Here's a timeline to put things into perspective (a more detailed history is also available):

1625	New Amsterdam is established by the Dutch on the island of Manhattan
1664	The English seize the colony and rename it "New York"
1680	Direk Keyser builds the first house in Rosendale, on land leased from Jacob Rutsen
1755	The Snyder farm is established by Jacob Snyder
1788	New York ratifies the U.S. Constitution on July 26
1809	The Century House is built
1823	Andrew J. Snyder (I) is born
1825	"Natural cement" limestone is discovered in Rosendale
1825	D&H Canal construction begins, its locks held together by Rosendale Cement
1883	The Brooklyn Bridge opens on May 24, supported by Rosendale Cement
1886	President Grover Cleveland accepts the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, on behalf of the United States on October 28. The 154-foot, 27,000-ton, pedestal (finished in April) is made with Rosendale Cement.
1889	Andrew J. Snyder (II) is born
1899	The Delaware & Hudson Canal Company becomes the Delaware & Hudson Company, abandoning the canal in favor of railroading
1902	Andrew J. Snyder (I) dies
1954	The New York State Thruway opens in Ulster County, partially paved with Rosendale Cement
1975	Andrew J. Snyder (II) dies
1991	The Society is granted a provisional Charter by the New York State Board of Regents on September 13
1992	The Snyder Estate Natural Cement Historic District is added to the National Register of Historical Places on June 9
1998	The Society helps pave the information superhighway with "digital cement" at www.centuryhouse.org
2000	The Society Charter becomes Absolute ("permanent") on June 13

Rosendale Natural Cement was used in the construction of some of the most enduring landmarks of the nation.  The Brooklyn Bridge, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, the wings of the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, Grand Central Terminal, the Croton Aqueduct and dams, the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels, the New York State Thruway, and thousands of other public works projects all got their start in the mines of Rosendale, New York.

Within the 32-square-mile belt of limestone between High Falls and Kingston, it was often said that just as much went on underground as above ground. Exciting, adaptive uses of the mines have included mushroom cultivation, trout farming, water supply, and records storage.

Among the many structures which used Rosendale cement are:

• Hudson River Railroad Tunnels (New York, NY)

• Smithfield Street Bridge (Pittsburgh, PA)

It should be noted that the term "Rosendale cement" was sometimes applied to "natural" and/or "hydraulic" cement from areas other than Rosendale, NY.

A more detailed history is available on the Registration Form for the nomination of the Snyder Estate Natural Cement Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.

Historical and geological research is currently being conducted by Kurtis C. Burmeister of the University of California Bakersfield.