George Clinton, President of the New York Ratification Convention, turns 274 today! Come join us for a birthday celebration in the heart of Historic Kingston.

Among the historic sites we will be visiting are George Clinton's grave at the Old Dutch Church and the Senate House, where New York's state constitution was drafted and adopted. Don't miss out on cake and other festivities!

Schedule

12 pm - Senate House for a short talk and birthday cake

12:30 pm - Walk to Old Dutch Church to lay a wreath at George Clinton's grave

1 pm - Optional walking tour of uptown Kingston by the Friends of Historic Kingston with emphasis on those places and events relevant to the life and career of George Clinton. Included will be an exhibit featuring George Clinton at the Persen House Museum as well as tours through the Historic Fred J. Johnston House.

Meet us outside the Dutchess County Courthouse, the same site of the courthouse where the New York Ratifying Convention was held. Our speakers will talk about both Melancton Smith, who led the Anti-Federalist delegates, and Alexander Hamilton, who led the Federalist minority, during the convention.

After a visit at the historical plaques at the courthouse, we will make our way down the three blocks to the Post Office (55 Mansion St), where we will continue the narrative. Inside the Post Office is a large 1938 mural depicting the Ratifying Convention. Here we will go more in depth about Alexander Hamilton and Melancton Smith, using the mural as the backdrop for the story.

VIEW THE PROGRAM AS BROADCAST ON CSPAN 3 AMERICAN HISTORY TV.

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On this day, 225 years ago, New York ratified the US Constitution and officially became the 11th state to join the Union.

Learn the remarkable story of the Ratifying Convention with Professor Andrew Shankman from Rutgers University in a talk entitled, "The Gentleman and the Democrat: Alexander Hamilton, Melancton Smith, and the Battle over the US Constitution."

Descendants of key delegates from the convention, such as Alexander Hamilton, Robert Livingston, George Clinton, Melancton Smith, and John Jay, have been invited to attend the celebration. A reception will follow the talk.

The event will take place at the Cunneen-Hackett Auditorium. Tickets are $10 with advanced purchase (through Dutchess County Tourism - call 845-463-4000 for more information), or $15 at the door.

See event flyer.

Visit the Dutchess County Tourism event page.

Visit Mt. Gulian, General von Steuben's headquarters and the site where the Society of the Cincinnati was founded in 1783. The Society of the Cincinnati is a society created for the officers of the Continental Army and its allies in the Revolutionary War, with membership passing down hereditarily. George Washington was the first President-General of the Society of the Cincinnati, and Alexander Hamilton was the second.

Meet us to follow a nature trail through the Denning's Point Estuary. Along our walk, we will pass the area where Alexander Hamilton lived with his new bride Elizabeth in 1781, and where Alexander Hamilton landed at the Lower Landing (Wiltse's Landing) after writing the Federalist No. 1 while traveling by a sloop down the Hudson River.

Meeting location: Parking lot in the Hudson Highlands State Park. From there, we will take the Riverside Trail.

Note: Comfortable shoes recommended.

It was here at the Robinson House on September 25, 1780 that Arnold Benedict received news that his betrayal to the Americans had been discovered. He escaped out the house and fled down a path to the river, which he then traveled down to find safe haven with the British. Alexander Hamilton, who was in the Robinson House at the time, was charged with pursuing Benedict Arnold.

Join us for a narrated easy walk as we trace the steps of Arnold's escape route/Hamilton's chase route down to the Hudson River.

Meeting Location: At the Historical Plaque for the Robinson House, which is located directly on 9D, just 3/4 miles south of Garrison Four Corners. We will walk from the road down toward the Hudson River on a path through the woods.

Note: Comfortable shoes recommended

Join us for a tour of the Van Wyck House, which was used as headquarters for General Putnam during the Revolutionary War. Our Hamilton-focused tour led by the Fishkill Historical Society will dive further into this time period of the house and Hamilton's presence there. Also, get a taste of living history with reenactors dressed up in colonial clothing.

From the Van Wyck House, we will walk to the Revolutionary War Soldiers' Burial Ground for a tour organized by the Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot (FOFSD). Soldiers from the 5th New York Regiment and the Connecticut 6th will escort attendees and shoot a volley with their muskets at the burial ground.

Our stop at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery will include visits to the graves of Alexander Hamilton's son "Little Phil," plus his wife and children. One of Phil's sons buried here, Captain Lewis McLane Hamilton, died fighting under George Custer in the Battle of Washita.

Learn more family stories from Doug Hamilton, 5th great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, who will be present to share his knowledge of his family's genealogy.

See cemetery plot map.

Event held by Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site: "From 7-9 pm, watch the officers and soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd Continental Artillery Regiments completing the preparations for the move to Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. The performers will interact with visitors as if they were from 1781."

Join us in attendance at Knox's Headquarters for another birthday celebration of a founding father!

West Point was a vital American fortification during the Revolutionary War. After the war, Alexander Hamilton advocated for setting up a military academy at West Point. He even planned out what classes should be taught and what instructors would be needed. His vision finally became a reality in 1802.

Join us for a visit of the Revolutionary-era West Point and the West Point Museum, where artifacts such as George Washington's pistols and Thaddeus Kosciuszko's

sword are on display.

The "Newburgh Conspiracy" of discontented officers meeting to discuss what actions they should take toward Congress for lack of pay took place at the New Windsor Cantonment. It was during this meeting on March 15, 1783, that George Washington entered and gave a speech that put an end to the unrest.

Visit the New Windsor Cantonment to stand among the original and recreated buildings and examine what happened here during that time. Beginning at 1 pm, 'living history' reenactors in period costumes will be present on the grounds.

You can also head inside the neighboring Purple Heart Museum to see an original Badge of Military Merit (the precursor to the Purple Heart) presented by George Washington.

Author Michael Newton speaks on the quarrel that took place here at the Thomas Ellison house, then being used as Washington's Headquarters, that led to Hamilton eventually leaving his position as Washington's aide-de-camp.

Meeting Location: Parking at 84 Old Route 9W (near intersection of River Road with Union Ave). Gathering at historical plaque across the road.

VIEW THE PROGRAM AS BROADCAST ON CSPAN 3 AMERICAN HISTORY TV.

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A lecture series about George Washington and his aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton in the Hudson Valley. The speakers for the afternoon include Hamilton scholar Michael Newton, AHA Society President Rand Scholet, and Johanna Porr, Director of the Historical Society of Newburgh. The lectures will take place at the Newburgh Heritage Center, also known as the Old Courthouse.

Schedule:

3 PM - "The Friendship of Washington and Hamilton" by Michael Newton, Alexander Hamilton scholar/author

3:30 PM - “Washington’s Indispensable Partner”, Rand Scholet, President & Founder, Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society

4:30-5 PM - Speakers answer questions related to Hamilton and Washington's wartime partnership

Approx. 5:15 PM - Informal walk on grounds of Washington's Headquarters at the Hasbrouck House