Fort Crailo

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Fort Crailo
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Front elevation and north profile, with work underway on entrance walkway, in 2008
Location:	9 1/2 Riverside Ave., Rensselaer, NY
Coordinates:	42°38′7.72″N 73°44′58.65″W / 42.6354778, -73.749625Coordinates: 42°38′7.72″N 73°44′58.65″W / 42.6354778, -73.749625
Built/Founded:	c. 1712
Designated as NHL:	November 11, 1961 ^[1]
Added to NRHP:	October 15, 1966 ^[2]
Governing body:	New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Fort Crailo, also known as Yankee Doodle House or Crailo State Historic Site, is a historic, fortified brick manor house in Rensselaer, New York. Crailo is a Dutch word meaning Crow's Woods, and refers to an area of the large patroonship held by Kiliaen van Rensselaer, c. 1585–1643. This property was inherited by Hendrick van Rensselaer, Kilian's grandson, who built the house in approximately 1712. It was expanded in 1762-1768.

At various times, the grounds were used as a campground for British and colonial troops.

It is reportedly the place where, in 1755, British Army surgeon Richard Shuckburgh, quartered in the home, wrote the ditty Yankee Doodle to mock the colonial troops who fought with the British in the French and Indian Wars.

Fort Crailo in HABS photo, c. 1940

Fort Crailo was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. ^[1],^[3]

It is operated as a museum by the State of New York. Addresses given for the house include 9 1/2 Riverside and 10 Riverside.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Fort Crailo. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service (2007-09-12).
^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
^ James Dillon (1983), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Fort CrailoPDF (368 KiB), National Park Service and Accompanying photos, exterior, from 1965.PDF (480 KiB)

[edit] External links

The Crailo (4 photos), at Historic American Buildings Survey
Crailo State Historic Site (Official Site), at NYSOPRHP
New York State Military Museum article
Hudson Valley Voyager article
another National Park Service site

v • d • e U.S. National Register of Historic Places

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