The City of Kingston, NY

    Welcome to the City of Kingston, NY

    Kingston, dating to the arrival of the Dutch in 1652, is a vibrant city with rich history and architecture, was the state's first capital, and a thriving arts community. City Hall is in the heart of the community at 420 Broadway, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except July & August (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).  Come tour our historic City, with restaurants that are among the region's finest, and local shopping that promises unique finds.

    Historic Churches

    Kingston is home to many historic churches. The oldest church still standing is the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Kingston which was organized in 1659. Referred to as The Old Dutch Church, it is located in Uptown Kingston. Many of the city's historic churches populate Wurts street (6 in one block) among them Hudson Valley Wedding Chapel is a recently restored church built in 1867 and now a chapel hosting weddings. Another church in the Rondout is located at 72 Spring Street. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 1849. The original church building at the corner of Hunter Street and Ravine Street burned to the ground in the late 1850s. The current church on Spring Street was built in 1874.

    Kingston, NY

    Kingston became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British on October 13, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga. In the 19th century, the city became an important transport hub after the discovery of natural cement in the region, and had both railroad and canal connections.

    Kingston, NY

    The town of Rondout, New York, now a part of the city of Kingston, became an important freight hub for the transportation of coal from Honesdale, Pennsylvania to New York City through the Delaware and Hudson Canal. This hub was later used to transport other goods, including bluestone. Kingston shaped and shipped most of the bluestone made to create the sidewalks of New York City.

     

    Contact Us

    City Hall Address:
    420 Broadway
    Kingston, New York
    12401

    Phone:
    (845) 331-0080
    Email:
    [email protected]

    Kingston News

    3/10/2026 - Mayor Noble Announces Nominations Open for Distinguished Artist Award

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 10, 2026

     

     

    Mayor Noble Announces Nominations Open for Distinguished Artist Award

     

    KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that the Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Kingston Arts Commission are now accepting nominations for the 2026 City of Kingston Distinguished Artist Award.

    Mayor Noble said, “Kingston is a city of artists. We have a vast array of talented artists creating their work in and giving back to this community. I am thrilled that the Arts Commission will be once again honoring a local artist with the fifth Distinguished Artist Award. I appreciate the Arts Commission’s ongoing work fostering and supporting Kingston’ creative community. Applications are now open, so I encourage everyone to nominate your favorite local artists.”

    The Distinguished Artist Award, established in 2018 through a partnership with Mayor Noble and the Kingston Arts Commission, is a bi-annual recognition of a Kingston resident’s creative excellence, artistic accomplishments, and involvement in the community. The award is open to creatives in any artistic discipline including, but not limited to: painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, theater, film, and music. The awardee will be chosen based on their artistry, commitment to the art form, commitment to the community, and recognition in the field locally, nationally, or internationally.

    The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 27, 2026. Submissions can be made via the online form; or by emailing the pdf form to [email protected] or mailing to the Director of Arts & Cultural Affairs City Hall at 420 Broadway. Nominations must include the submission form and a one-page narrative that illustrates the nominee’s qualifications.

    Distinguished Artists Awards committee co-chairs, Kingston Arts Commissioners, Cicily Wilson and Dina Suggs said, “We are excited to receive nominations for the Distinguished Artist Award, which shines a light on Kingston’s rich artistic community and allows us to recognize and honor the contributions of one of Kingston's many artists.”

    The awardee will be selected by a panel comprised of peers and professionals in the field. The awardee is not chosen by the quantity of nominations received, but by the quality of the nomination, of their work, and by their commitment to the community. The selected artist will be recognized at an award ceremony and reception held at City Hall on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

    The Distinguished Artist Award was presented to artists Peter Wetzler and Julie Hedrick in 2018, musician Lara Hope in 2020, performance artist Jaguar Mary X in 2022, and to visual artist/illustrator Matthew Pleva in 2024.

    The online nomination form can be found here, and the fillable pdf to be emailed or mailed can be found here.

    More information at https://www.kingston-ny.gov/distinguishedartists.

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