Town of Wappinger and Wappingers Historical Society Unveil Two New Historic Site Markers Celebrating the Towns Colonial and Revolutionary War History!
WAPPINGER, NY (September 22, 2026) – The Town and Wappingers Historical Society will unveil two new historic site markers commemorating important chapters in Wappinger’s colonial and Revolutionary War-era history during a special dedication ceremony this Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the Wappinger Creek Town Boat & Kayak Launch, located at 121–129 Market Street/County Road 91 in Wappingers Falls. The public is invited to attend the joint unveiling of the Shipyard Site and Colonial Mill Site historic markers.
RSVP through the event link : https://www.wappingershistoricalsociety.org/events/historic-marker-dedication-for-2-colonial-era-wappinger-historic-sites/form
“These markers help tell the story of the people, industries and places that shaped Wappinger and the Hudson Valley,” said Town of Wappinger Town Supervisor Joseph D. Cavaccini. “Preserving these sites gives current and future generations an opportunity to better understand the important role our community played in the region’s colonial and Revolutionary War history.”
The Shipyard Site marker, located near The Boathouse, commemorates the area’s early shipbuilding and maritime activity along lower Wappinger Creek near its connection to the Hudson River. During the colonial and Revolutionary War eras, the Wappinger Creek waterfront served as an important location for regional commerce, including lumber and grain shipping, landing areas and vessel construction. Early local history documents shipyards and maritime activity associated with figures including Nicholas Brower Sr.
The new marker at the shipyard site recognizes this important maritime heritage and helps preserve the story of Wappinger’s connection to the Hudson River and the broader network of trade and transportation that supported communities throughout the region.
The Colonial Mill Site marker commemorates the former Van Benschoten Mill, a colonial-era grist mill located along what is now New Hackensack Road between St. Nicholas Road and Jackson Road.
The mill also holds an important connection to the American Revolution. Historical accounts indicate that the mill supplied barrels of flour to General George Washington’s Continental Army, making it an important part of the local agricultural and wartime economy during the Revolutionary period.
While the Colonial Mill marker is physically located along New Hackensack Road, its location near a high-traffic area makes a traditional public unveiling impractical. For public safety, the marker will therefore be unveiled remotely during the September 26 dedication ceremony at the Wappinger Creek Town Boat & Kayak Launch.
The joint ceremony provides an opportunity for residents, local historians, families and members of the community to gather and recognize two sites that represent different but interconnected aspects of Wappinger’s early history: its role in maritime commerce and shipbuilding and its agricultural contribution to the Revolutionary War effort.
The Wappingers Historical Society installed the official historic site markers as part of its ongoing efforts to identify, preserve and share the community’s historic resources.
Historic Marker Dedication
What: Joint unveiling of the Shipyard Site and Colonial Mill Site historic markers
When: Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Wappinger Creek Town Boat & Kayak Launch
Address: 121–129 Market Street / County Road 91, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Hosted by: Wappingers Historical Society
The public is invited to attend the ceremony and join the Town and Wappingers Historical Society in celebrating and preserving the history of the Wappinger community!
RSVP through the link : https://www.wappingershistoricalsociety.org/events/historic-marker-dedication-for-2-colonial-era-wappinger-historic-sites/form
