Albany History Reader: Volume 1

Volume One contains nineteen articles dealing with Albany's threatened historic resources. These stories also were chosen to illustrate how a Colonial Dutch settlement went on to play a vital role in shaping the American experience. In addition, it provides ideas on how to capitalize on this history to increase heritage tourism and showcase the contributions Albany has made to American history in the last four centuries.

Don Rittner is a historian, environmentalist, archaeologist, and anthropology professor. He wrote a history column from 1999 to 2021 for local newspapers in New York's Capital District about this unique region where much of American history began. Albany's original roots started as a Dutch trading fort in 1614, the first European-built structure in New York. It was the center of the fur trade during the 17th and 18th centuries and became the capital city of New York, guiding the evolution of the Empire State.