Among “America’s best places for artists,” the City of Kingston, NY, has long been an Upstate epicenter for the arts, culture and commerce. Today, the former State capital at the foot of the Catskill Mountains is a popular getaway for urbanites looking for natural beauty, history and entertainment less than two hours from New York City.

A Dutch trading post in the early 1600s, Kingston was named New York’s first capital in 1777 and was incorporated in 1805. Later in the 19th century, natural cement was discovered, and the village on the west bank of the Hudson River became a critical transport hub with railroad and canal connections.

Designated a Heritage Area by the State of New York, Kingston is divided into three historic districts: Uptown, the walkable, Brooklynesque Stockade District lined with highly rated restaurants, music venues, bars and boutiques; Midtown, known as the Midtown Neighborhood Broadway Corridor, featuring the area arts center and an award-winning brewery; and Downtown, the Rondout-West Strand District, formerly the village of Rondout, with its thriving artist community and a newly redesigned waterfront.

In its less developed areas, Kingston is known for its numerous bike paths, walking tours, hiking trails, Hudson River cruises, fishing, kayak/canoe rentals and sailboat charters.

DID YOU KNOW?

During the Revolutionary War, in 1777, the same year Kingston was named New York State’s first capital city, Kingston was burned down by British troops sailing up the Hudson River from New York City. After the War, the City rebuilt, becoming an important transport hub for coal, bluestone, bricks, ice, cement and more. To commemorate Kingston’s ‘great conflagration,’ and its rebirth, the City now hosts a Revolutionary War reenactment every two years in October.