First Installation at General George Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh

Displays Planned for 20 State Historic Sites for 250^th Anniversary of American Revolution in 2026

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today announced that the first of 20 planned interactive video displays highlighting New York’s rich history in the American Revolution is installed at Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in the Hudson Valley. The video kiosks will be installed at state historic sites, state parks and the state Capitol in the coming months to showcase New York’s role in the American Revolution ahead of its 250^th anniversary.

The new kiosks feature short videos about each of 20 state historic sites, allowing visitors to explore connections to the Revolution through 28 different themes involving high-profile players like Washington and French allies and examining the perspectives of women, Native Americans, African Americans, and Loyalists.

State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “Our state historic preservation staff has curated more than 1,000 historical items in digital form for these interactive displays that show our visitors the many parts that New Yorkers played in the Revolution. As part of our ‘Revisit the Revolution’ program, their voices are speaking again to help all of us to better understand the momentous events of that time.”

Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education said, “New York was home to some of the most important political and military engagements of the Revolutionary War and played a critical role in our nation’s founding. The Board of Regents, Education Department, and I are thrilled to join Governor Hochul and our state partners as we provide a glimpse into New York’s rich Revolutionary Era history. The kiosks we are announcing today are an important tool to help revisit our past and examine our history in ways that we may not have previously considered. We hope that students and their families – New Yorkers and visitors alike – will join us in celebrating 250 years of American independence, freedom, and democracy.”

Simons and Rosa are co-chairs of the state’s 250^th Commemoration Commission to recognize the anniversary of the American Revolution. The commission is coordinating development of a multifaceted commemoration to support heritage organizations in planning programming and exhibits, coordinate state learning standards; encourage and promote heritage tourism; advance scholarship surrounding the history and values of the American Revolution; and ignite public interest in the history of New York State and the United States.

At Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, the new interactive display features information on the critical 16 months that Washington spent there and covers such topics as his critical role in defusing the so-called Newburgh Conspiracy, a potential military coup by disgruntled Revolutionary officers to seize power.

Other videos include Washington’s creation of the Order of Merit, the new nation’s first military medal for service, which later became the Purple Heart; Washington’s role in a 1779 campaign in the Southern Tier, central and western New York against the Iroquois; the role of African Americans on both sides during the Revolution; and the ultimate peace that acknowledged the independence of what became the new United States.

Located in Newburgh’s 445-acre East End Historic District, the headquarters is the nation’s first publicly-owned historic site, acquired and opened by New York State in 1850. General Washington made his headquarters at the fieldstone residence of Jonathan and Tryntje Hasbrouck from April 1782 to August 1783, the longest he maintained any headquarters during the eight and a half years of the Revolution. The Hasbrouck house is furnished to reflect Washington's stay and is open for guided tours. Here, the General, his wife Martha, officers, servants, and slaves lived and worked in close quarters, while a steady stream of guests came and went.

On September 21 and 22, the Washington Headquarters State Historic Site also will host a traveling display of the first Oval Office, as well as professional reenactors of General Washington and Mrs. Washington to engage visitors; military reenactors performing military drills and demonstrations of camp life; and tours of Hasbrouck House.

Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "These new video kiosks are the latest way that New York brings history to life for travelers as they visit historical attractions across the Empire State. I LOVE NY is already promoting travel to New York for America's 250 commemoration, knowing the integral role our state has played in the founding of our nation, and the struggles since to move us toward being a more perfect union, from abolition to women's rights to LGBTQ equality. We hope visitors take advantage of the video displays and the Path Through History program to explore that inspiring legacy."

Joshua Laird, Executive Director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission said, “We are thrilled to help kick off celebrations for the U.S. semiquincentennial at Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, the nation’s first historic site to be acquired for preservation purposes. This event, with its display of General Washington’s war tent, tours of the Hasbrouck House that Washington used as his headquarters for over 16 months, and professional reenactors, will give visitors a real sense of what life was like during the time of the American Revolution. We are grateful to the Museum of the American Revolution, New York State Parks, and our other sponsors for their support.”

Between now and 2026, other interactive kiosks will be installed at the State Capitol and the following state sistoric sites and state parks:

• Senate House State Historic Site, Kingston, Ulster County
• Stony Point State Historic Site, Stony Point, Rockland County
• New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, New Windsor, Orange County
• Knox Headquarters State Historic Site, Vails Gate, Orange County
• Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, Fort Montgomery, Orange County
• Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown, Columbia County
• Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, Albany, Albany County
• Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, Yonkers, Westchester County
• Crown Point State Historic Site, Crown Point, Essex County
• Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Little Falls, Herkimer County
• Johnson Hall State Historic Site, Johnstown, Fulton County
• Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site, Oriskany, Oneida County
• Steuben Cabin State Historic Site, Remsen, Oneida County
• Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego, Oswego County
• Fort Niagara State Historic Site, Youngstown, Niagara County
• Newtown Battlefield State Park, Elmira, Chemung County
• Ganondagan State Historic Site, Victor, Ontario County
• Peebles Island State Park, Waterford, Saratoga County  

The kiosks will complement I LOVE NY's Path Through History initiative, which celebrates New York's rich heritage by highlighting more than 700 historical sites and attractions throughout the state. The Revolutionary War is one of the program's 13 themes, with Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site as one of its key destinations. Additionally, Path Through History sites throughout the state will be hosting special events during the Fall Path Through History Weekend, scheduled for October 12-14, during New York State History Month. For more information, visit www.iloveny.com/pth.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and the OPRHP Blog. 

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