Kingston Stockade District

Kingston Stockade District is a historic neighborhood in Uptown Kingston with eight blocks containing buildings spanning three centuries. The streets and block patterns follow the original Dutch settlement layout that was established over 350 years ago.

Peter Stuyvesant founded the settlement in 1658 and ordered construction of a protective wooden fence around the Dutch village. The area later became significant as a center for early government activities in New York State.

The neighborhood reflects its Dutch roots through preserved street patterns and building styles that visitors can still see in the layout. This arrangement shows how early settlers organized their community around practical needs for living and protection.

Walking tours are available during warmer months, and self-guided materials can be found at the local gallery. The area is flat and easy to navigate on foot with good sidewalk conditions throughout the district.

The corner of Crown and John streets has original Dutch stone houses on all four corners, a feature found nowhere else in the country. This gathering of matching structures shows the building methods early colonists used when constructing their homes.