Senate House State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Senate House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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North elevation, 2007
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kingston, New York |
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| Built | 1676 |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial |
| Part of | Kingston Stockade District |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000564 |
| Added to NRHP | August 12, 1971 |
The Senate House State Historic Site is a very important historical building in Kingston, New York. It's located on Fair Street. This house played a big role during the Revolutionary War.
In 1777, leaders from New York met here. They were part of the state's very first government. On April 20, 1777, they created and approved the first official rules for New York State. These rules are called the New York State Constitution.
After about a month, British soldiers were moving closer to Kingston. The state's leaders had to leave quickly to stay safe. Sadly, the British burned down the Senate House and much of Kingston as a punishment.
Today, the Senate House is a museum. It has been a museum since the late 1800s. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation now owns and takes care of this historic site.
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The House's History
The Senate House was first built a long time ago. It belonged to a man named Wessel Wesselse Ten Broeck. He was born around 1636 and came to America in 1659. Most people believe the house was built in 1676. We know for sure it was built before 1704, when Wessel Ten Broeck passed away.
What Does the House Look Like?
The main part of the house has three rooms on the ground floor. These rooms are lined up along the street. There is a hallway in the middle that connects two of the rooms.
The house is made mostly of stone. This was a common way to build houses for early Dutch settlers in the Hudson Valley. The back wall of the house is made of brick. There is also a kitchen area at the back. This kitchen was added later, but still very early in the house's history.
A Protected Historic Site
The Senate House is recognized as a very important historical place. In 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important buildings in the United States. It was the first building in Kingston to get this special recognition.
At first, it was part of a smaller group of historic buildings. This group was called the Clinton Avenue Historic District. A few years later, in 1975, a much larger area was created. This new area is called the Kingston Stockade District. The Senate House and all the other original buildings were included in this bigger historic district.
Images for kids
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North elevation, 2007
See also
- List of New York State Historic Sites
- List of the oldest buildings in New York
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ulster County, New York
