Located in upstate New York on the western banks of the Mohawk River, Schenectadys stockade is recognized as the first historic district of New York State and has been protected by strict zoning laws since the 1960s. As one of the oldest European-settled areas in the Unites States, the stockade contains the highest concentration of historic buildings in the country. During the early 19th century, the stockade had become a center for business, but a major fire in 1819 swept most of it away. Remarkably, more than 40 buildings have remained a part of the landscape for more than two centuries. As a result, a mix of architecture from 17th-century Dutch to modern exists within the four blocks that make up the stockade. Through photographs and maps, Schenectadys Stockade: New Yorks First Historic District tells the story of one of Americas earliest communities.

Founded by the Dutch in 1661, Schenectady is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Its rich history includes surviving the 1690 massacre, becoming a major provider of brooms, working hard as a canal town, and inventing many of lifes modern conveniencesfrom light bulbs to refrigerators to jet engines.