New Paltz was established in 1678 by a small group of Huguenot refugees and their families. These pioneers settled into the fertile Wallkill River Valley with the majestic Hudson River to the east and the Shawangunk Mountains defining the western border. These families endured what today would be insurmountable odds, yet for generations they survived and constantly improved their quality of life. The homesteads of these patentee families still stand along historic Huguenot Street and are testaments to those who built them so long ago. Today New Paltz residents and visitors alike enjoy the various outdoor recreational activities, exceptional educational opportunities, and easy accessibility to nearby metropolitan areas. With carefully selected photographs and detailed text, New Paltz Revisited traces the history of New Paltz from the Colonial era to the present.
New Paltz was established in 1678 by a small group of Huguenot refugees and their families. These pioneers settled into the fertile Wallkill River Valley with the majestic Hudson River to the east and the Shawangunk Mountains defining the western border. These families endured what today would be insurmountable odds, yet for generations they survived and constantly improved their quality of life. The homesteads of these patentee families still stand along historic Huguenot Street and are testaments to those who built them so long ago. Today New Paltz residents and visitors alike enjoy the various outdoor recreational activities, exceptional educational opportunities, and easy accessibility to nearby metropolitan areas. With carefully selected photographs and detailed text, New Paltz Revisited traces the history of New Paltz from the Colonial era to the present.