Here in the Hudson Valley, we love to talk about how historic our area is. We clamor to tell everyone about how beautiful our river towns and cities are up and down the Hudson. We love to tell people about Jan Peeck, who created a trading post in the Annsville area. We boast how historic and old our buildings are — some dating to the early 1800s — and how this area from West Point down to Tarrytown was the center of the American Revolution.
However, one thing we tend to overlook is the original people who inhabited the lands prior to Europeans settling the Hudson Valley. Prior to 1609, when Henry Hudson sailed up the Muhheakantuck (“the river that flows both ways,” as the Lenape referred to what we now know as the Hudson), and before Giovanni da Verrazano explored the east coast of America and New York Bay in 1524, Indigenous people were living here for thousands of years.
Indigenous Trailways Hike
On Friday, January 17, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., you can join a local historian in a hike around Croton Point Park to learn about its Indigenous landmarks.
Indigenous people made their home in the Lower Hudson Valley for eons. Archeologists have confirmed that the Croton Point peninsula (known as Croton Point Park) was inhabited by Native Americans as early as 7,000 years ago.
In the 17th century, Indians of the Kitchawank tribe, a Native American group that belonged to the larger Wappinger Confederacy, inhabited the area around present-day Peekskill, Cortlandt, Verplanck and Croton.
The Kitchawank, who created a settlement named Sackhoes, occupied a large fortified village on the high flat at the neck of Croton Point, which they called Navish. This was one of the most ancient and formidable Indian fortresses south of the Hudson Highlands. Navish was led at one time by a “sachem” chief named Kenoten. Kenoten translates to “wild wind.” Kenoten evolved into Croton under Dutch and English settlers.
Dutch traders like Jan Peeck (after whom Peekskill was named) were among the first Europeans to interact with the Kitchawank tribe.
It was Native Americans who interacted with Henry Hudson when he sailed his ship, the Half Moon, up the river in September 1609.
Tracks & Traces Hike
On Sunday, January 19, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., join a local Westchester County historian at Croton Point Park in a hike to search for winter tracks and traces of local wildlife. Winter, especially when there’s a dusting of snow on the ground, can be a wonderful time to observe animal tracks and learn about local creatures that inhabit the area and call this home. You may also get to learn about some of their unseen behaviors.
Both of these events are free for Westchester County residents and hosted by Westchester County Parks. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and dress warm. For both events, everyone should meet at the entrance to RV Park to join the hikes.
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