Heritage New York Program
George E. Pataki  Governor
Richard White-Smith  Executive Director

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
August 13, 2001

Contact:  Richard White-Smith
(518) 473-8591

PUBLIC FORUMS ANNOUNCED FOR AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERITAGE TRAIL

Richard White-Smith, Executive Director of the Governor's Heritage New York Program, today announced the schedule for nine public forums on the state's American Revolutionary War Heritage Trail initiative to be held around the state.  Local elected officials, historians, Revolutionary War site operators and private citizens are encouraged to attend.  The schedule of dates and locations is enclosed.

Governor Pataki recently established the Heritage New York Program with a primary purpose to organize a series of thematic Heritage Trails.  One of these trails, the American Revolutionary War Heritage Trail, will help to preserve, protect, interpret, link, and promote significant historic sites associated with New York's important role in the American Revolution.  The Heritage New York Program will also administer Governor Pataki's recently announced $1 million matching capital grant program to help municipalities and non-profit organizations preserve and interpret important Revolutionary War sites.

"The primary purpose of the Revolutionary War public forums is to get participation and input on this important initiative from a broad spectrum of interested citizens - from local elected officials to site operators," explained Rich White-Smith.  The public forums will assist us in ensuring that all important Revolutionary War sites are identified and given consideration for inclusion in the Heritage Trail.  We are also seeking feedback on proposed grant program guiding principles, and information on critical capital needs, as well as, ways to improve promotion of these sites.  The forum will include a briefing on the American Revolutionary War Heritage Trail initiative and the proposed grant program.  Each forum will also feature an informative presentation on the region's role in the Revolutionary War by an expert.

A similar schedule of public forums will be announced in early fall for the Underground Railroad Heritage Trail, which will link historic sites that tell the story of New York's significant role in the Underground Railroad and anti-slavery movement.

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REGION/COUNTIES/DATE & TIME/LOCATION
HISTORY/PRESENTER

SOUTHERN TIER/BINGHAMTON
Delaware
Chenango
Broome
Cortland
Tioga
Steuben
Schuyler
Chemung
Tompkins

Tuesday Aug. 28, 7:00 pm
Binghamton Visitors Center
@ Roberson Museum and Science Center
30 Front St.
Binghamton

Directions Contact #: (607) 772-0660

Joseph Fischer, PhD
Military Historian/Author of A Well-Executed Failure: The Sullivan Campaign against the Iroquois, July-September 1779

CENTRAL NEW YORK
Onondaga
Oswego
Lewis
Jefferson
Cayuga
Seneca
Yates
Wayne
Ontario
Livingston
Wed. Aug. 29, 7:00 pm

Seneca Falls
Heritage Area Visitor Center
115 Fall St.
Seneca Falls

Directions Contact #: (315) 568-2703

Pete Jemison
Manager
Ganondagan State Historic Site


WESTERN NEW YORK
Niagara
Erie
Chautauqua
Cattaraugus
Orleans
Genesee
Wyoming
Allegany
Monroe

Thurs. Aug. 30, 7:00 pm

Niagara Reservation Visitor Center
Niagara Falls

Directions Contact #: (716) 278-1770

Douglas DeCroix
Director of Interpretation
Fort Niagara

MOHAWK VALLEY
Madison
Otsego
Montgomery
Fulton
Schoharie
Herkimer
Oneida

Tuesday Sept. 4, 7:00 pm

Herkimer County Community College
Robert McLaughlin Center, Room CC 228
100 Reservoir Rd
Herkimer

NYS Thruway Exit 30 (Herkimer) Take right onto Mohawk St. and a left onto Caroline St. to the end. Follow the signs to HCCC.
 For directions help, go to: www.hccc.suny.edu/admissions/index or call (315) 866-0300

Rachel Bliven
Interpretive Program Coordinator
Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission

LAKE CHAMPLAIN
Warren
Essex
Clinton
Hamilton
St. Lawrence

Wed. Sept. 5, 7:00 pm

Crown Point State Historic Site Visitor Center
Crown Point @ Lake Champlain Bridge
Directions Contact #: (518) 597-3666

Bill Farrar
Historic Site Manager
Crown Point State Historic Site

and

Tom Nesbitt
Historic Site Interpreter
Crown Point State Historic Site

LONG ISLAND
Nassau
Suffolk

Thurs. Sept. 6, 7:00 pm

Planting Fields State Historic Park
Horticultural Center
Planting Fields Rd
Oyster Bay

Directions Contact #: (516) 922-7604

Andrew Batten
Executive Director
Raynham Hall Museum


NEW YORK CITY
Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens
Staten Island

Tuesday Sept. 11, 6:00 pm

Federal Hall National Memorial
26 Wall St. @ Nassau St.
Manhattan

Directions Contact #: (212) 825-6883

Steve Laise
Chief of Interpretation
National Park Service, Manhattan Sites


HUDSON VALLEY
Westchester
Rockland
Orange
Putnam
Dutchess
Ulster
Sullivan

Wed. Sept. 12, 7:00 pm

Bear Mountain State Park
Overlook Lodge
Bear Mountain

From Bear Mountain Circle, take Rt. 9W south. Go about 100 yards and take the first right onto Overlook Lodge Road and continue to the end

Directions Contact #: (845) 786-2701

Jim Johnson
Military Historian for the Hudson River Valley
Visiting Professor of History, Marist College

CAPITAL REGION
Greene
Columbia
Rensselaer
Albany
Schenectady
Saratoga
Washington

Wed. Sept. 19, 7:00 pm

Albany Institute of History & Art
125 Washington Ave. @ Dove St.
Albany

Parking available behind Institute and on street

Directions Contact #: (518) 463-4478

William Valosin
Park Ranger
National Park Service
Saratoga National Historical Park