Columbia County NY Celebrates 250

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 wine & beer 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

06/02/2026

🏛️ 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮: The Long Trek to Albany! 🏛️

While our beautiful landscape was rich with history during the Revolutionary War, Columbia County didn't actually exist yet. Back then, this entire area was still under the jurisdiction of Albany County.

Imagine needing to file a land deed, settle a legal dispute, or register a will, but having to travel all the way to Albany to do it! In 1776, that meant a grueling, multi-day journey by horseback or boat just to access basic government services. 🐴

To solve this logistical nightmare—and to support the booming new whaling port in Hudson—the State Legislature officially created Columbia County a decade later on April 4, 1786! 🎉

When we finally broke away, the county brought government closer to home, starting with just seven original towns:
🌾 Kinderhook
⛰️ Canaan
🏡 Claverack (first county seat!)
🌲 Hillsdale
🍇 Clermont
⚓ Germantown
🚜 Livingston,
...and the City of Hudson! 🏢

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
...𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮!
Start planning yours on our website!
(link in comments)

Be sure to follow us to keep up with all the latest happenings in Columbia County!

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 is a series of weekly posts leading up to America's semiquincentennial on July 4th. Here in Columbia County, the celebration culminates in the Hudson Flag Day Parade & Festival on June 13th at noon. Share this post with the local history buff in your life!

06/02/2026

Getting ready for the BIG parade and festival Hudson Flag Day Parade has been working very hard to bring you a wonderful day!! Be sure to join us, activities at the waterfront in Hudson NY starting at noon, the parade kicks off at 4pm (it is shaping up so nicely!!!) lots of food vendors, crafts, free activities for kids, and we finish up the day with spectacular fireworks, as Columbia County celebrates America's 250th!! A special thank you to the Flag Day platinum sponsors A Colarusso & Sons and Columbia County!

Send a message to learn more

05/26/2026

🇺🇸 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮! 🇺🇸
Columbia County’s Revolutionary Kitchen Wars!

The Boston Tea Party wasn't the only time early Americans pushed back against unfair tea prices... ☕️ Check out this story of rebellion against price gouging during the Revolution.

Right here in Columbia County, everyday citizens staged their own fierce protests during the Revolutionary War to fight back against skyrocketing prices and hoarded goods.

In 1777, Continental currency was rapidly losing value and wartime shortages were hitting local kitchens hard. When opportunistic merchants or Loyalists in the region began hoarding precious commodities like tea, rum, and sugar to drive up prices, local Revolutionary committees and frustrated residents refused to stand by.

In districts across Columbia County — including Claverack and Kinderhook — the "Committees of Safety" had strictly regulated the price of daily essentials. But when merchants ignored those rules and tried to profiteer, angry crowds (often led by formidable local women) took matters into their own hands.

They marched on the stores, seized control of the scales, weighed out the tea, sugar, or rum themselves, and forced the shopkeepers to sell at the fair, pre-war “fixed price.” It wasn’t stealing — it was community-enforced economic justice during one of the darkest years of the Revolution.

Economic survival was just as important as the battles being fought on the fields.

Today, you can explore this rich history in Kinderhook at the Mercantile at the Vanderpoel House, where the spirit of local heritage lives on through exhibits and stories from Columbia County’s past.

Share this post with the local history buff in your life! 🤗

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