New York State's first capital, the old Dutch town of Kingston, on the west bank of the Hudson, has two distinct historic areas of great interest to visitors. In uptown Kingston is the historic Stockade District, a pleasant commercial area marked by the presence of 21 pre-Revolutionary, Dutch-style stone houses (all four corners at the intersection of John and Cross streets are occupied by 18th-century stone houses, unique in the U.S.). At the other end of town, Kingston's historic waterfront area, the Rondout, reached its pinnacle in the days of the D&H Canal in the early 19th century, but declined with the advent of the railroad. Today, it's a nicely revitalized commercial area with a burgeoning number of restaurants and bars.
