Amsterdam

In the 1700s, Amsterdam was just a small trading village in upstate New York. Utilizing its superior location astride critical waterways, the village grew during the westward expansion of the early 1800s to become an industrial powerhouse. By the 20th century, Amsterdam had become America's foremost rug-making center, nicknamed the "Carpet City," and the seventh largest city in New York. Waves of Dutch, German, Irish, Italian, and eastern European immigrants were drawn to the city for work. Some became mill workers while others became millionaires. The vintage postcards in Amsterdam tell the story of an American dream created, lost, and still pursued on what was once America's frontier.

Gerald R. Snyder is a mechanical engineer and native of Amsterdam who collects and interprets images of the Lower Mohawk Valley. Robert von Hasseln is Amsterdam city historian, former military and naval historian of the State of New York, and former director of the New York State Military Museum.