The Hudson River, stretching 315 miles from the Adirondacks to New York Harbor, has defined the Hudson Valley’s history. Explored by Henry Hudson in 1609, it became a vital trade route for Native Americans, Dutch, and English settlers. The 19th-century Erie Canal spurred economic growth, linking towns like Albany and Kingston to global markets. The valley’s fertile lands birthed thriving farms, while its beauty inspired the Hudson River School artists. Gilded Age estates, like Kykuit, dot the region, blending historic grandeur with today’s vibrant cultural and agricultural revival.

The Winne family, early Hudson Valley settlers, built a legacy as farmers leveraging the Hudson River’s trade routes in the 1600s and 1700s. Led by Pieter Winne, who settled in Bethlehem, New York, by 1684, they cultivated fertile lands and shipped goods via sloops from Winne’s Dock to New York City. Their farms, sawmills, and river access fueled economic success. Descendants like Benjamin Winne sustained this tradition, tying rural Bethlehem to urban markets. Their story, rooted in river commerce, endures in local lore and place names like Barent Winne Road.