The written history of Nyack begins in 1675-76 when a 20-year-old Dutchman named Herman Douwese (son of Douwe) came to camp on his father’s land after an Indian deed had been signed and a royal patent had been issued. He was the first known European settler in what is now Rockland County. The natives that Herman found here were the Nyacks, a band of Lenape who had moved here from Coney Island and who had some Taino words in their unique dialect suggesting that some of their ancestors may have come from the Caribbean.
Herman’s camp became a permanent home and he was followed here by his parents and brother. Their family name was Talama and Herman anglicized his name to Harmanus Tallman. The Tallmans were joined by other Dutch families. They farmed the land in Nyack for 125 years with little change except that farms were divided among each new generation and additional land was settled to the west. Dutch customs and the Dutch language persisted well into the 19th century. Many farmers owned a sloop to transport their produce to markets in New York.
Farmers along the shore found that the outcroppings of red sandstone provided them with an additional “cash crop” for which there was a ready demand in the city. The quarry business thrived and between 1810 and 1840 there were 31 quarries between Grand View and Upper Nyack, employing about 200 men. Hudson River sloops were improved and enlarged similar to the modern replica “Clearwater”, and served as the main link with the outside world, carrying passengers, produce, freight and stone. Stimulated by the demand to carry stone and Haverstraw brick, Nyack developed many boatyards and became by far the largest producer of sloops along the Hudson. The quarrying and shipbuilding industries created a need for housing and a full range of goods and services, so farmland was subdivided and downtown Nyack grew exponentially, from 7 houses in 1814 to more than 2000 people in 1860. Smaller neighborhoods developed around boatyards in Upper Nyack and South Nyack.
John Green, Theunis Smith and Peter Smith were successful businessmen with an eye to the future of Nyack. Each had a general store and John Green had a lumber yard next to his wharf at the foot of Main Street and two sloops with which he sold lumber and stone from Albany to New York City. Together they formed the Nyack Steamboat Association and built the steamboat Orange which began running in 1829 to provide faster and more reliable service than the traditional sloops. With Jeremiah Pierson of Ramapo, they spearheaded the long and ultimately successful campaign to build the Nyack Turnpike to bring the county’s produce and manufactured goods to Nyack’s docks. These two developments revolutionized Nyack and made it the business and retail center of Rockland County for a hundred years.
From 1840 to 1890, shoe manufacturing blossomed in Nyack. About six different companies built large factories, mostly 2- and 3-story brick buildings, each producing 1000 or even 2000 pairs of shoes per week and employing hundreds of people. The railroad came to Nyack in 1870, providing greater speed and capacity for passengers and freight, and taking some of the business away from the steamboats. Commuters and shoppers could get from Nyack to downtown Manhattan in a little over one hour by train and ferry.
With improvements in both river and land transportation, Nyack developed a significant hotel business. Several hotels lined Main and Burd Streets, a large hotel was built in South Nyack, and Prospect House was a huge palatial structure on Highland Avenue overlooking the whole community until it burned in a spectacular fire.
Manufacturing in Nyack was hit hard by a series of depressions in the 1890s, and retail business by the Great Depression beginning in 1929 and by the construction of shopping malls after about 1960. The business district has periodically reinvented itself and rebounded as supermarkets have come and gone; antiques made Nyack a destination for a while and still maintain a steady presence; restaurants and bars with entertainment are currently popular; and independent shops and boutiques have taken hold.
Nyack’s unique character is the result of many special parts of its history: its contributions to our country’s war efforts, its schools, Nyack Hospital, the library, Oak Hill Cemetery, Nyack College, the churches and synagogues, the Thruway/Tappan Zee Bridge/New NY Bridge, Dr. Bernard’s Clarkstown Country Club, Nyack Boat Club, the Tarrytown ferry, the Christian Herald Children’s Home, Camp Ramah, Marydell, the volunteer fire companies, veterans’ organizations, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the YMCA, Nyack Center, Elmwood Playhouse, the best pizza anywhere and the greatest little independent book shop, to name a few. But most of all its people….
Win Perry is President of the Historical Society of the Nyacks. The Historical Society’s museum, located at 50 Piermont Avenue, is open to the public every Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. Plan your visit at nyackhistory.org.
The Allstate Corporation is the largest publicly held personal lines property and casualty insurer in America, serving more than 16 million households nationwide.
Since 1988 the Costa family has invested their energy and attention in making Hickory Dickory Dock an entertaining and informative place for the collector of finely crafted clocks, German handicrafts and decorative seasonal goods & gifts for all year.
The Historical Society of the Nyacks, founded in 1994, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to researching, preserving, and fostering an appreciation of the history of the Nyack community.
Hotel Nyack by Hyatt is the most sophisticated “urban” full service hotel in Rockland County offering 133 guestrooms with balcony views of the Hudson River and Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, 6,500 sq. ft. of event space to include our Grand Ballroom and Speakeasy bar, award-winning restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining as well as an outdoor pool and jacuzzi.
Montefiore Nyack Hospital is a 391-bed community acute care medical and surgical hospital founded in 1895 and is located in Nyack, NY. Its mission is to provide competent, innovative, and accessible emergency and acute care services to Rockland County residents and surrounding areas.
Welcome to Nyack Boat Charter, the best way to explore the Hudson Valley! Sail the Hudson aboard our luxurious sailing yacht, Al Vento, or take a quick tour of the New Bridge and Nyack’s riverfront mansions on our 25′ speedboat Barchetta. Now offering Water Sports: Wake Boarding, Wake Surfing, Water Skiing and eFoiling!
The Nyack Boat Club was formed in 1909 by a group of boating enthusiasts to support recreational boating on the majestic Hudson. Membership information is available at nyackboatclub.org.
Weld Realty is an independently owned and operated Real Estate company located in the beautiful river town of Nyack, New York, approximately 25 Miles, north of New York City. Specializing in selling and leasing properties in the Lower Hudson Valley, Weld Realty brings you unique personalized service, maintains the highest standards of ethics, and encourages quality of life and responsible growth within our strong, welcoming Hudson Valley communities.
The West Gate Inn's convenient location with easy access to all major highways, and located directly off the New York State Thruway, means this location attracts travelers from across the region who are in search of a comfortable, affordable and entirely unique hotel experience, including full hot breakfast buffet for guests.
Archive Home is a curated boutique shop with unique global homewares, upscale new and resale clothing and handcrafted artisanal jewelry all under one brick and mortar shop located in Nyack, NY.
Bare Minimum Goods carries sustainable lifestyle products with the mission to reduce single-use plastics. We believe a small change can make a big difference!
Bill Batson is an activist, artist and writer who lives and sketches in Nyack, NY. Visit billbatsonarts.com for more details. Purchase his iconic Nyack Sketch Log-inspired wares at nyackgift.com or at the weekly Farmers Market.
If you're looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you're just ready to move in a new direction in your life, I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.
Cottage Creek Gardens promotes the love of gardening and respect for nature through the nurturing and stewardship of plants. We carry houseplants, seeds, perennials, edibles, and small trees and shrubs, specializing in native plants.
We are a full-service web and software solutions development firm based out of Nyack, NY that specializes in architecting and implementing value-add solutions for businesses.
Edward Hopper House in Nyack, New York is the birthplace of the renowned American artist Edward Hopper (1882-1967). It was built in 1858 by his maternal grandfather and served as his primary residence until 1910. After Hopper’s death, the house fell into disrepair, but was saved from demolition and restored by members of the local community. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since 1971, the Edward Hopper House has been a not-for-profit art center and museum, preserving the legacy and home of America's most iconic artist.
Our team is focused on fixing iPhones, Samsungs, iPods, iPads, and tablets with faulty problems.
We also specialize in laptop and desktop repairing. We carry mobile accessories and screen protectors.
At EZFIX Rockland, our main goal is to provide our customers with honest and worthy prices. We are well aware of how expensive cell phone repair prices are and we strive to provide quality service at the lowest prices.
The passionate group at Funny Business loves all things LEGO, comic books, action figures, and more. For as long as they can remember they have collected, shared, traded and loved these items, and when the store was opened it was to share it with all of you!
GARNER Arts Center is an interdisciplinary arts center that advances the creation and presentation of contemporary, experiential art within a repurposed 19th century textile mill complex. By providing access to a wide range of art forms, the organization strives to enrich, educate and connect diverse audiences. GARNER Arts Center is committed to igniting and realizing artistic ideas that emerge as a response to societal, economic, historic and environmental stimuli.
Using the free TravelStorys app on your phone or accessing it on the Historic Hudson River Towns (HHRT) website, these dramatic tours connect the east and west sides of the Hudson River on the Path across the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Whether walking or biking, explore the history of the bridge, its construction and the mighty river that it crosses. Themed outlooks on the 3-mile span provide places to stop, rest, and enjoy the view.
Hair color and Haircutting; Hairstyling and Makeup applications for weddings and special events; Custom Facials; full face and body Threading & Waxing; Eyelash Lift & Lash/Brow Tinting; Spa Manicures and Steam Barrel Pedicures
Dr. Heuer's clinical expertise in the neurophysiology of weight management, nutrition, and exercise physiology has made her an expert in the fight against obesity. She utilizes an integrative approach to reversing diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
A cozy craft beer bar in Nyack, NY. Serving up a regularly rotating draft line up and a uniquely creative hot dog menu. A place where you can find the older of wisdom and the youngest of hearts.
Maria Luisa Boutique offers curated collections that spotlight environmentally and socially ethical women's clothing, shoes, accessories, gifts and more.
A combined forty years of experience in the jewelry industry with a love and appreciation for quality, detail and workmanship, we evolved into a “metal and stone” gallery that also kept an eye on price at a solid value.
Mumbai Dreams - Creative Indian Kitchen focus on homemade recipes freshly prepared from scratch while introducing Maharashtrian style cooking. In addition, we focus on cross-cultural cuisines with our East meets West menu.
RCT Music Group is owned and operated by musician, singer, songwriter, and instructor Ryan Townsend. Services include music lessons, group programs, live music booking, recording, and instrument rentals.
MISSION
Since its founding in Nyack in 1888, The Rockland County YMCA has been devoted to its mission: to welcome all people to programs that enhance their health and well-being, strengthen their personal and family relationships and enrich their spirits, minds and bodies
In collaboration with Edward Hopper House, Rockland Center for the Arts, Union Art Center, and Garner Arts Center, our focus is to create access to the many events and offerings in Rockland for theater, film, music, and the visual arts. See the Rockland Culture event calendar for details.
Saffron Trading Company was founded in 2008. Inspired by cultures and craftsmanship from around the world on the idea that home accents and furnishings should be exceptional in comfort, style, quality and price
An online resource for natural & holistic products, as well as to help educate and cultivate a natural lifestyle to help benefit our bodies, communities and environment as we traverse this beautiful planet.
We Use Recycled Precious Metals, Ethical Gems and Conflict Free Diamonds
At SomosJewelers we offer you a wide range of services catering to your jewelry needs from a simple repair to a One of a Kind Piece. With Over 45 Years of Jewelry Expertise, and over 34 Jewelry Awards.
Strawtown’s mission is to create and provide learning experiences that connect young people with the natural world through art and science discovery, and train adults, whether they be educators or parents, in the Strawtown method. As a team of artists, naturalists, and educators, we also seek to model and inspire environmental stewardship.
Purveyors of organic loose tea, hot & Iced tea. Owner Preston Powell a Martial Artist and herbalist was inspired by tea's importance in Asian cultures and in his Karate training. This love of tea and its medicinal and healthful properties, inspired him to start Teagevity with a focus of creating healthy unique tea blends & tea products and offering them directly to the public at local area Farmers Markets.
[ the editor ] resides in a street-level glass-fronted boutique. From this vantage point, the editor offers a selection of the current season's wardrobe along with an apartment's worth of furniture, artwork, stationery and gifts for men and women.
An independent, family-owned and operated gardening and hydroponics store, opened in 1996. We have everything you need to grow plants successfully, indoors and out. Specializing in grow lights, hydroponics systems, environmental controls, plant nutrients, soil and soilless growing media, and organic gardening options.
We are a metaphysical shop located in Nyack NY with online classes and energy healing via Zoom media during Covid-19. We sell metaphysical tools, books, crystals, statues and so much more.
Stocked with vintage and modern treasures for everyone, clothing, shoes and accessories all sourced from people in the area. Plus we carry some delightful gift items like candles, handmade earrings, gorgeous hair clips, African indigo cloths, Swedish dishcloths, cocktail straws, disco ball plant hangers and more!
We're experienced tutors who want to help meet families educational needs with quality, affordable, and personalized lessons in a variety of subject areas.
