Rensselaer in Rensselaer County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Fort Crailo
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 2, 2008
1. Fort Crailo Marker
Fort Crailo
"Yankee Doodle"
written there 1758
Erected 1939 by New York State Education Department.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list.
Location. 42° 37.842′ N, 73° 44.636′ W. Marker is in Rensselaer, New York, in Rensselaer County. Marker is at the intersection of Columbia Turnpike (U.S. 20) and South Street (New York State Route 9J), on the right when traveling west on Columbia Turnpike. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rensselaer NY 12144, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gen. Henry Knox Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away); Trade Partners Along the Hudson (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Crailo (approx. 0.6 miles away); Fort Van Nassau (approx. ¾ mile away); Glenn Curtiss Flight (approx. 0.8 miles away); U.S.S. Slater (approx. 0.9 miles away); Phase 3 Albany 2002 - Present (approx. 0.9 miles away); Phase 2 Albany 1997 - 2001 (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rensselaer.
Regarding Fort Crailo.
this page online
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
‘Yankee Doodle’ tune traced to Fort Crailo British physician’s song poked fun at militia
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Crailo State Historic Site. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation website entry:
Crailo State Historic Site is a museum of Colonial New Netherland history in the upper Hudson Valley. Originally a part of the vast landholding called the Manor or Patroonship of Rensselaerswyck, the Crailo farm was named after the Van Rensselaer's estate in the Netherlands, variously spelled Crayloo or Cralo in the 17th century, and meaning "crows' wood" in Dutch. Crailo was built in the early 18th century by Hendrick Van Rensselaer, grandson of the First Patroon. Hendrick died in 1740 and his eldest son, Johannes, inherited Crailo. He remodeled the house and added an east wing in the Georgian style, reflecting the increasing influence of the English on the Albany-area Dutch.In the late 18th century, Crailo was remodeled in the Federal style. It served as a boys' boarding school in the 1840s and later as a church
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 2, 2008
2. Fort Crailo Marker
2. 'Yankee Doodle' turns 250 - maybe. History News Network website entry (Submitted on March 13, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 2, 2008
3. Fort Crailo Marker
Headed west along Routes 9 and 20, with the tall buildings of the Empire State Plaza across the Hudson river in Albany in the distance.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, December 8, 2008
4. Crailo State Historic Site
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 19, 2008
5. Fort Crailo State Historic Site
Historic American Building Survey, circa 1940
6. Fort Crailo Circa 1940
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 19, 2008
7. Fort Crailo Marker
Crailo State Historic Site - Home of Colonel John Van Rensselaer of the Albany County Militia. His son James was a captain in the Continental Army and served as an aide to General Richard Montgomery. - Revolutionary War Heritage Trail
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, June 19, 2008
8. Fort Crailo Exhibit
Early Dutch funiture and household goods on display in Fort Crailo
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, June 19, 2008
9. Fort Crailo Circa 1920
This photo is on display inside at Fort Crailo. Susan de Lancy Van Rensselaer Stong, a descendant of Hendrick Van Rensselaer, purchased the property in a state of disrepair in 1899. She fixed up the building by putting on a new roof, and boarded up the windows and planned to have it used "as a museum for colonial and revolutionary relics." For twenty-five years she attempted to interest various private historical agencies in the project. Failing in this she donated the house to New York State in 1924.
The State began alterations in 1929, with the installation of a new front door an exterior cellar door, and stairs. In 1932, a decision was made to restore the building. The main house was reconstructed to what was believed to have been the appearance of a Dutch colonial house of 1660. the roof, windows, and interior were all extensively altered. The interior of the east wing was rremoved and rebuilt, but with fewer changes than the original building.
Examination of existing colonial Dutch houses and reassessment of 17th- and 18th - century documents indicate that many of the restoration efforts at Crailo in the 1930s were in accurate. Because very little original fabric remains, therefore it would be misleading to portray Crailo as a historic house of a particular period. Instead, the building is used as a museum, with exhibits illustrating aspects of the colonial Dutch culture that characterized the Hudson River Valley during the many years that the Van Rensselaers maintained the Crailo farm at Greenbush.
The State began alterations in 1929, with the installation of a new front door an exterior cellar door, and stairs. In 1932, a decision was made to restore the building. The main house was reconstructed to what was believed to have been the appearance of a Dutch colonial house of 1660. the roof, windows, and interior were all extensively altered. The interior of the east wing was rremoved and rebuilt, but with fewer changes than the original building.
Examination of existing colonial Dutch houses and reassessment of 17th- and 18th - century documents indicate that many of the restoration efforts at Crailo in the 1930s were in accurate. Because very little original fabric remains, therefore it would be misleading to portray Crailo as a historic house of a particular period. Instead, the building is used as a museum, with exhibits illustrating aspects of the colonial Dutch culture that characterized the Hudson River Valley during the many years that the Van Rensselaers maintained the Crailo farm at Greenbush.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 19, 2008
10. Fort Crailo Arrowhead
State archiologists were on the property digging in an area in front of Fort Crailo before a gas line was to be installed. One of the items that they had found was an arrowhead made of Chert, which they allowed me to view.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 9, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,176 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on March 9, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
