The Schuyler Flatts are a rich and fertile floodplain on the western bank of the Hudson River north of
Albany, roughly bounded on the west by Broadway (
New York State Route 32). Evidence from archaeological digs at the site includes prehistoric hearths and other Native American artifacts. When the Dutch settled
New Netherland in the 17th century, this area was first part of
the extensive Van Rensselaer land holdings, and was settled by the 1640s, around the same time that
Fort Orange was established at present-day Albany. The farm was purchased in 1672 by the
Schuyler family, and was occupied by
Pieter Schuyler and his descendants into the early 20th century. From Dutch colonial times, the history includes that of indentured servants and slaves of African descent. The site formerly included the
Colonel Phillipus Schuyler House, which burned in 1962. Col. Phillipus Schuyler (b. 1696) was the son of
Pieter Schuyler (1657–1724),
1st mayor of Albany and three time
acting governor of the
Province of New York. His wife,
Margarita Schuyler, commonly known as Madame Schuyler, was an influential person within her family, with the British officers, and Native Americans. The Schuyler family occupied the land from 1692 until 1910. This Schuyler property was cut through by the
Erie Canal along its western edge and in the early 19th century the river road which passed in front of the house, to the east, was moved to a location just west of the canal, where it is today known as Broadway. The site became a
National Historic Landmark in 1993. The Town of Colonie made the grounds into a park, dedicated in 2002. The park is the site of an annual Civil War Heritage Days encampment. ==See also==