Columbia County NY Celebrates 250

10/11/2026

What a fabulous few days of events, to wrap up Columbia county's official 250th celebrations!! The fabulous Jonathan the Storyteller - Hudson Valley's Jonathan Kruk visited us for a 3 day whirlwind tour! Starting at the Hudson Middle school on Thursday, Chancellor Livingston made his debut. Followed by stirring tales of Kinderhook and the revolution (did you know Benedict Arnold, injured in Saratoga recuperated in a house that still stands in Kinderhook?) on Saturday. We finished off today at the lovely Clermont Church on Rte 9J in Clermont with tales of the origins of Yankee Doodle, the burning of Clermont and more! Full videos of each event will be available!

Special thanks to the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chambers and Chairman Matt Murell , county Historian Bill Better, Hudson Flag Day Parade Columbia County NY Celebrates 250 Columbia County Tourism Columbia County Historical Society, County Clerk Holly Tanner, the County Facilities dept and the towns and town historians for all their work to make Columbia county's celebrations memorable!

We hope to bring more of these type of events back, keep an eye out for information!

10/01/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘
𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘑𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘒𝘳𝘶𝘬

Columbia County, New York, will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with three days of history brought to life by Jonathan the Storyteller - Hudson Valley's Jonathan Kruk. Across three interactive, family-friendly performances presented in period dress, Kruk will explore the Revolutionary people, places and turning points that shaped Columbia County.

The series begins at 5:30pm Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Hudson Middle School Auditorium, 215 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson, with “𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.” Kruk will portray Chancellor Robert R. Livingston while tracing New York’s road to revolution, the state Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the turbulent years at Clermont. Large-format reproductions of the restored Livingston Manor maps will be displayed, with smaller prints available for purchase. Light refreshments will be served.

At 1pm Saturday, Oct. 10, “𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆!” comes to the Vanderpoel House in Kinderhook. Through stories of the burning of Clermont and other Patriot homes, Benedict Arnold and British Gen. John Burgoyne, Stockbridge Mohican leader Daniel Nimham and Henry Van Schaack, Kruk will reveal Columbia County’s varied connections to the Revolution. Folk balladeer Linda Russell will provide live music, and light refreshments will be served.

The series concludes at 1pm Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Historic Livingston Church in Clermont with “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁.” Kruk will recount the British destruction of the Livingston estate in 1777 and the story of how Mrs. Livingston saved more than the family silver. Steve Kelman will provide live musical accompaniment, and light refreshments will be served.

Known as the Hudson Valley’s storyteller, Kruk has performed full time since 1989 at thousands of schools, libraries, festivals and historic sites. Best known for his solo productions of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “A Christmas Carol,” he has appeared on “TODAY,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” “Good Morning America,” the Travel Channel and the BBC. He holds a master’s degree in educational theater from New York University and received the Exemplary Public History Award and the Daughters of the American Revolution Appreciation Medal in 2025.

All three events are free and open to the public. Attendees will also have an opportunity to purchase 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗶𝗻.

09/24/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆! ⏳

By late September 1777, British Gen. John Burgoyne’s campaign in northern New York was faltering. His troops were dwindling, supplies were running low and the American force opposing him continued to grow. Burgoyne looked south for help from Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander in New York City.

On Oct. 6, Clinton’s forces advanced into the Hudson Highlands and captured the American strongholds of Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery. British troops then continued upriver in a belated attempt to relieve the pressure on Burgoyne.

The effort came too late. Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga on Oct. 17, but the British expedition continued through the Hudson Valley. A force led by Maj. Gen. John Vaughan reached Columbia County and burned Clermont and other Livingston family properties, targeting the family for its support of the Patriot cause.

That connected story—from Burgoyne’s failing campaign to the British advance up the Hudson and the burning of Clermont—will be brought to life during Columbia County’s America 250 historical storytelling series in October. Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk will present three interactive, family-friendly performances exploring Chancellor Livingston, Burgoyne, Revolutionary Columbia County and the destruction of Clermont.

Learn more about the three-part series, including dates and locations, in the Columbia County Tourism blog post linked in comments.

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲..𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮!

Follow us to keep up with all things Columbia County...and share this post with the local history buff in your life!

08/01/2026

Holly Tanner will be at the Stockport 250th celebration from 4 to 6ish today selling the official Columbia County 250th commemorative limited edition collector coin! See you there!

07/18/2026

The Hudson Flag Day Parade committee will be selling the official, limited edition Columbia County 250th commemorative coin today at ChathamFest! This is a great event with lots of vendors and your opportunity to add this challenge coin to your collection. You only turn 250 once! Today in Chatham NY, 10am to 4pm!

06/30/2026

In this final installment of 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 leading up to our nation's semiquincentennial celebration this weekend, we will finally answer the burning question on many people's minds: 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀!

Columbia County offers a rich lineup of historic 250th anniversary events, community parades, and fireworks displays. Plan your holiday weekend around these celebrations! 🇺🇸✨

🇺🇸 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲
This annual community tradition in Kinderhook welcomes all participants to join the procession. Attendees can decorate bicycles, wagons, or strollers to march. Assembly begins at 10:30am at Rothermel Park, and the parade steps off at 11am, marching down Broad Street and concluding in the Village Square for a community gathering.

📜 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 Clermont State Historic Site
Celebrate America250 at the Germantown historic home of Robert R. Livingston, one of the original drafters of the Declaration of Independence. Running from 11am to 5pm, this daytime festival features reenactments, colonial music and dancing, activities for children, and a reading of Frederick Douglass' famous speech. The event concludes with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Admission is $15 per vehicle (cash only). Please note that the historic site grounds close at sunset, and no fireworks will take place at this location.

💥 Catamount Mountain Resort'𝘀 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
This mountain celebration in Hillsdale features live music from 5 til 9pm, local food truck vendors, and family fun activities. Fireworks display over the mountain peaks starts at 9pm. Admission to the event is free.

🎆 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿: 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴
Those looking to view fireworks along the Hudson River on July 4th can watch the neighboring Athens display from the eastern shore. The fireworks begin at dusk, and Henry Hudson Riverfront Park and Promenade Hill, Hudson NY in Hudson provide great vantage points.

🍔 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The holiday weekend continues on Sunday, July 5th at Palatine Park in Germantown. Gates open at 4pm for an evening featuring live music, local vendors, and a w**e & b**r garden. The event concludes with a fireworks display over the lake at 9:30pm. Admission is $15 per car or $5 for walk-ins, and children under 5 are free. The rain date is July 11th.

💡 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗽: With the high temperatures expected this weekend, visitors are encouraged to stay hydrated, arrive early for parking, and check venue websites for any last-minute scheduling updates.

How are you planning to spend America's 250th anniversary? Let us know in the comments below. 👇

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
...𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮!
Start planning yours on our website!

Be sure to follow us to keep up with all the latest happenings in Columbia County, and share this post!

06/23/2026

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮! 🔍
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

When the Henry Knox Cannon Trail markers were installed in the late 1920s, historians thought the 1775–76 “𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆” followed the old post roads straight through West Ghent and the village of Claverack. 🎖

But in the 1970s, fresh research changed everything!

Local historian Joseph Elliott discovered that Knox and his team actually bypassed Claverack village entirely, staying on a more southeasterly route through Ghent. So in 1975, the state did something remarkable — they physically dug up and relocated several of the heavy granite markers to match the corrected historic path.

Talk about history on the move!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆:

✦ Ghent Marker (NY-27) – Originally near the West Ghent Reformed Church, it was moved to the intersection of Union Turnpike (Route 66) and Snyder Road.

✦ Claverack Marker (NY-28) – Once placed in Claverack village, it now stands along Harlemville Road in Ghent, where Knox actually passed.

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲?

✦ Kinderhook (NY-26) – Right on Hudson Street in the heart of the village.

✦ Hillsdale (NY-29) – On Nobletown Road, marking the eastward push of the artillery train.

✦ NY/MA State Line (NY-30 / MA-1) – A one-of-a-kind joint monument on Route 71 at the border with Alford, Massachusetts — the only marker on the entire 300-mile trail with plaques from both states!

Next time you’re road-tripping through Columbia County, keep an eye out for these granite sentinels. They’re a fascinating reminder of how history sometimes needs a little course correction.

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
...𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮!
Start planning yours on our website!

Be sure to follow us to keep up with all the latest happenings in Columbia County, and share this post with the history buff in your life!

06/16/2026

🏛️ Tuesday 250 Trivia! 🇺🇸
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀' 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆

As Columbia County continues its countdown to the 250th anniversary of American Independence, local historians are highlighting the critical role played by two of the region's most influential founding fathers: cousins Robert R. and Philip Livingston.

The Livingston family estate, sprawling across southern Columbia County and modern-day Germantown, served as a powerhouse of political intellect and financial backing for the early patriot cause.

Robert R. Livingston, popularly known as "The Chancellor," was appointed by the Continental Congress to the "Committee of Five"—the elite group tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence alongside Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Roger Sherman.

Though Livingston was recalled to New York to help form the state’s provisional government before he could formally sign the document, his legal fingerprints remain on the bedrock of American democracy. In 1789, as Chancellor of New York, he administered the first presidential oath of office to George Washington.

His cousin, Philip Livingston, directly signed the declaration. A prominent merchant, Philip risked his immense personal fortune to fund the Continental Army, eventually selling his own properties to sustain the war effort.

The family's fierce allegiance to the rebellion made them high-value targets for the British Crown. In October 1777, British naval forces sailed up the Hudson River, landed troops at Germantown, and marched inland to burn the family’s Clermont estate to the ground.

Undeterred, the Livingstons rebuilt. Today, the reconstructed Clermont State Historic Site stands as a testament to the county's revolutionary history, offering visitors a direct link to the figures who shaped the birth of the nation.

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
...𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮!
Start planning yours on our website!

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 is a series of weekly posts leading up to America's semiquincentennial on July 4th. Share this post with the local history buff in your life!

06/14/2026

Congratulations to the Hudson Flag Day Parade committee, chaired by Christine Grossman on a fabulous festival and parade yesterday! The parade was spectacular as were the fireworks to end the celebration! It was a great day celebrating not only our Flag but the 250th birthday of our great nation. Well done!

While the parade was Columbia County's official celebration of the 250th birthday of the USA, that does not mean the celebrating is over. There will still be events that will be taking place throughout the county, so please keep your eyes out for those!

We also still have limited edition commemorative coins for only $10, message us here for how to get yours!

06/09/2026