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Address
9 1/2 Riverside Avenue
Rensselaer, NY 12144
Saratoga/Capital District Region
Latitude 42.634590
Longitude -73.749496
Friends Group Photo Gallery Weather
Know Before You Go...
More Info
Accessible Parking
Designated accessible parking is located at 14 Nelson Ave, where staff offices are located (and which directly connects to Crailo's backyard). Please pull into the driveway and see signage straight ahead in front of the white picket fence. Please note that the driveway surface is not fully accessible as it is composed of both gravel and grass. Once parked, a semi-accessible historic, uneven flagstone path will guide you to the back of the historic house where an ADA compliant ramp is located, allowing easy access into the historic house.
Accessible Bathroom
Crailo's accessible bathroom is located on the first floor of 14 Nelson Ave, a building separate from the historic house (approx. 150 feet away). The exterior building door is kept locked, so visitors must be accompanied by staff. Entry is through the back door, where there is an ADA compliant ramp and the bathroom is located in the immediate back hall. This is the only bathroom on site which is accessible, all others require use of stairs.
Historic House Accessibility Entry
The front and side entry doors of Crailo are NOT accessible. There is one step from the public sidewalk to the front path and also to access the flagstone path at the side of the house. The lawn is slightly sloped and may be difficult to traverse using a mobility device. There are also two steps to directly enter the house at both the front and side doors.
Interior
Crailo State Historic Site has three floors. The second floor, cellar kitchen, and public bathrooms are NOT accessible to individuals with mobility challenges, though there are pictures of the exhibits on the two floors.
Crailoâs Park
Crailo maintains a small public park across the street fromthe historic house and next to the Hudson River. Accessibility is limited dueto a street curb, steep slope from street level and into park, uneven flagstonestairs, and grass surface.
Crailo State Historic Site staff will make everyreasonable attempt to accommodate our patrons and provide an enjoyable and safeexperience while visiting the site.
2024 Geocache challenge
Crailo is the museum of the Colonial Dutch in the Hudson River Valley. Originally a part of the vast landholding called the Manor or Patroonship of Rensselaerswyck, the Crailo farm was named after the Van Rensselaer's estate in the Netherlands, variously spelled Crayloo or Cralo in the 17th century, and meaning "crows' wood" in Dutch.
Crailo was built in the early 18th century by Hendrick Van Rensselaer, grandson of the First Patroon. Hendrick died in 1740 and his eldest son, Johannes, inherited Crailo. He remodeled the house and added an east wing in the Georgian style, reflecting the increasing influence of the English on the Albany-area Dutch.In the late 18th century, Crailo was remodeled in the Federal style. It served as a boys' boarding school in the 1840s and later as a church rectory. Each new venture brought more changes to the structure. In 1924 Crailo was donated to New York State for development as a museum.Crailo today tells the story of the early Dutch inhabitants of the upper Hudson Valley through exhibits highlighting archeological finds from the Albany Fort Orange excavations, special programs, and guided tours of the museum.
Outreach programs to schools and hearthside cooking programs are available by reservation.
Congratulations Crailo, WINNER of the 2010 CINE Special Jury Award for the film: "Keeping Order: A Fort Orange Court Record"
Hours of Operation
- Hours of Operation2024 Season
Crailo opens for the seasonon Wednesday, May 15 and runs through October 31, 2024.
Days open: Wednesday â Sunday, Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m.
In general, guided tours ofthe museum begin at 11:00 a.m. and are offered on the hour, with the last tourat 4:00 p.m.
Please note: Pre-registered group and special eventsmay alter tour schedules, so calling the site prior to your visit inrecommended!
Crailo grounds and riversidepark are free and open to the public, dawn through dusk.
Fees & Rates
Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility.Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use feesis available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, pleasecontact the park directly.
- Tours Admission
- Adults / $5.00
Seniors & Students / $4.00
Children (12 & under) / Free
- SCHOOL GROUPS (ON-SITE) / K â 12th Grade
- Fee per student: $1.00 (Please note: there is a minimum fee of $20 per group)
Teacher & Required chaperones: Free
Chaperones: 2 Chaperones for every 10 students required
Extra adults (beyond required # chaps): $4.00 per person
HearthCooking Program added to tour: Fee is an additional $3.00 per student. Please note: themax amount of students for Hearth Cooking is 20
- OTHER GROUPS (ON-SITE)
- Kâ12 Groups (Scouts, Camp, etc)
Fee per child: $1.00 (Please note: there is a minimum fee of $20 per group)
Group leader / Guide / Required chaperones: Free
Chaperones: 2 chaperones for every 10 kids required
Extra adults (beyond required #): $4.00 per person
Maximum #people per each Crailo guide: 12
Hearth Cooking Program added to tour: Fee is an additional $3.00 per person. Please note: the max amount of participants for Hearth Cooking is 20
- Other Groups
- (Any group outside K â 12) older Youth Groups, College- Age Groups, Seniors, Organizations, Etc.
Fee per person: $4.00 (Please note: there is a minimum fee of $20 per group)
Group leader / Guide: Free
Maximum # people per each Crailo guide: 12
Maximum amount people in house museum: 56 (busload)
Hearth Cooking Program added to tour: Fee is an additional $3.00 per person. Please note: the max amount of participants for Hearth Cooking is 20
- Special Needs Group
- PARKS GROUP ACCESS PASS is available! For more information and application, please visit:
https://parks.ny.gov/documents/admission/GroupAccessPassApplication.pdf
Fee per person without Group Access Pass(including chaperones): $1.00
Maximum # people per each Crailo guide: 12
- OUTREACH (OFF-SITE)
- Schools (Kâ 12)
Fee per student: $1.00
Minimum fee for presentation: $30.00
For schools, generally 1 classroom = 1 presentation
Combining classrooms not permitted (please ask)
Other Groups (other than K-12 or Schools):
Fee per presentation: $30.00
All outreach programs limited to a 30 minute drive from Crailo SHS **
Tours 2024 Season
Crailo opens for the seasonon Wednesday, May 15 and runs through October 31, 2024.
Days open: Wednesday â SundayHours: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m.
In general, guided tours ofthe museum begin at 11:00 a.m. and are offered on the hour, with the last tourat 4:00 p.m. Tours are an hour long. Ofcourse, this can vary, depending on the visitor.
Please note: Pre-registered group and special eventsmay alter tour schedules, so calling the site prior to your visit inrecommended!
Crailo grounds and riversidepark are free and open to the public, dawn through dusk.
A Dishonorable Trade: Human Trafficking in the Dutch Atlantic World
Photo Credit: Detail of a 17th century Dutch Colonial Map
Sugar Works and Plantation, Pernabuco, Brazil
John Bleau c.1640
Courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library, Brown University
This temporary exhibit on the Dutch slave trade in the seventeenthcentury highlights both the Dutch trade network in the Atlantic and the effectthis commercial enterprise had on the lives of Africans who became forcedlaborers in foreign lands. One section (and exhibitspace) of the exhibit isdevoted to the trade, while a second section and space) centers upon the peoplewho were enslaved.
The exhibit explores the interconnectedness of the African, Caribbean,South American, North American and European trade networks of the Dutch WestIndia Company and highlights the activity between Curacao and New Netherland.New Amsterdam and the van Rensselaer family are also included, which serves tohighlight regional participation in the larger, worldwide system.
Research and the development of the exhibit was spearheaded by both animportant grant from the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery,Abolition and Resistance and an immersive study session at the Yale PublicHistory Institute of Yale University during the summer of 2013. Three Crailostaff members worked with Yale History professors, Gilder Lehrman Center staff,the American History Workshop staff, The Smithsonian Museum of African AmericanHistory and Culture staff, and experts in the interpretation of the history ofslavery and civil rights.
Other contributors and facilitators included artists, curators andeducators from national art museums, who proposed creative approaches withwhich to interpret the history of people whose own words and objects are oftenmissing from the historical record, and two Yale University graduate studentswho's invaluable research assistance contributed immeasurably to the exhibit'scontent. We remain grateful for the opportunity to have worked with thesetalented people and for their contributions to both the exhibit and thesubsequent interpretation we use at the museum to engage people in thisimportant and expanding field of history.
The exhibitA Dishonorable Trade: Human Trafficking in theDutch Atlantic Worldwas displayed at Crailo State Historic Sitefrom 2015 to 2018, after which it traveled and was exhibited at other venues,including the Empire State Plaza. It has now returned to Crailo and will be onexhibit through mid-November 2024.
Crailo Wins 2010 CINE Eagle Award & Special Jury Prize!
An idea generated by the staff at Crailo State Historic Siteâto combine a 350 year old local court record and Dutch genre painting and bring them to life--has been recognized by the National CINE Film Awards! In early 2009, Argentine Productions was chosen to produce the 2 - 3 minute film for Crailo's 2009 permanent installation, A Sweet and Alien Land: Colony of the Dutch in the Hudson River Valley. The production, which took place near Pittsburgh, Pa. in a very cold studio, included two Dutch Americans, actors from local colleges, and a couple volunteers. Site staff were on hand to advise on 17th century Dutch mannerisms and costuming. While there were many tricky obstacles to overcome with the 17th century script, the most challenging aspect of the filming was the struggle toreplicatethe exact poses of the six actors to those of the characters within the painting.
Just before the holidays, Crailo's 2 minute and 48 second film,Keeping Order: A Fort Orange Court Recordhad wona prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award. Shortly afterthe film recieved a second honor, the CINE Golden Eagle Special Jury Prize for Best in Arts and Exhibitsâthe top award of all films in this category for 2009. The film can be seen in its entirety at the museum.
Sat 21 Sep
TRADE DAYS A celebration highlightingmany aspects of the trade markets held in Rensselaerwyck and throughout thecolonial era Hudson River Valley. Historical reenactors, 17th & 18thcentury music, Sutlers, Native American performance and a variety of excitingdemonstrations will be available, along with games and activities. The museumwill be available for Open House (self-guided) tours and the Piece of Heavenfood truck will be on site all day.
Saturday, September 21, 2024 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Crailo State Historic Site
Sun 22 Sep
TRADE DAYS A celebration highlightingmany aspects of the trade markets held in Rensselaerwyck and throughout thecolonial era Hudson River Valley. Historical reenactors, 17th & 18thcentury music, Sutlers, Native American performance and a variety of excitingdemonstrations will be available, along with games and activities. The museumwill be available for Open House (self-guided) tours and the Piece of Heavenfood truck will be on site all day.
Sunday, September 22, 2024 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Crailo State Historic Site
Sat 19 Oct
HAUNTED TALES FROM THE CROWâS WOOD (518) 463-8738 Do you believe in ghosts? Thepeople of 18th century Greenbush did! Join us around the campfire in Crailo'sriverfront park for an evening of haunted tales, spectres, and portents ofdoom! Bring lawn chairs & dress for the outdoors. Program appropriate forages 12 & above. Younger siblings and the faint of heart are invited topaint spooky pumpkins. Mulled cider & donuts. Reservations required by10/15. Registration: Required
Saturday, October 19, 2024 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Crailo State Historic Site
Thu 31 Oct
FINAL DAY FOR 2024 SEASON Guided tours of the museumare available by advance appointment only, NovemberâMay 2025. For specialevents and programs happening during the winter months, please visitparks.ny.gov or follow us on social media.
Thursday, October 31, 2024 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Crailo State Historic Site
Sat 02 Nov
FRIENDS OF FORT CRAILO ANNUAL MEETING General business meeting willbe held at the Rensselaer Public Library. Election and installation ofofficers will be followed by a presentation and reception. For completeinformation and program details, please check Crailo and the FOFC's socialmedia.
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Crailo State Historic Site
View all events for Crailo State Historic Site
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