Coxsackie in Greene County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

An Ancient Highway

Coxsackie State Boat Launch

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 31, 2025

1. An Ancient Highway Marker

Inscription.

An Ancient Highway. Coxsackie State Boat Launch. , The Old Landing Towns , Athens, Coxsackie, New Balimore, and Coeymans are towns that thrived during the 1900s. Each town was a busy port for industries like brick making, ice harvesting, shipbuilding, metalworking, and barrel making. The riverside piers were packed with goods for sale, sailors, laborers, and visitors arriving to find refuge from city life. The fresh air and cleaner waters brought health seekers from New York City and Albany., The Storm King , The Storm King Freighter and boats like it moved goods up and down the Hudson from the 1890s to the 1930s. This type of freight boat became obsolete after the invention of fuel and cargo barges, which can still be seen today. The Storm King was a part of the Catskill Evening Line and was constructed in 1911. After 21 years of sailing, it was docked at Coxsackie in 1932, eventually sinking in 1936. Along the shores of the Hudson, you will find the remains of boats and barges of the past. While physically decaying with time, these local artifacts remain as important markers of the storied history of American progress and change., Paving the Way: Black History on the Hudson , The history of the Hudson Valley cannot be fully understood without recognizing its roots in slavery. The history of Black Americans in the Hudson Valley reaches back to the 1600s when enslaved Africans were first brought up the Hudson River. Enslaved men and women were put to work as farmers, millers, cooks, tailors, carpenters, blacksmiths, shipbuilders, and sailors. Generations of enslaved people provided the skilled and hard labor that transformed the Hudson into "America's First River." Slavery remained in New York well into the 1800s. The rivers that moved goods to the Midwest became passages to freedom and became part of the Underground Railroad network. As freedom slowly took hold in the northeast, inequality kept many Black Americans working the most strenuous jobs. These jobs included building the canals, roads, and railways that led to the industrial revolution and laid the foundation for the United States to become a financial world leader., www.parks.ny.gov

The Old Landing Towns
Athens, Coxsackie, New Balimore, and Coeymans are towns that thrived during the 1900s. Each town was a busy port for industries like brick making, ice harvesting, shipbuilding, metalworking, and barrel making. The riverside piers were packed with goods for sale, sailors, laborers, and visitors arriving to find refuge from city life. The fresh air and cleaner waters brought health seekers from New York City and Albany.

The Storm King
The Storm King Freighter and boats like it moved goods up and down the Hudson from the 1890s to the 1930s. This type of freight boat became obsolete after the invention of fuel and cargo barges, which can still be seen today. The Storm King was a part of the Catskill Evening Line and was constructed in 1911. After 21 years of sailing, it was docked at Coxsackie in 1932, eventually sinking in 1936. Along the shores of the Hudson, you will find the remains of boats and barges of the past. While physically decaying with time, these local artifacts remain as important markers of the storied history of American progress and change.

Paving the Way: Black History on the Hudson
The history of the Hudson Valley cannot be fully understood without recognizing its roots in slavery. The history of Black Americans in the Hudson Valley

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

reaches back to the 1600s when enslaved Africans were first brought up the Hudson River. Enslaved men and women were put to work as farmers, millers, cooks, tailors, carpenters, blacksmiths, shipbuilders, and sailors. Generations of enslaved people provided the skilled and hard labor that transformed the Hudson into "America's First River." Slavery remained in New York well into the 1800s. The rivers that moved goods to the Midwest became passages to freedom and became part of the Underground Railroad network. As freedom slowly took hold in the northeast, inequality kept many Black Americans working the most strenuous jobs. These jobs included building the canals, roads, and railways that led to the industrial revolution and laid the foundation for the United States to become a financial world leader.

www.parks.ny.gov

Erected by New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.

Location. 42° 21.168′ N, 73° 47.71′ W. Marker is in Coxsackie, New York, in Greene County. It can be reached from the intersection of River Street and Betke Boulevard, on the right when traveling north

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 31, 2025

2. An Ancient Highway Marker

. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coxsackie NY 12051, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Hudson Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Memory (within shouting distance of this marker); Reed’s Landing (within shouting distance of this marker); Return of the Bald Eagle / Coxsackie State Boat Launch (within shouting distance of this marker); Heermance Library (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); “First House On The Hill” (approx. 0.2 miles away); Harvesters of Winter Cold (approx. half a mile away); Natural Ice's Rise and Fall (approx. half a mile away); Honor Roll (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coxsackie.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 131 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 31, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.