Tag «Henry Hudson»

History of New Amsterdam and Fort George in New York City

The stakes were first laid for Fort George in 1625, marking the official seal of New Amsterdam and what would become New York City.  From pine palisade to earthen embankments to stone fortress, the fortification was reconstructed many times by the Dutch and English on the tip of Manhattan Island, mainly with African slave labor. …

How Manhattan Island of New York City was Named

A letter written by Peter Schaghen from the ship Arms of Amsterdam in November 1626 is the first to refer to the island as Manhattes.  The Dutch, early on began calling the Native Americans who resided on the island they settled as well as to the surrounding region as Manhattan Indians, however no such tribe …