Troy in Rensselaer County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Amos Eaton
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 6, 2016
1. Amos Eaton Marker
Amos Eaton, with Patroon Stephen Van Rensselaer, founded the Rensselaer School in 1824, later Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A philosopher of higher education, he revolutionized instruction away from the liberal arts tradition into a laboratory method of applied preparation for solving society's problems. He was also a strong proponent of higher education for women.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.
Location. 42° 45.64′ N, 73° 39.94′ W. Marker is in Troy, New York, in Rensselaer County. It can be reached from Oakwood Road. The marker is roadside, in section S-2 of Oakwood Cemetery, in front of the Eaton gravesite. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Troy NY 12182, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, in the Capital District, and in the Albany Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Warren Family Mortuary Chapel: 1861 (approx. 0.2 miles away); “Uncle Sam” (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major General John Ellis Wool (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Peter's Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Major General Joseph Bradford Carr (approx. ¼ mile away); George Henry Thomas (approx. ¼ mile away); Emma Hart Willard (approx. 0.3 miles away); A Panoramic View of American History (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Troy.
Also see . . .
1. Amos Eaton. Find-A-Grave website entry (Submitted on May 8, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
2. Oakwood Cemetery. Cemetery website homepage (Submitted on May 8, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
3. Archived Website of The Amos Eaton Exhibit. In 2003, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) mounted an exhibit celebrating one of the founders of its predecessor institution, the Rensselaer School.
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 6, 2016
2. Amos Eaton Marker & Gravesite
"This exhibit showcases Amos Eaton, who was a natural scientist, educator, and co-founder of the Rensselaer School. Featured within are a short biography on Eaton, a summary of the Amos Eaton manuscript collection, housed within the Institute Archives and Special Collections department, and a bibliography that lists publications either authored, edited, or translated by Eaton, all of which are housed in the Archives.(Submitted on September 22, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York.)
Also highlighted are a few artifacts from the collection, as well as photographs of Eaton's house in Troy, NY. Some scans of letters, written by Amos Eaton himself, are included. A particular focal point is a letter written to Emma Willard, an educator and founder of the Troy Female Seminary, the first school in the United States to offer higher education for women. "
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 6, 2016
3. Amos Eaton Marker & Gravesite
Born
May 17.1776.
Died May 10.
1842.
Amos Eaton illustration from Popular Science Monthly Vol 38, circa 1891
4. Amos Eaton
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 11, 2016
5. Amos Eaton Hall
Amos Eaton Hall is the current home of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. In 1926, the RPI Board of Trustees recognized the need for a larger library and assembly hall. A resolution was made to name the proposed building in memory of Amos Eaton, the co-founder and first senior professor of Rensselaer. Amos Eaton Hall is the only building on the campus referred to by both first and last name. The library was built to accommodate 160,000 volumes and 240 readers. The auditorium could accommodate up to 1400 people. The building, designed by Lawlor & Haase, was opened in 1928.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 820 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 8, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 5. submitted on May 23, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
