Hudson 400 Timeline

1609 - Henry Hudson, employed by the Dutch East India Company to find a quick route to Asia, sails his ship the Half Moon as far north as present day Albany.

1613 - The first permanent english settlement is established in Jamestown, Virginia.

1614 - Fort Nassau is built by Dutch merchants as a trading post near present day Albany.

1620 - The English known now as the "Pilgrims" establish Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts.

1621 - The Dutch West India Company is created to administer trade in the western hemisphere, especially the lucrative fur trade.

1623 - The establishment of New Netherland by Dutch West India Company. This includes areas of present day New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

1624 - Fort Orange is built (located in Albany).

1626 - Dutch Settlement on Manhattan.

1629 - Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, a Dutch diamond merchant, is granted a large tract of land, called Rensselaerwyck to encourage colonization.

1652 - Establishment of Beverwyck by Pieter Stuyvesant.

1664 - New Netherland is taken over by the English and renamed New York. For Orange, Beverwyck, and Rennselaerwyck are renamed Albany, in honor of James, Duke of York and Albany.

1686 - New York Governor Thomas Dongan issues a city charter to Albany and Pieter Schuyler becomes the first mayor.

1689 - Frances declares war on England. An emergency government, the Albany Convention, is established as the means to prepare the city against French.

1776 - The Declaration of Independence is issues by the Continental Congress.

1781 - The British surrender to the Americans at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the American Revolution.

1797 - Albany becomes the capital of New York State.

1825 - The opening of New York State's Erie Canal allows for expansion into the western frontier.

1831 - First Railroad in New york opens, connecting Albany with Schenectady.

1863 - A convention to celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation was held at Israel Methodist Episcopal Church.

1883 - Present Albany City Hall, designed by H. H. Richardson, is completed.

1899 - Present New York State capitol completed after nearly three decades of construction.

1928 - The Albany Airport, the first munincipal airport in the country opens.

1973 - The monumental Empire State Plaza is dedicated by Governor Rockefeller.