New Windsor Cantonment
Why it's listed
New Windsor Cantonment, in the low hills north of the Hudson Highlands, was the last winter encampment of the Continental Army. From November 1782 until June 1783, troops under George Washington's command built a military village of six to eight thousand people, with about 700 log huts set in precise rows planned by General Von Steuben. A large meeting hall called the Temple stood at its center. There Washington addressed his officers and helped stop a developing mutiny over pay and delayed peace terms. He also named the first recipients of the Badge of Merit at the cantonment. The huts and Temple were sold at auction in September 1783. Excavations in the 1950s and 1960s found foundations, fireplace footings and Revolutionary War artifacts, and much of the site remains unexamined. Because the camp was used only briefly, finds can be dated closely. The state now operates part of the land as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site matters for its role as the final winter encampment of the Continental Army under George Washington, where about 700 log huts were built and a mutiny threat was calmed. It also holds archaeological remains from a tightly dated period, which could yield useful data on the army during 1782-1783.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000898, listed July 31, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Temple Hill Rd., New Windsor |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | July 31, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000898 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1782-1783 |
| Architect / builder | Huts were laid out in rows planned by General Von Steuben and built by the soldiers assigned to them. |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a museum and open to the public during specified hours; condition listed as good and altered, with the State of New York owning about 73 acres. |
| Acreage | 2275 |
| Coordinates | 41.46925, -74.05914 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000898.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.