Fort Orange 🇺🇸

Welcome to the historic site of Fort Orange, the original 1624 Dutch settlement that paved the way for present-day Albany, New York. Built under Dutch direction to replace a flood prone trading post on Castle Island, Fort Orange played a central role in the early fur trade, moving tens of thousands of beaver pelts annually. As you visit this location, you are exploring the cradle of Albany, where high-stakes disputes between Director-General Pieter Stuyvesant and the patroonship of Rensselaerswyck resulted in the creation of an independent municipal court for Beverwyck.

Although the physical fort eventually fell into disrepair and was abandoned by the English in favor of Fort Frederick, the location remains a designated National Historic Landmark. While you will not see intact 17th-century fort walls today, you can visit the verified site near Interstate 787 and the Dunn Memorial Bridge. There, historical markers highlight the location where groundbreaking 1970 and 1971 archaeological excavations uncovered authentic Dutch colonial remnants.

Visiting gives you a chance to reflect on early colonial history, trade routes, Native American relations with the Mahican and Mohawk tribes, and the origins of New York's state capital.

What to see at Fort Orange

• Site of the first permanent 1624 Dutch settlement in New Netherland
• Key 17th-century fur trading post handling tens of thousands of pelts
• Historic location of jurisdictional disputes that paved the way for modern Albany
• Official National Historic Landmark with historical markers near Interstate 787

Visiting tips

Look for the commemorative bronze historical marker located near Interstate 787 and the Dunn Memorial Bridge, positioned at the site verified by 1970s archaeological digs.

How long: 1 hour · Best time: Daylight hours

How to get there & what’s nearby

Fort Orange is easy to reach on Albany’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Albany travel guide.