Mohawk Valley History

Writing Series

Read articles written by historians from throughout the Mohawk Valley region. Contact us if you have a story idea or local historian that you would like to see published in our writing series.

The Wampum Chronicles: The Rise of the Chief Warriors by Darren Bonaparte

The Rise of the Chief Warriors

The Wampum Chronicles by Darren Bonaparte continues, “In the Shadow of Serpents” with “The Rise of the Chief Warriors.”
Circa 1880’s Rufus Grider Pencil and Graphite Drawing: “Little Falls Rapids”

2023 CANAL CELEBRATION: 36th Annual Canal Celebration | August 7th-13th

UNVEILING of the HISTORIC 1795 GUARD LOCK signage will take place on Thursday morning, on August the 10th at 11 am in Little Falls.
1850 depiction of the canal above Little Falls, a popular scenic stop. Hinton, John Howard, 1791-1873. Wikimedia Commons

The Mohawk Valley’s Erie Canal

The Erie Canal played a vital role shaping the Mohawk Valley, New York State, and our nation, attracting people from around the world.
Wampum Chronicles The Last Years of Cook and Gray • The End of the War of 1812

The Last Years of Cook and Gray

The Wampum Chronicles by Darren Bonaparte, “In the Shadow of Serpents: The Last Years of Cook and Gray • The End of the War of 1812.”
Adirondack lumberjacks, ca. 1910. Department of Environmental Conservation. Photographic prints and negatives, 1904-1949.

The Sky Pilot and Lumberjacks of the Adirondacks

The first NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days was organized by Rev. Frank Reed in 1948 in Old Forge. This year marks the 76th year of the Field Days.
The Wampum Chronicles: In the Shadow of Serpents The Battle of Chippawa

The Battle of Chippawa

The Wampum Chronicles by Darren Bonaparte continues with “In the Shadow of Serpents: The Battle of Chippawa.”
Civil War Burial Section of Fairview Cemetery outside Little Falls

Local African American History Reflected State and National Events

The primary purpose of this piece of writing is to chronicle a history of African American presence in Little Falls from the time of slavery up to the 2015 dedication of a monument in Little Falls Church Street Cemetery recognizing what was once known as the “Colored Burial Ground.”
The Wampum Chronicles: The Battle of St. Regis and Mohawk Involvement in the War

The Battle at St Regis

The Wampum Chronicles by Darren Bonaparte continues with “In the Shadow of Serpents: The Battle at St. Regis and Mohawk Involvement in the War.”