Kinderhook is a Dutch village that has retained a village's size and a village's open country side in the technological age. The streets are lined with trees and many historic (and wooden) buildings remain standing. President Martin Van Buren was born here and, indeed, he was nicknamed Old Kinderhook. (It's though that the phrase "OK" may have come from abbreviating this nickname into O.K.) His home, Lindenwald, is open to the public and his French mural is of especial interest . . . for the sake of its preservation, it can only be viewed by a flashlight. Washington Irving fans will want to check out the Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse and history buffs may want to look at the Benedict Arnold House. This house (where Arnold was taken after his injury in the 1777 Battle of Burgis Heights) is privately owned, but can be seen from the street.
Hudson has Kinderhook's Dutch roots, but a few fewer presidents. Rather, Hudson was known as a center for prostitution and gambling from the late nineteenth century to just before surprise police raids in 1951. It's since cleaned up dramatically.
What is Hudson best known for now? Antiques. Warren Street is a haven for antique shops and antique dealers. The would-be antique collector would be best advised to start in the Hudson Antiques Center and explore from there.
You may also want to look at the American Museum of Firefighting, adjacent to the city's retirement home for firefighters. There is no greater collection of firefighting equipment in the United States. Olana is a stranger attraction, a Persian-style castle in New England, furnished appropriately with Persian rugs, furniture, and art.
Kinderhook is about 20 miles east of Albany on I-90 and Hudson is 10 miles north of Kinderhook on Route 9. For more information about their attractions, check out the links on the left-hand side.
