Darwin Martin House State Historic Site
🚂 Niagara Falls State Park

Have you heard about the Centennial Challenge?

2024 marks the 100 year anniversary of NY State Parks & Historic Sites. This system was built for you, our visitors, and we want you to help us celebrate this milestone.

We’ve come up with a list of 100 activities you can do at our sites. If you complete at least 24 of the activities within the year, you can win a commemorative sticker and be entered to win even more prizes! Best of all, these activities are things you already love doing- like reading a book under a tree! Did you know today is ?

Find out more about the here: https://parks.ny.gov/100/challenge/
We’ll !

Image: Photo by Crailo staff, edited to include detail from Woman Reading a Letter, by Gabriel Metsu, c. 1665

Our Trade Days event is coming up in just a few weeks on September 21 & 22! As the excitement builds, we want to highlight some of the amazing performers and historic interpreters who will be featured at this free two day event.

Campbell Higle is a historian, educator and researcher based in Troy, NY. They are involved in a wide range of historical activities including historical interpretation, education, and archaeology. They are particularly interested in premodern medical history, and recently translated “Den Ervaren Huys Houder/The Experienced House Keeper”, a 17th century Dutch popular medical text, into English.

For more information on Trade Days, visit our event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/R9JhyuFb4d11hrYT/

Today is Day! These details of North American animals—including beavers, bears, otters, and egrets-- decorated a 17th century map of the New Netherland colony.

Images: Details from Map of the Northeast Coast of America, with a View of New Amsterdam, anonymous, c. 1655-1684, via Rijksmuseum

Our Trade Days event is coming up in just a few weeks on September 21 & 22! As the excitement builds, we want to highlight some of the amazing performers and historic interpreters who will be featured at this free two day event.

First up is award winning storyteller April Armstrong! April weaves melodies and words for a refreshing and compelling style of storytelling. Her story programs are fun and interactive. She tells multi-cultural folktales, including African-American and Latino stories. April's stories delight, inform and inspire audiences of all ages.

April is the recipient of the National Storytellers Networks 2020 J.J. Reneaux Emerging Artist Award for Storytelling as well as the 2015 Bronx BRIO Award for Storytelling. Her cd has won a Parents Choice Award - Silver.

For more information on Trade Days, visit our event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/R9JhyuFb4d11hrYT/

Have you been waiting for the perfect chance to visit Crailo? We will be open today, Monday 9/02, for Labor Day. Guided tours are offered on the hour from 11:00AM-4:00PM. Tickets are $5 for Adults, $4 for Students or Seniors, and Free for kids under 12. Note that tours will continue to be available Wednesdays through Sundays through the end of October. We’ll !

Today is ! In the 17th century, letters were an important method of long distance communication. Written documents like these which have survived to the modern day can provide priceless insight into the lives of the individuals who wrote and received them.

We at Crailo are very fortunate in that much of the correspondence of three influential 17th century figures highly relevant to our site not only survived to the modern day, but have been transcribed and translated into English from their original Dutch. These figures are: Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the first patroon of Rensselaerswyck; his son Jeremias van Rensselaer, the fourth patroon and first of the family to permanently settle in the colony; and Jeremias’ wife, Maria van Cortlandt, who took on the duties, but not the title, of patroon after her husband’s death. Their letters are housed and preserved at the New York State Archives, and the translations are available for free online courtesy of the New Netherland Institute.

Follow this link to find the Van Rensselaer papers, as well as numerous other translated primary source documents related to the New Netherland colony: https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/research/online-publications #:~:text=Van%20Rensselaer%20Manor%20Papers.

Image: The Letter Writer [cropped], Frans van Mieris (I), 1680

Have you been waiting for the perfect chance to visit Crailo? We will be open on Monday 9/02, for Labor Day. Guided tours are offered on the hour from 11:00AM-4:00PM. Tickets are $5 for Adults, $4 for Students or Seniors, and Free for kids under 12. Note that tours will continue to be available Wednesdays through Sundays through the end of October. We’ll !

Happy !

Image: Detail from Flemish interior with slaughtered ox, by David Teniers II, c. 1656

Have you heard about the Centennial Challenge?

2024 marks the 100 year anniversary of NY State Parks & Historic Sites. This system was built for you, our visitors, and we want you to help us celebrate this milestone.

We’ve come up with a list of 100 activities you can do at our sites. If you complete at least 24 of the activities within the year, you can win a commemorative sticker and be entered to win even more prizes! Best of all, these activities are things you already love doing- like making a sketch at your favorite historic site!

Find out more about the here: https://parks.ny.gov/100/challenge/
We’ll !

Image: Photo by Crailo staff, edited to include detail from Allegory of Painting, by Gerard van Honthorst, c. 1648

in 1637, the Dutch captured Elmina Castle, a major hub of the in Ghana.

The Castle been erected by the Portuguese in 1482. They were originally drawn to the area by the allure of natural resources such as gold and ivory, but by the 17th century, the predominant business at Elmina was the trafficking of enslaved African people. Hoping to take over that trade, the Dutch had tried five times since 1596 to capture the fortress, but the Portuguese had resisted those attempts each time thanks to Elmina’s hearty fortifications and the help of their Ghanaian allies.

But in 1637, Colonel Hans Coine had learned from his predecessors’ previous failures, and saw an opportunity. The castle itself was well fortified, but a nearby hill called St. Jago offered a potential vantage point. The hill had only a small chapel and some earthen fortifications, which made it an easier target than trying to attack the castle itself. With 800 soldiers, Coine managed to seize St. Jago, which gave them a relatively secure position to bombard the castle. Some 1,000 Ghanaian men helped the Portuguese defend the hill, but they eventually retreated from Coine’s attack. With their allies scattered, the Portuguese were left with about 30 soldiers in the castle. After five days of bombardment, they surrendered.

Once the Dutch had captured Elmina for themselves, they were loathe to risk losing it to a similar strategy. To secure their prize, they built a new sandstone fortification on St. Jago called Fort Coenraadsburg. The fort can be seen in the image, on the hill to the right of the castle.

The slave trade continued at Elmina under Dutch control until 1814, and many as 30,000 enslaved Africans were trafficked from Elmina to the Americas each year.

Image: Het Kastel Del Mina, engraved illustration from Pieter Schenk’s book Hectamopolis, c. 1702, part of our George Way Collection

August is !

The 17th century was an age of trade and sailing, and everyone knew the danger of encountering pirates on the high seas. Jasper Danckaerts bore witness to the kind of terror the mere idea of pirates could inspire as a passenger headed to New York aboard the fluyt ship “Charles” in August of 1679. His journal recounts how the crew and passengers reacted when they spotted some ships about 30 miles north of Scotland’s Orkney Islands:

“I sat on the main yard to observe how the land rose up, and while there saw a vessel or a sail, which soon caused great consternation on board of our ship, and still more when I said there were two of them. They were afraid they were [Barbary pirates]; and so much did this idea blind them that eyes, understanding, and reason had no office to perform. These small vessels were certainly large ships and Turks. Everything was put out of the way; many did not know what they were doing from fear, which increased greatly, when they saw one of the vessels coming towards us before the wind. It was all hurly-burly, and every one was ordered immediately to quarters.

“I was very busy, our place being on the quarter-deck where there were four guns, which I pushed into the port holes. These were loaded and we were soon ready for fight. [The] minister, who should have encouraged the others, ran below into the powder room, all trembling and shaking. He inquired if that was far enough below water, and if he could be shot there[.] The surgeon had all things ready for the battle, but unfortunately I looked out and saw it was a Dutch smack with a small topsail, flying the Prince's flag. But they silenced me; Turk it was, and Turk it should remain, and I must go back to my quarters.”

Luckily for the travelers, the ships were not the pirates they so feared:

“At last she came alongside, and they hailed her, but could not understand what was replied. [I was requested to act as translator and] inquired where they were from, and what they were doing there. They answered, they were from Amsterdam[.] We asked if there were any danger from the Turks. None at all, they said, which gave courage to our captain and others, as well as the minister, who had emerged from the powder room, where he had hidden himself.”

Image: Rough Sea with Ships, Ludolf Bakhuysen, 1697

in 1663, Jeremias van Rensselaer happily wrote to his father in law, Oloff Stevensz van Cortlandt, to announce the birth of his first son, Kiliaen.

“Dear Father: This will serve in the first place to let you know that last Friday, being the 24th of August, at 8 o'clock in the morning, my wife [Maria] (your honor's daughter), after she [had labored] 2 or 3 days, was delivered of a fine young son, who was baptized yesterday and whom we have had named Kiliaen. We have chosen you and my brother Jan Baptist as godfathers, Pieter having acted [as sponsor] for you and Abraham Staets for brother J. Baptist, and my mother and mother-in-law as godmothers, Margrita Schuyler having in the place of my mother presented the child for baptism and Anthonia van Reyswyck having in the place of my mother-in-law carried the child to the church. We do not doubt but you will be pleased to accept [the sponsorship]. My wife" is, thank God, still well and strong, considering the circumstances, as is also our son, who is a beloved child to his mother and a welcome son to his father. May the good Lord let him grow up in virtue, in order that he may be the same to his grandfather and grandmothers.”

Image: Mother Lacing her Bodice Beside a Cradle, Pieter de H***h, c. 1650

Today is ! Did you know that Crailo was once home to a champion dog?

In 1877, Irish Setter Rory O’More won first prize at the Westminster Kennel Club’s first ever dog show in New York City. Over the next several years, Rory brought home prize after prize for his owner, William N. Callender, including a $250 cup and a gold Tiffany necklace.

Rory was the ideal specimen of what an Irish Setter should be, with his dark red, feathered coat, and “large beautiful and expressive [eyes] that almost [seemed] to speak with intelligence”. In fact, an illustration of Rory was featured in The American Farmer in 1882 as the model example of the breed.

He was also well-trained and obedient. One newspaper wrote that, “[Rory] understands nearly everything that is said to him, and can be sent out after any of the children of the household, and wherever they may be he will find the one sent for, and taking him or her by the coat or skirt of the dress, he will promptly and proudly, but determinedly, deliver his charge into his master’s hands.”

Mr. Callender at that time also owned Crailo, which he and his two brothers had bought from Anna van Rensselaer in 1874. With his champion’s fame ever growing, Callender decided to establish the Rory O’More Kennels. He built a two-story kennel behind Crailo which could house up to 40 dogs, where he bred and sold the champion Irish Setter’s stock. Thanks to Rory’s fame, the Irish Setter breed grew popular as sporting dogs and as family pets, and the Rory O’More Kennel reportedly brought in over $3,400 in profits annually.

Today is ! People have been selling, giving, buying, and receiving secondhand clothing for centuries! New Netherland was no different, and used clothing could be a useful trade item, provided you could find someone in the market for it.

In the summer of 1654, Jeremias van Rensselaer brought with him from the Netherlands a number of items to be sold for a profit. Included amongst these items were cloth suits which had belonged to Nicholas and Richard, Jeremias’ younger brothers. The two suits eventually sold along with a leather doublet for 7 beaver pelts.

Sometimes secondhand clothing would be sold at auction, particularly when liquidating the estates of the deceased. This was the case with belongings of Gysbert van Imbroch, a surgeon who died in the summer of 1665. He was a widower with three children under the age of seven, and the guardians of said children were permitted to "sell, keep, distribute, administer [Van Imbroch’s belongings according] to the best interests of the minors”. Thus, an inventory was taken of Van Imbroch’s property so the items could be auctioned. These items included: one man’s suit of clothes made from gray cloth, one leather coat, a pair of half-worn black silk man’s stockings, a beaver m**f, seven man’s shirts, three cravats, apron, a yellow apron. Lambert Huyberts paid for “a black hat… and an old black small coat”, and Albert Jansen walked away with “three pairs of old men’s stockings”.

Images: Interior with two ladies in front of a closet, by Pieter de H***h, 1663
Full Breeches of Ernst Casimir I, c. 1632 from the Rijks Museum
Details from: Soldier, maid and a company playing cards in an inn, Pieter de H***h, c. 1652-1655
Young man smoking, Gabriel Metsu, c. 1655-1658

Happy (and )!

Image: Concert of Cats, by Jan van Kessel I, c. 1650-1660

Today is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

The 17th century saw the beginnings of institutionalized slavery in New York. The first 22 enslaved laborers arrived in New Netherland in 1627. The colony became increasingly dependent on the labor of enslaved workers over the following decades, and by the time the English took over the colony in 1664 and renamed it New York, enslaved Africans were being imported there by the hundreds. The practice of slavery in New York continued through English rule, the American Revolution, and half a century into the existence of the United States, before being abolished here in 1827.

If you are interested in learning more about the lives of enslaved and free African people in the 17th century colony of New Netherland, we encourage you to come see our exhibit ‘A Dishonorable Trade’. The exhibit is part of our guided tours, offered Wednesdays through Sundays, on the hour from 11AM- 4PM. It will be up through the end of October.

Image: “Nieu Amsterdam,” unidentified artist (Dutch, mid 17th century), via The New York Public Library

This year Crailo is observing 100 years since being gifted to New York State by Susan de Lancey van Rensselaer Strong, a van Rensselaer descendant. Crailo State Historic Site has been through a number of changes both inside and out since becoming a museum. In honor of this centennial celebration, we will be posting images of Crailo from the last 100 years.

In the 1930’s, Crailo was arranged as a traditional historic house, with Colonial-style furniture and dressings. The Dutch Settlers Society of Albany furnished this room as an “old Dutch kitchen” in 1935. Many of the items shown in this photo were donated to the site by members of the organization.

Image: Photo of the southwest 1st floor room at Crailo State Historic Site as it appeared in 1935, published in The Dutch Settlers Society of Albany, vol. 11, 1935-1936

Join Crailo and the Musicians of Ma'alwyck for Wine & Music Tryptich: Wines of the Netherlands, happening September 6th at 5:30 PM!

On September 6, we will gather at Crailo State Historic Site in Rensselaer for an evening of Dutch wines, music, and cuisine. We invite you to experience the Dutch history that Crailo has to offer while exploring perhaps less familiar, but still quite active, vintners of the Netherlands, offering an opportunity to discover something new and distinctive.

Learn more at the event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/HoWfPsNiX7PdJNz7/

August is !
Did you know that thanks to a 17th century law, it’s forbidden to play golf on the streets of Albany? More specifically, it’s forbidden to play kolf!
Kolf involves hitting a ball long distances with a club as few times as possible, just like golf. In the winter, it would be played on the ice, but at other times of the year it was commonly played in the street. It was a popular pastime in 17th century Netherlands, and was brought here by Dutch settlers.
Unfortunately, hitting balls in a populated and busy city can lead to personal injury, structural damage, and some very upset individuals! In 1659, the leaders of New Netherland established a rule on the matter:

“The W. Commissary and Commissaries of Fort Orange and Village of Beverwyck, having heard divers complaints from the Burghers of this place, against playing at [k]olf along the streets, which causes great damage to the windows of the Houses, and exposes people to the danger of being wounded, and is contrary to the freedom of the Public Streets; Therefore their Worships, wishing to prevent the same, forbid all persons playing Golf in the streets, on pain of forfeiting fl.25 for each person who shall be found doing so. “

But the people of New Netherland still played plenty of kolf! Instead of busy streets, the game was played in large open spaces like fields on the outskirts of the city and even on the Hudson River when it was frozen over in the winter.

Image: Kolfspelende jongens, Jan Luyken, 1712

We spotted this lovely swallowtail butterfly on our grounds the other day! 🦋 Have you seen any cool bugs lately?

Did you know that the summer months were the peak time for trading in 17th century New Netherland? Jasper Danckaerts, a visitor to Albany in 1679, explained; “As [Fort Orange] is the principal trading-post with the Indians, and as [only certain merchants may participate in trade], there are houses or lodges erected on both sides of the town, where the Indians, who come from the far interior to trade, live during the time they are there. This time of trading with the Indians is at its height in the months of June and July, and also in August, when it falls off; because it is then the best time for them to make their journeys there and back, as well as because the Hollanders then have more time outside their farm duties.”

Image: Detail from “Novi Belgii Novaeque Angliae Nec Non Partis Virginiae Tabula” map of New Netherland, showing Fort Orange and its surroundings, published by Nicolaes Visscher II in 1684